My old program for drawing globes made some nice postscript output, but in reexamining the source code, I can only imagine that I was doped up on cough medicine while working on it. I started a bit on a revamp of it, starting by purloining the matrix and vector library that I used in my old raytracer and swiping the outline data from xearth. A couple of hours of TV watching and coding later, and I have the basics fleshed out:
I’m not 100% satisfied with it, since the coordinate system that it currently uses is the default one that xearth uses, and which is not the same as used by the internals of the plan13 code that I will eventually interface to it. It’s not
especially critical, but I think it makes a less clear presentation. I’ll tighten it up later.
It also doesn’t do any filling of the continent outlines, which I’m not really sure is a flaw: my goal is not to present a photorealistic view of the earth, but rather to show a clear schematic of the path of satellites as they orbit the earth. Still, I’ll give it some thought.
Hey Mark! I stumbled across your cool looking globe you did. I know you’re not 100% happy with it but I think it’s awesome! I’m a World Geo Teacher by day but when I’m not teaching the kids I’m in a band called the SugarCrush based out of Dallas TX. We have a single coming out called “The World” in the genre of pop-dance-hip-hop. I would love to use your image for our Album Cover. Pretty please!! We’re not a big band, just a guy and a gal having fun but I thought I’d ask out of respect to you and your work. Thanks!!!