LAMO, aka Low Altitude Mapping Orbit Options

[dilo]

I think is time to start this new topic, now that Dawn is more than half-way in the transition from HAMO to LAMO (as showed in the plot below).

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[claurel]

Now that Robert Gaskell's shape model of Vesta is available, I used it to create a movie comparing Vesta to two other Solar System bodies: Phoebe and Mimas. The movie contrasts the sizes, shapes and rotation states of the three objects. Though I'm familiar with the numbers, it's still impressive to see just how quickly Vesta spins (though I suppose contrasting it with a synchronously rotating moon isn't the fairest comparison.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSGh_JHNFSI...eature=youtu.be

Enjoy!

--Chris

[claurel]

Now that Robert Gaskell's shape model of Vesta is available, I used it to create a movie comparing Vesta to two other Solar System bodies...

For Celestia users, here's an add-on that replaces Celestia's default low-resolution Vesta model with the Gaskell model:
http://www.shatters.net/~claurel/celestia/models/vesta.zip

The model contains less than 50,000 triangles, so it should display well on any system. It uses a normal map to supply the extra detail from the original high-resolution shape model.

--Chris