Request I like flying by instruments as much as the next guy, but...

[Izack]

Brief explanation: A spotlight or other light source useable in space, for illuminating nighttime dockings, satellite captures or EVAs. It's pretty darned hard to see when you have a planet between you and the Sun, and raising the ambient light level seems too much like cheating.

To make it universal, maybe it could be a separate grappleable vessel (UCGO cargo, perhaps?) for the Shuttle RMS or UMmu.

If something like this already exists, I apologise in advance; I did not find it. A link would be appreciated. Ideas, criticisms, or advice are most certainly welcome.
Cheers!

 

[willy88]

I recall that Camera MFD has a night vision mode.

 

[Bj]

Brief explanation: A spotlight or other light source useable in space, for illuminating nighttime dockings, satellite captures or EVAs. It's pretty darned hard to see when you have a planet between you and the Sun, and raising the ambient light level seems too much like cheating.

As of yet the (graphics engine?) is limiting illumination of vessels/objects like a spotlight would. So for now, impossible for a spotlight.

see:

[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=4004"]Launch Pad Lights[/ame]

So you can only 'pretend' it is being illuminated.

And in your case of the sun being in the way, it sounds more like a approach issue to me, it would be better if you would select a docking port that doesnot have that issue, or reorientate the vessels so that the Sun shifts away from your LOS. Or you could just delay docking for a hour, or use the instruments rather than an entirely visual docking. :thumbup:

Or go with willys suggestion

 

[TSPenguin]

With orbiters DX7 graphics client, there is only one possible light source. And that is always the sun.
So you either need postprocessing, or a different renderer like OGLA.

 

[Izack]

"Not possible..."

I had a feeling that was the case. Ah, well. The night vision Willy88 mentioned is quite sufficient anyway. Nice juxtaposition of flying-by-instrument and third-person Orbiteering.
Also, night vision makes everything look cooler.
A floating spotlight cargo for extended complex EVAs would still be cool, though (not exactly realistic, as no one in their right mind would waste cargo space that way, but cool nonetheless).

 

[Wraith]

With orbiters DX7 graphics client, there is only one possible light source. And that is always the sun.
So you either need postprocessing, or a different renderer like OGLA.

Surely D3D7 isn't that bad. There was hardware support for multiple lights since I don't know, Voodoo3? RivaTNT? Rage128? There is D3DDEVICEDESC7::dwMaxActiveLights field where the device reports its max. number of simultaneous lights. And AFAIR those cards reported eight or something.

 

[Izack]

And in your case of the sun being in the way, it sounds more like a approach issue to me, it would be better if you would select a docking port that doesnot have that issue, or reorientate the vessels so that the Sun shifts away from your LOS. Or you could just delay docking for a hour, or use the instruments rather than an entirely visual docking.

I was just elaborately stating that I was on the Earth's night side. I think I'd need my vision checked if the 'glare' from the Orbiter sun was giving me problems! :lol:

 

[TSPenguin]

Surely D3D7 isn't that bad. There was hardware support for multiple lights since I don't know, Voodoo3? RivaTNT? Rage128? There is D3DDEVICEDESC7::dwMaxActiveLights field where the device reports its max. number of simultaneous lights. And AFAIR those cards reported eight or something.

All true, hence why I said that Orbiters DX7 renderer can only handle one lightsource. DX7 is quite capable, Orbiter, currently, isn't...

 

[Ghostrider]

I recall that Camera MFD has a night vision mode.

Aye, and it makes for a very useful tool when doing rendez-vous with a vessel or anything on the dark side of nowhere. It also has magnification and it can be oriented, and I think it adds a lot to the atmosphere by having an instrument you would actually use in RL.

 

[Submariner]

Where can I get Camera MFD? I can't find it on Orbithangar, and that sounds like a cool addon for docking Progress and Soyuz TMA ships.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

CameraMFD all one word (alloneword). :thumbup:
http://www.orbithangar.com/search_quick.php?text=cameramfd
It's very usefull, and not very hard to set up.

 

[garyw]

[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=2645"]CameraMFD 0.12 Beta[/ame]

If you are docking during the night you also have the existing Dock MFD. as long as you have all the right frequencies you really can't go wrong.

 

[Wraith]

All true, hence why I said that Orbiters DX7 renderer can only handle one lightsource. DX7 is quite capable, Orbiter, currently, isn't...

Yeah, seems I misunderstood you, sorry. But, if you hack around the orbiter.exe a bit and get the device pointer... Hmmm...