#planetarium software

[tea-with-eleni]

OKAY BUT EUROPA ACTUALLY DOES GET ECLIPSES

EUROPA, AS IN “THE OTHER WORLD THAT PROBABLY HAS LIFE”

GANYMEDE IS ABOUT THE RIGHT SIZE IN THE EUROPAN SKY TO CAUSE A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE FOR EUROPA

EARTH IS SUPER AWESOME AND SPECIAL BUT SO IS THE REST OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

NO OTHER PLANET IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM GETS TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES!! THE SIZE AND DISTANCE OF OUR MOON FROM EARTH AND THE SUN MAKE THE PERFECT CIRCUMSTANCES TO GET TOTALITY!!! THE EARTH AND MOON ARE SOOOO COOL AND OF COURSE OUR SUN!! I LOVE LIVING ON EARTH I LOVE YOU EARTH I LOVE YOUUUUU MOON I LOVE YOU SUN

[eclipse89]

seeing a lot of extremely positive moon and astronomy tags on my stuff and guess what

you can just do astronomy if you want. that is a thing you can do for free without any equipment or special education. i don't think enough people know this

see this website. it's a free sky simulator. it's available as an app for iOS/android, on the website itself, and on macOS/windows/linux.

whenever you want to go outside and look at the sky, take a look at stellarium and it'll tell you what you're seeing when you look up.

for instance this is roughly what you'll see if you're in the northern hemisphere around 7pm EST

it's all right there. you can just go outside and do it. for free

do astronomy

and reblog this for others if you already do astronomy or if this was a good/useful resource for yourself

[tea-with-eleni]

There is a mysterious computer in one of the planetarium offices. When I found it, it was underneath a computer desk (normal). It did not have a plug (weird). It had a monitor on the computer desk and a keyboard (normal). They could not be plugged in to the computer (weird). It turns on, and I went looking for a monitor cable that would fit because the planetarium has a big bucket of monitor cables stored behind the dome. It seems to use some variation of a VGA cable; exact species could not be determined, and a cable that was the correct gender could not be found. (weird.) The computer seems to have been custom built and has a 2TB hard drive visible. I cannot discern its purpose.

My working theories are:

It ran the previous planetarium software prior to its current system.

It has something to do with the laser shows.

It's the backup drive for... something.

It has a label that says "PREFLIGHT"; this implies it was stolen off an aircraft somehow.

It's alien technology that, based on its bizarre assortment of ports, got punted out of an alternate reality.

Open to suggestions with how to deal with the thing.

[whirligig-girl]

Hey it's me again and I'm just wanting to ask a few last questions.

Can a Gas Giant be white while not being made of helium? I have this one GG I'm my k type system that's white but it's basically the Jupiter of the system in terms of distance.

Could two minor moons of 512 and 493 km respectively be enough to affect tides on a world that's about 10'000 km across and a bit over a quarter the mass of Earth?

How far can a body have a ring system?

Photo for the 2nd question for reference. I actually wonder if both moons would hypothetically be viewable in the sky and if this planet's system is stable. Anyways thanks if you reply! You been a big help.

1: sure. water vapor clouds are white. a gas giant in the habitable zone would be white due to the water vapor clouds, with blue skies. Also, a jovian gas giant which somehow had pure ammonia ice clouds with no other contaminants to make it brown could be white or gray. But I'm not sure what would cause that to happen. But if you just want it to be white then that's a possible explanation. Or maybe there's some kind of white smoky haze covering everything. Planets are weird and hobby worldbuilding doesn't have to get everything exactly right, it's just nice to be able to provide a basic explanation if it comes up, even if it won't hold up to further inspection.

2: as i understand it, tidal forces are related to angular size and density. so if the moon and the sun were the same density as eachother, their tidal effect on the earth would be the same (since their angular sizes are the same.) The Sun is about half the density of the moon, so half the tidal effect. So if the satellites are comparable in apparent size to the Earth's moon, they will have a comparable tidal effect. (Note that for things like tidal heating, the period and eccentricity will matter quite a lot as well)

Calculate angular size using the Cosine Approximation:

angular diameter in radians = distance to object / diameter of object.

(remember you'll probably want to convert from radians to degrees or arcminutes.)

3: the roche limit is the outermost limit of a planetary ring system. beyond that distance, debris will accrete into one or more satellites. To maximize this, maximize the ratio of the densities--a dense superjovian with icy fluff rings will have a proportionally much larger ring system than a saturnian planet with rocky/iron rings, for example. The innermost limit is typically the exosphere of the planet's atmosphere.

4: the moons look like they ought to be stable to me. Only way to test is to put it into something like Universe Sandbox^2 with the most stable integrator settings (actually nowadays i think the default integrator settings will work?) and run time forwards a bunch.

It goes without saying that asteroid moons of that size would be visible in the sky--probably much brighter than the planets appear in Earth's skies. But the question of whether they're visible as 'disks' (rather than point sources) comes down to their apparent size. It is technically possible to see the crescent shape of Venus, when it is close enough that its angular size is 0.018 degrees. But I haven't had such luck with that. The Moon is about 0.5 degrees in apparent diameter as seen from the Earth. Objects about 0.1 degrees in size should be apparent as circular (or blobby if they're irregular asteroids) objects in the sky. Smaller than that and it gets harder and harder to distinguish from a dot.

I would also consider getting Space Engine and making a mod config file for it to render your system. I've done that for non-Kerbal worldbuilding projects in the past and even if you dont go to the trouble of making custom maps for the objects, it's still a good way to visualize everything, and how big things should be. Celestia can also do this.

(Of course Kerbal Space Program is the best way to make a fictional solar system because, unlike planetarium software, your worldbuilding decisions become manifest as game design, and you can naturally get an idea of not just what the system should look like, but how it would work if a space program had to fly through it. It's absolutely the best way to make your solar system scale worldbuilding projects seem real. It is however a frustrating hobby to get into.)

[gothicprep]

someone in my department did a planetarium show over the weekend and sent me some pictures. for some reason I’m cracking up at, like, whoever designed this software finding it necessary to write “astronomy” in size 40 font

just in case you’re confused I guess!!!

[dahyeltal]

I did two fully scripted planetarium shows today featuring Queer Star Stories! I wrote the verbal script and the software script, and it was nearly flawless. I also got to nerd out about astronomy and mythos after both shows during audience choice/Q&A time, particularly the second show which was restricted to 18+. I’m so dang tired, but it was fun and I loved every second of it. 

[tea-with-eleni]

So, my previous planetarium dome was...uncomfortably Aware.

Like.

Okay, my current dome is a computer that does a thing, that thing being to make the pretty space pictures move.

It has one purpose, and it does it with only the usual user-caused tomfoolery.

The old dome... she theoretically had the same exact software and did the same general stuff. But she also tended to misbehave, badly, for any fool that didn't use her preferred pronouns. (She/her.) One coworker who didn't believe that encountered... more than the usual number of inexplicable Problems.

Stuff like:

The dome froze, for no reason, when he tried to display Mars.

Half the dome turned green, again for no reason, and refused to stop doing that until he rebooted the entire system.

Weird lines appeared. The computers claimed they didn't exist, despite their visibility.

The dome liked me, and while she still sometimes gave me some trouble (or maybe just really hated Mars?) it was never anywhere near as bad as it was for my other coworker.

We finally tried to build a whole show in her and he gave in and started referring to her correctly to avoid slowing down production. The inexplicable occurrences mostly dropped off to manageable levels.

When we finally left due to management being Kind Of Intolerable Actually, our last words were for her to Give Them Hell. Which, based on what we've heard, she has done. Kind of funny, really.

[tea-with-eleni]

honestly I think that's the nicest thing about unexpectedly finding myself with a ton ADHD (and aware of it!) female coworkers. Being able to say "Yeah, I spent Sunday morning hyperfixating on the planetarium software and now I mostly have a working control panel" makes sense. Along with, "...so I kind of forgot to eat lunch and now I feel like I'm dying be back in like fifteen."

my old roommate once told me she was jealous of hyperfixation.

yesterday i couldn't take a shower. or eat. my legs fell asleep.

often i'm aware i'm hyperfixating, this sense you need to go! and i just sit there, fixating.

adhd means it's all or nothing. if you take a break for a snack, get a glass of water - when you come back, your joy may be ruined. all of a sudden, this hobby, this project - just returning to it feels like scorching your hands. didn't you love this thing 23 seconds ago? what happened?

this strange trade-off. if you can handle being uncomfortable for a little while longer, you might be able to actually finish everything in a single rush. there will be no battling yourself to try-again. you don't have to worry about the effort it takes just to start something.

and you get stuck here, sometimes, on the bad stuff. scraping the grout out for literally no reason. individually cutting your split ends off. where even is your brain in those moments? where even are you, watching yourself pick at your skin in the mirror, obsessively, almost like you're praying.

sometimes i find myself laughing - i don't even like what i'm doing anymore. this thing became expensive, draining. i'm tired and my whole body is sore.

and still, something internal demands - just one hour more.

[tea-with-eleni]

Update on the saga of Preflight and Renderbox:

Both boxes have Internet. Our cable management is less likely to kill us now; we ran the Ethernet cables behind the piano.

Don’t ask about the piano.

We found a spare desk and gave it and the best behaved monitor we could find to Preflight, who is updating to Windows 10 as we speak.

Renderbox can now run modern planetarium software again, and quite well!! Go Renderbox!

We almost have that office in a usable state.

Thank god.

[labequipmentindia]

Astronomy school Lab Equipment Manufacturer, Suppliers and Exporter in India

Astronomy school science equipmentis a broad category that encompasses a wide range of tools and materials used to teach and learn about the universe. Some of the most common pieces of astronomy equipment include telescopes, binoculars, planetariums, globes, and star charts. These tools can be used to observe the night sky, study the constellations, and learn about the different objects in space. Telescopes are perhaps the most iconic piece of astronomy equipment. They allow us to magnify distant objects in the night sky, making it possible to see details that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. Binoculars are another popular astronomy tool, as they provide a wider field of view than telescopes and are easier to use. Planetariums are specialized theaters that create a realistic simulation of the night sky. They are often used to teach children about astronomy, as they can provide a much more immersive experience than looking at the sky through a telescope. Globes are also a valuable tool for teaching astronomy, as they provide a three-dimensional representation of the Earth and the planets. Star charts are maps of the night sky that show the constellations and other celestial objects. They can be used to help students learn to identify the stars and planets. In addition to these common pieces of equipment, there are many other specialized tools and materials used in astronomy education. These include spectrometers, which are used to study the light from stars and other objects; filters, which are used to block out unwanted light and improve the visibility of certain objects; and software programs, which can be used to analyze astronomical data. Astronomy school science equipment is essential for providing students with a hands-on learning experience. By using these tools, students can gain a deeper understanding of the universe and develop an appreciation for the wonders of science. Below is a list of common astronomy school science equipment used in both school and college laboratories: 1.Telescopes: Refracting telescopes Reflecting telescopes Catadioptric telescopes (combination of lenses and mirrors) 2.Mounts and Tripods: Equatorial mounts Altazimuth mounts Dobsonian mounts 3.Eyepieces and Barlow lenses: Various focal lengths for different magnifications 4.Filters: Solar filters Moon filters Light pollution filters 5.Star Charts and Planispheres: Celestial maps R otating star finders 6.Astronomy Software: Planetarium software Sky mapping applications 7.Cameras and Imaging Equipment: Astrophotography cameras CCD cameras DSLR cameras with adapters 8.Spectroscopes: Used for analyzing the spectrum of celestial objects 9.Solar Observing Equipment: Solar telescopes Hydrogen-alpha filters for solar viewing 10.Meteorites and Impactites: Samples for hands-on study 11.Orreries and Models: Mechanical models of the solar system 12.Globes: Celestial globes Terrestrial globes 13.Grating Spectrometers: Used for detailed spectral analysis 14.Laser Pointers: for pointing out celestial objects during presentations 15.Microscopes: for studying meteorite samples or microscopic features of celestial objects 16.Light Meters: for measuring ambient light pollution 17.Data Loggers: for recording observations and experiments 18.Educational Kits: Solar system model kits Planet and moon models 19.Laser Diodes: for optical experiments and demonstrations 20.Teaching Charts and Posters: Illustrations of constellations, galaxies, and other astronomical phenomena.

[profounddestinyrebel]

SO Tucker doesn't realize he has a crush a Danny. He's completely oblivious.

He's ride and or die with Danny long before the portal but they're both intense people, that's normal for the two of them. Danny never notices that Tucker always mentions girls but doesn't really talk to them. (forgive me for taking liberties) That he talks about hot girls but never anything else. It's not weird that he moved to the same city as Danny, okay? Danny's a disaster, he'd end up at the wrong end of a Rouge within a day if he was in Gotham by himself. And Danny always tells him stuff, they don't lie to each. So he knows about Damian. Damian and his cow. Damian and his fighting skills. Damian and his celebrity dad Bruce Wayne though that was probably a point against Damian after Vlad.

It isn't until Danny starts getting invited to exclusive museums, planetariums that show other galaxies, Damian even gets Martian Manhunter's signature! places that Tucker can't get Danny into things that he can't give him that he figures that Damian has a crush on Danny. Which, great taste. And, good for him. Danny that is.

But. Then he gets an invitation to talk with Tim Drake-Wayne. The teen who revolutionized the tech industry. He- he talks to him for over 3 hours. WTF And, it's great, it's amazing, but. How the heck did he get on Mr. Wayne's schedule in the first place? The only person who he knows that could swing that is- but why would-

And it happens again. A tech conference that he couldn't make due to work. He gets called off which they don't even do and Danny even comes with him! Which hasn't happened in- well, a long time. Damian shows up when they get back, and it's- a little awkward, but he's too excited to really care. They go to BatBurger and he rants to Damian about all the exhibits they had (forgive my lacking knowledge on tech conferences) and this trick the new model had that just created a new more interesting bug when played with this software and. He pauses to stuff his face with a double burger that he didn't order and moans. So good. It's gone in less than 30 seconds. And Damian asks a question, clarifying. Which- hasn't happened in years. His friends listen to him but they rarely understand what he says. And it's- nice to talk to Damian like this. He orders a second burger and answers Damian.

The three of them start hanging out more often. Damian will still invite Danny places but- now he's invited too. He thinks that Damian is still working up the courage to confess. And since he's such a good friend, he starts looking for things to do for Damian too. He can't spend a ton of money but, little things. The menu of every single place that sells vegetarian food and their location. This self massage technique that he learned from Frostbite, which does wonders for headaches. Random animal memes that he thinks Damian would like. A video of a guy carving a working violin out a hunk of wood (literally impossible but I wish) that he then plays. A baby riding a dog with the dog making sure the baby stays on his back. Just, stuff he thinks Damian might like. Damian isn't effusive thanks Mr. Lancer but he answers every text which he figures is pretty much the equivalent.

My evilist dead serious headcanon is that Tucker actually has a huge crush on Danny

He's had a crush on him for years but he never got the courage to say anything about it and that was part of the reason why he was trying to get a girlfriend all the time because he wanted to get over it

And eventually Danny starts dating someone, he starts dating Damien

Tucker is super happy for Danny because he seems like he's thriving, he'll go on for hours about how much he loves Damien and how amazing he thinks he is and Tucker kind of agrees

Damien is Rich, skilled, intelligent and surprisingly sweet under his hard angry/grumpy shell

Tucker thinks he's way better for Danny than he could ever be, he would never dream of trying to sabotage their relationship but hearing about how much Danny loves him does hurt sometimes it hurts a lot actually

But he really loves Danny and he would never want to hurt him so he's willing to keep his feelings to himself and watch his best friend fall in love with someone else

[vivekpandeyy1]

Engaging Minds: Exciting STEM Activities for Students in Mumbai

In recent years, the emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education has been growing worldwide, recognizing its significance in shaping the future of our society. Mumbai, the bustling metropolis of India, has been actively promoting STEM education among its students. This blog aims to highlight some exciting STEM activities available for students in Mumbai, showcasing the city's commitment to fostering a passion for these fields and encouraging innovative thinking.

Importance of STEM Education: STEM education equips students with crucial skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration. It empowers them to navigate a technology-driven world and prepares them for careers in fields like robotics, artificial intelligence, data science, and more. Recognizing this, educational institutions and organizations in Mumbai have taken initiatives to incorporate STEM education into their curriculum.

STEM Activities for Students in Mumbai: 

a. Science Fairs: Mumbai hosts numerous science fairs throughout the year, providing a platform for students to showcase their scientific projects and discoveries. These fairs encourage students to explore various scientific concepts, conduct experiments, and present their findings. Participating in science fairs fosters curiosity and develops a deeper understanding of scientific principles.

b. Robotics Workshops: Robotics workshops are gaining popularity in Mumbai, offering hands-on experience with designing, building, and programming robots. These workshops expose students to engineering concepts, coding, and problem-solving in a fun and interactive manner. Through building robots, students learn the importance of precision, teamwork, and logical thinking.

c. Coding Bootcamps: Coding is an essential skill in today's digital age. Mumbai provides coding bootcamps for students, teaching them programming languages and software development. These bootcamps nurture computational thinking and encourage students to create their own apps, websites, or games. Learning to code enhances problem-solving abilities and opens doors to future career opportunities.

d. Science Museums and Planetariums: Mumbai boasts several science museums and planetariums that offer immersive experiences for students. These institutions provide interactive exhibits, demonstrations, and shows that bring scientific concepts to life. Exploring these spaces encourages curiosity, sparks interest in STEM subjects, and inspires students to pursue careers in scientific research and exploration.

e. STEM Competitions: Mumbai hosts various STEM competitions, ranging from math quizzes to robotics challenges. These competitions foster healthy competition among students and stimulate their problem-solving skills. Participating in such events allows students to apply their knowledge in a practical setting, develop confidence, and receive recognition for their achievements.

Initiatives Promoting STEM Education in Mumbai: 

a. STEM Clubs: Many schools in Mumbai have established STEM clubs to engage students outside the classroom. These clubs organize hands-on activities, workshops, and guest lectures by industry professionals, promoting practical learning and career awareness in STEM fields.

b. Collaborations with Industries: Mumbai's proximity to technology hubs and industries enables students to benefit from collaborations. Schools often partner with tech companies, research institutions, and startups to provide students with real-world exposure through internships, mentorship programs, and industry visits. Such collaborations bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering a deeper understanding of STEM applications.

c. Online Learning Platforms: Mumbai has embraced the shift towards online education, especially during the recent pandemic. Online platforms provide a wealth of STEM resources, virtual classes, and tutorials, enabling students to learn at their own pace and explore topics beyond the classroom curriculum.

Conclusion: Mumbai's commitment to promoting STEM education is evident through the array of activities and initiatives available to its students. By engaging in science fairs, robotics workshops, coding bootcamps, and participating in STEM competitions, students in Mumbai are exposed to practical applications of STEM principles. Additionally, collaborations with industries and the availability of online learning platforms further enhance the learning experience. These efforts ensure that Mumbai's students are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in STEM fields, making them well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

[joelbartsch]

Unique Venues at the Houston Museum of Natural Science

Established in 1909, the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) is one of the best attended museums in the United States and one of the most popular attractions in Houston. HMNS at Hermann Park consists of five stories of permanent exhibits and rotating special events. The museum also manages a number of additional venues on site, including the Burke Baker Planetarium, the Cockrell Butterfly Center, and the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre.

The museum’s Burke Baker Planetarium opened to the public in 1964, and has since provided millions of visitors and field trip participants with a variety of astronomical programming. The planetarium has been updated several times over the decades, and now operates off the premier Digistar 6 digital planetarium software and projection system. Digistar 6 allows museum patrons to explore a multitude of cosmic settings, from planetary surfaces to asteroid fields. The Burke Baker Planetarium also hosts special events, such as high definition screenings of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, and joint projects with other museum departments, including the Death of the Dinosaurs show.

The Cockrell Butterfly Center and Brown Hall of Entomology, meanwhile, make up one of the most interactive and visually stunning venues at HMNS. Children and families can walk through a living butterfly habitat, as well as an archive of preserved specimens, consisting of some of the largest and most interesting arthropods on the planet. As an educational resource for children, the center also features a number of puzzles and quizzes. From 2022 to 2023 the Cockrell Butterfly Center was temporarily closed to complete a number of renovations and improvements. New additions range from a three-story glass dome built over a 50-foot waterfall, designed to recreate a tropical rainforest environment, to the Cockrell Butterfly Center Flight School.

Finally, the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre became the first ever IMAX theater in the city of Houston when it opened it 1989. Over 16 million individuals have seen a movie or educational film at the 4K, high-dynamic-range screen. The screen measures 60 feet tall and 80 feet wide, and the stunning visual experience is supported by the latest in six-track sound system technology. Films screened at the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre address a myriad of historical and scientific subjects, including what the continent of Antarctica looked like during the time of the dinosaurs and the story of the Great Barrier Reef.

In addition to these venues at Hermann Park, HMNS operates the George Observatory and HMNS at Sugar Land. A collaboration between HMNS and Brazos Bend State Park, the George Observatory welcomes stargazers every Saturday night. Star-gazing options at the observatory include a range of deck and dome telescopes, live camera feeds, constellation laser tours, and a staff of amateur astronomers happy to guide newcomers through their first observatory visit. Individuals interested in a trip to the George Observatory should visit hmns.org for more information, as space and telescope access is limited.

HMNS at Sugar Land hosts a series of educational, interactive classes and exhibits for children and families, as well as special events and permanent exhibits. The venue has extensive experience running student labs and field trips with local schools. HMNS at Sugar Land is open all day from Thursday through Saturday.