3D Maps / In favor of the software approach

J Roberson ([email removed]) writes:
> Z-coordinates: James vassilakos said there was difficulty when two stars
> occupy the same Z-coordinate on a 3D map. I think he meant the same XY
> coordinates; identical Z-coordinates would put them on the same page. If
> they're on the same XY coordinates, one's right beneath the other, which
> would indeed make it hard to spot on a series of transparencies.

Yikes! Yes, thanks for the correction. Two stars on the same Z-axis was
what I meant. A while back a very short-lived SF-RPG named Universe
came out, and it had (for its time), the very best near star map in
three dimensions. I often think that it's unfortuate that the publishers
didn't release the game in the "little black book" format which
Classic Traveller is known for. Certainly, they could have probably
attracted the attention of numerous Traveller players that way. But
that's beside the point.

Anyway, they semi-solved the two-stars/one-z-axis problem by having
one dot with two names and two z-coordinates. Of course, just imagine
the difficulties should every discrete z-coordinate between the top
of the map and the bottom be occupied by a set of stars with the same
XY coordinate. You'd have a map-makers nightmare.

But, as difficult as this problem is for the astrographer, it's
even worse for the programmer. We have to envision the problem
beforehand and find a solution without ever knowing what the
data set looks like. In other words, we have to solve for all
cases.

This is probably a key reason 2d maps are so popular. They just plain
easier to work with. But, you have to admit, there's something very
SFy about looking at a 3d starmap as opposed to a 2d one. 3d maps
give you a sense of a *really big* universe out there. 2d maps look
too much like settlements on a planetary surface. They aren't nearly
as neat to look at. They don't make you *feel* like you're really
in space.

This is why I think a rotable 3d map on a computer would be the ideal
solution, but I know of no programs (even non-ftpable ones) which will
fully satisfy the requirements at hand.

1. 3d/rotatable (obviously)
2. display name of the star-system beside the identifier on the map,
   legibly, semi-regardless of the user's point of perspective.
3. use color and size to further distinguish stellar/system features.
4. incorporate an adjustable cartesian grid with numbering displayed.
5. IBM executable (assume SVGA or better)
6. Input data stored in TEXT file (this is important, because we need
   to be able to write simple programs to generate this data, and it
   would be nice to be able to hand-modify it with choice of editor).

Anyway, that would be the sort of 3d map viewer I'd pick up if there
were any immediately available (ftp or otherwise). Unfortunately, I don't
believe that any exist which meet even half of these requirements
(well, I suppose ACAD meets *half* of the requirements, but certainly
not all of them). Anyway, if any of you distinguished programmers
decide that you want to make a project out of this problem, please
consider the above before you set down to coding.

           _   /|       Jim Vassilakos
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