I seem to remember seeing random "shooting stars" when I was using FS2002. Does anybody remember this and have any idea what program (an add-on I am sure) made this possible?It was not something you had to invoke using a key - it just was installed and would randomly display shooting stars at night.Hope I am not the victim of a faulty memory.Any ideas appreciated.I do know that is was not the "Cool Effects" program by Thomas Moger.Thanks

They were part of the default FS2002 install, as were the Northern Lights, Fireworks, Niagra Falls, and other things based on the new effects engine. I was guaranteed to see a shooting star if I set off over the North Atlantic, set time accel to 64x, and just watched the sky.Although some of these made it into FS2004, I don't know whether the shooting stars did.-John

I know the Northern Lights and fireworks are apart of FS2004.

I've never noticed them in FS2002 ...even after three years :-lol. I've seen the Northern Lights, though :D"If it doesn't have a VC ... who cares!? http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/DarrenA300/smug.gif"

>They were part of the default FS2002 install, as were the>Northern Lights, Fireworks, Niagra Falls, and other things>based on the new effects engine. I was guaranteed to see a>shooting star if I set off over the North Atlantic, set time>accel to 64x, and just watched the sky.>>Although some of these made it into FS2004, I don't know>whether the shooting stars did.>>-JohnI'm almost positive the same effect is in FS9. What is really dumb though, why should we have to fly at 64x!! :-roll

You don't have to fly at 64x.But, because, as in real life, shooting stars are few and far between, you will have more chance of seeing one if you do. But, you will also have a better chance of missing it, because the effect is speeded up too, I guess.Having said that, I have yet to see my first FS shooting star I have to admit; I do most of my flying by day-but-now with UT USA nightlighting, that is going to change!Best,Martijn

It's there. I've seen one, never saw another since though!!In the Effects folder, you can find these:fx_shootstar1.fxandfx_shootstar2.fx

I believe they have to be triggered by a bgl however--I don't know if the bgl which triggers them was included in FS2004, nor do I know the bgl's name. Chris Willis is pretty fluent with the effects engine I believe. Hopefully this thread will catch Chris' eye and he'll respond.-John

I think they are caused by eyestrain from spending hours staring at a computer monitor in a darkened room. ;)Tony

Definately not few and far between in real life, depending on the time of year of course, but summer nights I use to sit out in the backyard and on the deck and saw at least one shooting star an hour, sometimes more.

And the Perseid Meteor shower isn't far off. They have a long window, from July 15th until August 25th but they really peak around August 12-13th. When I used to live in Northern CA, I could see about one a minute even in the early evening hours, but living in the light pollution of Phoenix has kept the visible ones to a few. I still catch several fireballs around this time of year. -John

I too use to live in No. California, and saw an amazing meteor show last year around August. There was one gigantic one that skimmed the atmosphere, then finally blew up and looked like a nuclear bomb going off. Just amazing! You are only a few mile drive away from the city lights though, right?

Perhaps the moderator should move this question over to the scenery design forum - hopefully someone who knows how to manipulate the effects engine could create something we all could use.

I have to drive a good hour to escape the light from Phoenix, even though I live on the outskirts of the metro area and across from a dairy. The city has grown so much, it is a good seventy miles from east to west if you come in I-10 and leave via US 60. Driving in from CA once at night, I could pick up the glow of the metro area not far after passing Blythe, which is about 120 miles west of the edge of the metro area.-John

Hey fellow Phoenician! Yes, when I go camping in Showlow or the Rim, it's nice to see so many stars. You look up long enough and you'll see many of them. Crazy how many stars there are. And yes, this city is getting way too big IMO