Just to let you know that AutoStarX is coming along quite nicely. It should be ready for release in another week or so.Meanwhile here's a sample shot: http://www.kline.demon.co.uk/comet5_1024.jpg It shows a bright comet at dusk. You can see red Mars below and to the left. The white line is the celestial equator. Just to show the improvement, here's a comet in FS2004 created with the original AutoStar. http://www.kline.demon.co.uk/comet2.jpg The comet image is very crude because the brightness dynamic range in FS2004 was a mere 3:1. In FSX there is essentially no limit: the colour for each star is a 24 bit value. Microsoft did a great job on the stars. Best regards, Chris

Neat :D

AWESOME Chris!! Let me know when you get to the Messier objects as well. :)

Carmine, I'm glad you like it. One or two of the brighter Messier objects (M31, the Orion Nebula) may be included. Watch this space, as they say.... Best regards, Chris

Fantastic :-jumpy

Hi Chris,You are using the beta for testing! Things are looking great!Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/Active Sky V6 Development Team Active Sky V6 Proud SupporterHiFi Beta TeamRadar Contact Supporter: http://www.jdtllc.com/AirSource Member: http://www.air-source.us/FSEconomy Member:http://www.fseconomy.com/

Looks amazing, what's the affect on framerates?

Wow, that's awesome. I'll be keeping an eye out for this in the Fall. Thanks for working on this.Rob A

Jim,I'm using the demo. If Microsoft would like to send me a copy of the beta I wouldn't complain!It should certainly work in the full program. After I've released AutoStarX it would be useful if anyone running the beta could confirm it works okay.... Best regards, Chris

The comet uses about 40,000 stars. With a bit of optimisation that could be reduced quite a bit. I haven't done any tests yet but I didn't notice any significant frame rate drop with 100,000 stars - but I did notice a drop at about 180,000. Best regards, Chris

Hi Chris,Yes, I meant demo.Hope this helps,Jimhttp://www.hifisim.com/Active Sky V6 Development Team Active Sky V6 Proud SupporterHiFi Beta TeamRadar Contact Supporter: http://www.jdtllc.com/AirSource Member: http://www.air-source.us/FSEconomy Member:http://www.fseconomy.com/

Woah... cool beans!

Hi, Carmine, It's done! I've now added a user objects feature, which can add objects such as a lunar eclipse, Messier objects etc. To place an object, add a new entry into UserObjects.txt and the object's bitmap. Parameters are: position (RA and dec), x and y size in degrees, rotation angle, brightness, pixel minimum brightness and density. I've placed several Messier objects and a lunar eclipse:http://www.kline.demon.co.uk/LunarEclipse_small.jpg If you look closely you'll see M1, M31 and M42 plus a lunar eclipse (the elliptical object at the right is M31, the Andromeda galaxy).Here's a real comet:http://www.kline.demon.co.uk/comet8_1024A.jpgThis is Comet West in March 10th, 1976. The stars and planets are also correct for that date - there are two planets just to the right of the comet. I remember seeing it in the dawn light, a glorious sight. I can hardly believe it's thirty years ago! I hope to release AutoStarX in a few more days. Best regards, Chris

You can download a demo file created by AutoStarX: Comet West (as in the screenshot). http://www.kline.demon.co.uk/CometWest.zip It includes everything: celestial circles, planets and their name labels, Comet West, three Messier objects and a lunar eclipse. Enjoy. Best regards, Chris