tcamp@dukeac.UUCP (Ted A. Campbell) (03/31/89)
I am currently engaged in work on a crude space-flight simulation
program. At this point the program can depict the earth as seen from
particular orbits, utilizing earth surface-feature data from the
"Micro World Database" which has been distributed publicly.
I would like to have similar data on the moon and planets (at least
planets about whose surface features much is known). If anyone on
the net has access to this sort of information (legitimately
available, I'd be greatly interested). Some parameters follow:
(a) I can translate a number of different data formats,
but I will eventually want the data in ASCII-readable form,
since it will be utilized on both Unix-based and PC-style
computers, with significant differences in their binary data
formats.
(b) I am looking for mappings of surface features such as maria,
craters, large-scale mountain ranges, rilles, and the like.
(c) The data needs to be indexed according to latitude and
longitude coordinates.
(d) The data should preferably take the form of l-l coordinates
for points to be connected in lines, with some form of code
indicating what type of surface features the lines indicate.
(e) For my purposes, I need rather low-resolution data.
The earth coordinates I use include only continental and
island coastlines, and amount to about 2000 l-l points.
Large-scale databases would have to be scaled down, and
so some form of prioritization of coordinates would be
helpful in larger databases.
I'd also be interested in knowing if other similar projects
are underway (or have been completed). I'll appreciate
any help or advice.
Ted A. Campbell
Duke University
Durham, NC
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