1.4.0 Needs .SSC 4 Star Textures?

[Tech Sgt. Chen]

I've been advised that star textures now require an SSC file to load in Celestia 1.4.0. Is this true? And, if it is true; are there any references pointing to the creation of SSC files for star textures in this version? I can't seem to locate any in this forum. I'm not familiar with creating the (SSC) rendering parameters at all in the latest version of Celestia, and my knowledge was limited to minor adjustments of existing data in older versions.
I would surmise that this is an inherent disadvantage of offering two significantly different versions of Celestia for mass downloading. I'm also aware that it does facilitate the Open Source development process!

[symaski62]

http://members.fortunecity.com/guilpain/index_uk.htm

fichier.SSC

tranks you

[selden]

Celestia v1.4.0 currently uses the same surface texture image for all stars -- astar.jpg. Whether that'll continue to be the case, I dunno, but I suspect so

The functionality available in STarCatalog files (STC, not SSC) has been drastically increased for v1.4.0. They now support most (but not all) of the features available in SSC files.

(This primarily was to enable the definition of multi-star systems. Planets can be illuminated by two stars on any card, up to 4 stars with recent model grahics cards: Nvidia 5xxx, 6xxx, 7xxx & ATI 9500 or better.)

At any rate, individual stars now can be defined using Mesh and Texture declarations. A summary of the new features is available at http://www.lepp.cornell.edu/~seb/celest ... eters.html

Does this help?

[Tech Sgt. Chen]

Awh, that's too bad. Stars have always been my favorite! The sheer mass, the life giving light, the essence of all power in the universe. Without stars, galaxies have no discernable form. Without stars, there'd be no Black Holes or Neutron Stars. There'd be no solar systems. No gold or other precious metals, no helium for party baloons! No constellations, no nebulas. What would we wish upon?! Oh, the disheartening despair. What would we do with our national flag? Persecuted and forlorn little stars! Though, you are the biggest contributors to the universe, you are relegated to the role of Cosmic Serf by your captor, Celestia !!! Kepler, Copernicus, Einstein, Sagan and Texas would be appalled!!! Not to mention George Patton! Say Good-Bye to Hollywood!
Oh...I can't take it! Where's my violin?! Van Gogh just lost a masterpiece!
Forgive them for, they know not what they do!

[danielj]

The only way is to create ssc files to specific stars,similar to Beteugelse.At least,some stars will have the new textures...I should create myself,but I don??t know the parameters.For example,we could create a ssc for Rigel,Alpha Cantauri and Aldebaran,for example.

[Tech Sgt. Chen]

I do not know C++. Best I can muster up is HTML and an understanding of JavaScript. I just don't understand how assigning spectral class textures was holding up the progress of Celestia. Since when do new software versions lose functionality in order to gain a few new ones? How can something so importatnt to the universe (as a whole) be given such a back seat?! Now we have to create an SSC file for each and every star in the galaxy? I don't think humans can live that long! I can't believe I'm the only one disappointed by this.

Updated: July 14, 2004
How the heck did I miss that link Selden? Thanks - that does help. I downloaded the entire page until I can find some time to study it. I suppose I should try to learn, at least some, of the coding parameters for Celestia. Your link looks like a great place to start.