As a voyage leg is activated, the Properties Bar updates to reflect the active voyage's settings.
Making most modifications is pretty self-explanitory, but some are not. Here are some simple instructions.
Some properties are disabled. This may be because of the particular exoplanet's circumstances, or because the feature has not been implemented yet. Here are some examples...
When the exoplanet is a gas giant, exoExplorer makes no terrain for the exoplanet and disables the exoplanet's terrain properties.
The "moon" option for all exoplanets represents an imaginary body purely for the purpose of visualizing possible circumstances around the exoplanet. No actual exoplanet satellites have been observed or proposed.
Axial tilt for all worlds is fixed at 23 degrees. Code to enable this feature has not yet been written.
You may choose to be "on the exoplanet" or "on the exoplanet's moon" by selecting your destination from the "Celestial Body Destination" drop down box. When changing locations, the Voyage Leg Surface view updates to reflect the conditions and properties for the chosen celestial body.
Terrain and atmosphere modification. Note that terrains and atmospheres for exoplanet and moon are handled independently. You may modify the terrain material (texture) by choosing among available choices in the "Terrain Material" dropdown box.
You may choose a different terrain model (mesh) by selecting among choices available in the "Terrain Model" dropdown box. Once a new model is chosen there will be a delay as the mesh must be loaded into the renderer and a new physics model must be constructed for it. Initially, the new terrain model will possess the material from the previous terrain model. New material choices, intended for the new model, become available in the Terrain Material dropdown box. Choose a new terrain material from this new list.
You may modify the appearance of the atmosphere in several ways. The "Atmos Mass" property gives you three options. "As Mercury" means no atmosphere. "As Earth" means a substantial but transparent atmosphere. "As Jupiter" means an extremely thick and opaque atmosphere.
If your celestial body has an atmosphere, you may alter its appearance by choosing different mixes with the Atmos. Mix" property. Three choices are available: H2 dominant, CO2 dominant, N2 dominant.
Tidal locking is a fun feature to experiment with. Tidal locking for the moon means that as the moon orbits the exoplanet, the same side of the moon always faces the exoplanet -- like the Moon and Earth. Tidal locking for the exoplanet means that as the exoplanet orbits its star, the same side of the planet always faces the star -- like Mercury and our sun. Try different combinations of tidal locking for the exoplanet and the moon.
You may choose between different travel modes with the "Surface Travel Mode" dropdown box. Two modes are available, wheeled vehicle and small aircraft. Two choices for surface vehicle, and only a single type of small aircraft are currently available.
|
