Version: 1.2.5 (using KDE 3.5.7, Debian Package 4:3.5.7.dfsg.1-6mepis1 (4.0)) Compiler: Target: i486-linux-gnu OS: Linux (i686) release 2.6.22-1-mepis-smp Hi, KStars is a great program! It would be nice if there would be option to choose sky color depending on where is Sun and Moon at the sky at the moment. It would be useful when playing timeline. One could know what he can really see on the sky. And i think it should not be too difficult to implement.
Hello, I've thought about this, but I'd like to do it right, and doing it right isn't trivial. By "doing it right", I mean I'd like to eventually have realistic sky-lighting effects, so not only is the sky blue in the daytime, but it would get brighter near the Sun, and also near the Horizon. There are equations for determining the sky brightness as a function of position on the sky (given the position of the Sun and Moon, and the Horizon), but we'll need a way to figure this out for the whole sky without having any noticeable impact on the responsiveness of the program. Maybe it would require openGL. Anyway, thanks for the wish!
Hello, To extent the idea a bit further, it would be nice to be able to set the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bortle_Dark-Sky_Scale . It would simulate a polluted sky and that way 1) help people preparing observations in a not-so-perfect sky 2) would be a great tool to educate people regarding sky pollution. Thanks.
This request is partially addressed with the 3.7.1 feature of simulating daytime/nighttime in the sky color. It is not fully addressed, but there is no plan to more completely satisfy this request. I am marking it resolved/fixed.