Idea... any interest in moon phase in TF3d?

[schettj]

Ok, so here's the deal. The moon image is static, it's file:

060bb8f2_manila

So, begin by creating 24 images, one for each phase of the moon, from say this nice high quality image:



Make 'em in the correct format for TF3d (optionally compressed) and named as the standard phase name for each image (ie, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter Moon, etc)

Next, write a wee little mortscript that would, each day at say noon, use this nifty web service here http://www.trynt.com/trynt-moon-phase-api/ to fetch the correct phase for the day and copy the right image file for that phase over to the image filename for the moon. Bonus points if it only copies the image if its changed

Rejoice as TF3d shows the correct phase for the moon whenever it draws the moon.

Sound interesting? I can code it up and post it.

Edit: looks like there are only 8 standard names, but the above web service gives a lot of detail:

<trynt>
−
<moon-phase>
<date>February 5, 2009</date>
<date-timestamp>1233860176</date-timestamp>
<moon-phase-name>Waxing Crescent</moon-phase-name>
<moon-phase-position>0.59326823386299</moon-phase-position>
<lunar-illumination>8.3%%</lunar-illumination>
<days-til-full-moon>12.01</days-til-full-moon>
<days-til-new-moon>26.8</days-til-new-moon>
<days-til-first-quarter-moon>4.6</days-til-first-quarter-moon>
<days-til-last-quarter-moon>19.4</days-til-last-quarter-moon>
−
<moon-phases>
−
<data>
<day>Thursday</day>
<moon-phase-name>Waxing Crescent</moon-phase-name>
</data>
−
<data>
<day>Friday</day>
<moon-phase-name>Waxing Crescent</moon-phase-name>
</data>
−
<data>
<day>Saturday</day>
<moon-phase-name>Waxing Crescent</moon-phase-name>
</data>
−
<data>
<day>Sunday</day>
<moon-phase-name>Waxing Crescent</moon-phase-name>
</data>
−
<data>
<day>Monday</day>
<moon-phase-name>First Quarter Moon</moon-phase-name>
</data>
−
<data>
<day>Tuesday</day>
<moon-phase-name>First Quarter Moon</moon-phase-name>
</data>
−
<data>
<day>Wednesday</day>
<moon-phase-name>Waxing Gibbous</moon-phase-name>
</data>
</moon-phases>
</moon-phase>
<server>10.254.95.50</server>
</trynt>

so could use the "days till" numbers, etc, to select from the intermediate images in the series.

[schettj]

Following up, its a simple calculation for the phases, so I can do it all in Mortscript.

Might get some time to play with it, if I get it working I'll post it up.

When this is run it should more or less get you a number between 0 (full moon above) and 23 - start counting from 1 above for the pic that goes with this number - for the current date. So pretty simple - not perfect since it should be UTC time, but hey close enough!

Not tested (tested C version )

#
# moon phase 0-2333
#

GetTime(d,m,y,h,min,s)

if (m < 3)
        y = y - 1
        m = m + 12
endif

m = m + 1
c = 365.25*y
e = 30.6*m
jd = c+e+d-694039.09
jd = jd /  29.53

b = floor(jd)
jd = jd - b
ph = Round(jd*24)
if (ph > 23)
  ph = 0
endif

#ph = 0 (NEW) thru 23 (last of the waning cresent)

So all I have to do is add the "run me once a day at 1pm" code, make 24 moon image files for manila named moon_0 through moon_23, and add the code to copy the computed file over the default moon file, and we're done.

[Hafrust]

Sounds cool...I'm interested.

[hibby50]

Me too... who wants to make it happen?

[schettj]

Originally Posted by hibby50

Me too... who wants to make it happen?

I'm on it. I'll post something later today (hopefully, poking around on this between real work)

Edit... nope, not today

I was able to chop up the images, and have started the import into manila process. It'll get there, just not today

[schettj]

Ok, this is nearly done! I'm testing it now. I need to add a city that's in the dark...

Edit: Having some issues with moving files, and not having squished moons.

Currently looks like this, so I have a bit of work yet. But getting closer



At least the phase is right

[schettj]

Ok, worked out the technical details on the file move/renames, and found that if you're using a ManilaHD version the images need to be width-compressed to 80% of original size to avoid "Fat Moon"

So, here we are. Sadly I have 23 more moons to resize. But after that this should be released!

[schettj]

Yay, it's done!

I am going to make a new thread since this one was more "what if" then anything else. Guess we can nuke this topic Mods...

[MaryGladys]

Hey! I would be interested in this! It looks awesome, SCHETTJ! Looks like you already have it posted! Anxious to try it!