Space Engine as a research tool for writing fiction (help?)

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Forum » SpaceEngine » General Discussions » Space Engine as a research tool for writing fiction (help?)

Space Engine as a research tool for writing fiction (help?)

capecoral67

Date: Saturday, 18.07.2015, 12:23 | Message # 1

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Hello
Quickly, I am writing a short sci-fi story that is set partially on Mare Orientale on the moon. This particular mare lies within the libration zone and can occasionally be seen from earth and vice-versa, depending on several factors.

What I tried to to was to (A) land the POV in 'spacecraft mode' on Mare Orientale (or near it) and (B) use the time dilation function to speed up time and observe what it would be like for an actual observer to look at earth from this vantage point over time. I can guess but I just kind of wanted to "experience" it before laying down specific story details.

Anyways the deadline is creeping up pretty quick for the final draft for me and I had to abandon using SE to accomplish this. I was never able to get the "spaceship" to land correctly and stick without having the moon rotate underneath me.

If anyone can possibly generate this and post screenshots (or video?) or maybe help me out that would be awesome. Thank you.

Aerospacefag

Date: Saturday, 18.07.2015, 13:41 | Message # 2

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This is pretty trivial if you have any idea about orbital mechanics and orientation in space but I guess you have to spend several weeks playing the game to get used to it.

I may recommend you to use mode 4 (game mode) to spawn the spaceship above the crater itself and watch it falling down on surface. The camera reference point can be stuck to the spacecraft itself and you can fly freely around it, or switch to several other modes. Take note that there are some other modes for observation: "rotating with object" (Shift+D) and "follow object" (Shift+R).

Quote capecoral67 (

)

I was never able to get the "spaceship" to land correctly and stick without having the moon rotate underneath me.

Currently spaceships don't stuck to the surface, but your camera can do it - if you press Shift+G you will be right at the surface. If your view point is tilted you can use End key to level it again. The texture quality, however is pretty low even with HD pack.

The Earth itself does not rise above the horizon very high. Also the orbital parameters of Moon aren't exactly astronomical, but if you stand on the surface and select the Earth you can see how it drops below the horizon and rises again.

I've made a couple of screen shots but you aree going to have to specify what do you need for that story.

Attachments: 4880686.jpg(230.5 Kb) · 4100492.jpg(127.8 Kb)

Edited by Aerospacefag - Saturday, 18.07.2015, 13:42

capecoral67

Date: Sunday, 19.07.2015, 03:32 | Message # 3

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Quote Aerospacefag (

)

I've made a couple of screen shots but you aree going to have to specify what do you need for that story.
Attachments: 4880686.jpg(230Kb) · 4100492.jpg(128Kb)

Thank you so much, that really helps a lot! Wow. For the story all I really need to know is how long the earth is in view when it's above the lunar horizon on Mare Orientale? Note that I have not seen any actual renderings of what the earth would look like from orientale (or any other part of the libration zone,) you may be the first person to do this?

I am shooting for as scientifically realistic a scene as I can get. Imagine being on a base somewhere on the outer part of Mare Orientale. What would the earth look like *over time*, as in, month to month (such as a month is on the moon?) As best as I can work out, the earth peeks over the horizon for about 3-4 earth days per 28 day lunar cycle due to libration, then falls for the remainder under the lunar horizon. But this is just a rough guess, I am trying to verify what the actual time would be for earth to be visible from an observer on the moon.

Edited by capecoral67 - Sunday, 19.07.2015, 03:35

HarbingerDawn

Date: Sunday, 19.07.2015, 09:23 | Message # 4

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Quote capecoral67 (

)

I am trying to verify what the actual time would be for earth to be visible from an observer on the moon.

The actual time would vary from month to month and based on where specifically the viewpoint was. It's hard to get a specific right answer unless you specify exact selenographic coordinates for the viewpoint and the exact desired date range. Otherwise just use an "average" or "typical" duration.

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capecoral67

Date: Sunday, 19.07.2015, 15:15 | Message # 5

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Well I finally figured it out! Thanks again for the help. Whew that was interesting. Here's a video I made. That time dilation feature really comes in handy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsAG-yNn07I&feature=youtu.be

Forum » SpaceEngine » General Discussions » Space Engine as a research tool for writing fiction (help?)

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