Comparing the night sky in X-Plane 10!

[wb5okj 26]

On a whim I was comparing the night sky in X-Plane 10 to a sky map (Aciqra2,2,1), and was really amazed at the accuracy of the night sky in the sim. I'm in Oklahoma City, the time 0451GMT and I could pick out the constellation Capricorn. For deep space objects I could easily pick out M7 to the west and the star Fomalhaut, Alnair, to the south east of me. Back to the west,, I could pick out the Corona Australis and in Sagittarius, the Star Nunki. The only thing missing is the moon, which should have been above and just to the east of Nunki. Most of the star field was easily picked out. Too bad the moon isn't in, I suppose it moves so fast, the calculations to have it correct is probably a bit daunting for the sim.

 

I would say, Good Job LR!!

[Geofa 108]

Now if we can only get the day scenery a little closer we will have something!

[jcomm 6,034]

I want the Moon phases :-) They were never the strongest feature in X-Plane's night sky :-)

 

 

I suppose it moves so fast, the calculations to have it correct is probably a bit daunting for the sim.

 

I don't think it should be that complex :-) MSFS allways did it perfectly, and ELITE too ;-)

 

Better daylight effects would also be welcomed... Here in Lisbon it is now around 6:35 LT (5:35 UTC), and it's pitch dark in the sim, while out there I see daylight already even if the Sun didn't rise yet...

[jcomm 6,034]

Well,

 

twilight is way off reality in X-Plane. As an example I attach here two screens of ELITE v8, taken from LPMT (Montijo Airbase, not far from Lisbon), and showing very close to real (to what I see from my house) the light at 05:35 and 06:15 ZULU... For comparison I also post, after each ELITE screenshot the corresponding X-Plane10 situation.

 

You will notice that the problem is apparently not related to the position of the Sun (it looks similar on both ELITE and X-Plane10 at 06:15 ZULU soon after rising, although a little bit higher in ELITE, just as I see in RL...) but rather the twilight effect...

 

Ah. and of course, the same applies in the afternoon, where after the Sun has set I still have a lot of twilight, and so does ELITE (and MSFS...) but X-Plane is already well into a pitch black sky...

 

ELITE FLIGHT SIMULATOR - 05:35 ZULU @ LPMT facing East:

===========================

 

 

The same in X-Plane10:

===================

 

 

ELITE FLIGHT SIMULATOR - 06:15 ZULU @ LPMT facing East

 

 

 

The same in X-Plane10:

===================

 

[Malabar 0]

Do you notice the obvious difference comparing the 2 xplanex screens? I wonder why that happens. Also, I can overlook the time flaws but that dash just gets my fashions senses tingling. ;)

[Muskoka 104]

Now if we can only get the day scenery a little closer we will have something!

 

My morning laugh...thanks Geof.