Newbie questions

[guest]

First, I would like to say 'Thank you!' to Chris and all the other contributors. I discovered 'Celestia' completely by accident two days ago, and am hooked! I can't believe this is open source, free software! Fantastic!

I am wondering if there is a tutorial around (or an old discussion thread) that explains the control keys. I can usually get the view I want, but am never quite sure which combination of functions I should be using.

Also, when I save a location and then return later, it does not look the same. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks to all.
Ron A

[guest]

OK - how about a few hints on how you folks use the controls to navigate? Any cool things you've figured out or discovered?

[another_guest]

I also discovered this amazing program by accident yesterday and I was completely thrilled about it. I hardly believed that such a software would exist and for free!

I was also wondering about the best ways to use Celestia. I was looking for keys to move around space like a spacecraft, but the only functions I discovered so far are only related to movements around objects.
Either I need more time to spend on the program, or hopefully some of the veterans here will share with us their experience in how they use Celestia to best enjoy it.

Thanks to Chris and to everyone who worked on this great program.

[guy]

Discovered this board by accident. Where can I download or purchase this demo or full blown software?

ferryguy@hotmail.com

[Matt McIrvin]

Celestia is free. See

http://ennui.shatters.net/celestia/download.html

Quick interactive tour of the solar system for newbies:

Start Celestia and press the following keys in succession.

H G 1 G 2 G 3 G 4 G 5 G 6 G 7 G 8 G 9 G

After each G, sit back for a few seconds and enjoy the view.

While you're visiting each planet, try right-dragging (or command-dragging) to move around the planet, Home and End to move closer and further away.

If you get lost in space, type H G to get back to our solar system.

Chris's little manual, which he just posted a link to, is good reading if you want to learn more.

[Matt McIrvin]

I see he hasn't yet written about free "spacecraft" flight. It's in the readme, but anyway the important keys are A to speed up, Z to slow down, Q to reverse direction and you steer with the arrow keys. The acceleration is exponential as you hold down the keys-- they might not initially seem to do much. You have to be going many, many times the speed of light before the stars start to stream by.

The F1, F2, etc. keys will set your speed to various absolute values; F1 stops you dead with respect to Celestia's stars. F1 H G is useful if you get completely lost in the outer darkness.

[Guest]

Another sightseeing tip: A good way to enjoy the Earth scenery is to hitch a ride on an orbiting spacecraft.

Hit ENTER, type ISS, then hit ENTER again.

(that's RETURN on Macs, and you might have to press F1 afterward to fight the peculiar keyboard speed bug).

Now press G. You'll be following the International Space Station. Look around by dragging the mouse with the left button down.

The ISS is moving so fast that the scenery on the ground moves by perceptibly in real time, even from 380 km altitude. Press L to speed up time 10x, and the effect is pretty dramatic (K slows it down again). It's fun to try to identify the geography that you're flying over. The I key toggles the clouds on and off.

[guest]

Great! Thanks for all the tips! I've been following the forum, and getting used to the program as time permits. Can't wait to see where this all goes. Have already used Celestia to explain various solar movements to my kids. Go Chris!!
Ron A