Sun tracking solar panels?

[psCargile]

Since its possible for the point of view to track and follow targets, could it be possible to make spacecraft solar panels rotate to track the sun? I realize that the panels themselves would have to be separate objects.

This is more a curiosity than a want.

[selden]

Yes, but it requires Celestia v1.5.0 in order for the author of the SSC file to be able to define the appropriate reference frames.

It already has been done for the INTEGRAL gamma ray telescope satellite. Use the Forum's Search function above to find relevant postings.

[Hungry4info]

I was able to do it in 1.4.1. I used Anim8tor, removed the solar arrays and made them a seperate model. Then gave the solar array model a rotation period equal to one year.

[psCargile]

Yeah, I read relevant threads from the search Seldon suggested. I can wait until an updated version is available.