rick@hanauma (Richard Ottolini) (08/24/89)
It would be nice if JPL-NASA would make representative sample available. Fortunately this time we are able to digitize the cable TV stuff onto computers. It is inferior to the original data, but better than nothing.
mentat@walt.cc.utexas.edu (Robert Dorsett) (08/24/89)
In article <4786@portia.Stanford.EDU> rick@hanauma (Richard Ottolini) writes: > >It would be nice if JPL-NASA would make representative sample available. >Fortunately this time we are able to digitize the cable TV stuff onto computers. >It is inferior to the original data, but better than nothing. Around 1982 or 1983, in a theme issue on laser disks, Byte magazine commented that JPL made a laser-disk with all the pictures to date. It commented that the data was available at selected libraries, or could be purchased for a small fee... I recently sold all of my Bytes, so I can't look up the reference...
cc4b+@andrew.cmu.edu (Christopher Brian Cox) (08/24/89)
>In article <4786@portia.Stanford.EDU> rick@hanauma (Richard Ottolini) writes: >> >>It would be nice if JPL-NASA would make representative sample available. >>Fortunately this time we are able to digitize the cable TV stuff onto computers. >>It is inferior to the original data, but better than nothing. > >mentat@walt.cc.utexas.edu (Robert Dorsett) writes: >Around 1982 or 1983, in a theme issue on laser disks, Byte magazine commented >that JPL made a laser-disk with all the pictures to date. It commented that >the data was available at selected libraries, or could be purchased for a >small fee... But, how many people out there happen to have a laser disc player? And a library that stocks laser discs? And video capture hardware? If you do, then please find a copy of the disk and make some of it available to the rest of the world. Preferably in 24 bit files available by anon FTP. This still doesn't handle the recent (83-89) images. How about someone at JPL making some images available? They wouldn't have to be high quality (ie: already enhanced and false colored), but I would ask that they be 24 bit color or good 8 bit greyscale. I'm sure someone could set up an anon FTP server for the images, or place them on an established system. Chris ps. Anyone at JPL know a reason this couldn't be done?
john@l5comp.wa.com (John Turner) (08/25/89)
A previous poster lamented that JPL-NASA has not made a "repesentative sample" of Voyager images available -- presumably referring to machine-readable images. My advice is, don't wait for the pictures to come to you. Seek them out. Two months ago I personally acquired a reel of Voyager Neptune images simply by placing a series of reasonably polite phone calls with the Lab staff. It took awhile, and would probably take even longer now that the close encounter is upon us, but I sincerely believe that any pure-hearted person could obtain Voyager images by the same route. The images I received were on nine-track 6250 bpi tape in "EDR" format. Included with the reel was a detailed spec sheet for the file format (which also helped to explain all those cryptic codes and numbers you see around the pics on TV) and a lengthy printout with all sorts of nifty information about each picture. I haven't actually viewed the pictures yet because (sigh) I've had trouble arranging to transcribe them to DC600 streaming-tape cartridges, which are all I'm equipped to handle. If you're interested in spcific images, you need to know their serial numbers. Voyager image serial numbers are in the form xxxxN-xxx, where the first four- digit number is the series number of the shot; the letter N stands for Neptune (J would be Jupiter, S Saturn, U Uranus); and the final three-digit number is a code identifying the camera and filter used to take the image. The JPL Tape Library will cheerfully compile a reel of images for you, from their vast and complete collection, but only if given the serial numbers. An example serial number would be 0950N-003, which CNN was showing Wednesday night. Just remember that these are raw 800 x 800 x 8 bitplanes, not the prettily processed color photos we all take for granted. The color filters are not RGB but rather orange, blue, ultraviolet and stranger hues. Viewpoint moves significantly between images taken during close approaches, so the color planes seldom line up exactly and may require some fiddling. I'd rather not post internal JPL phone numbers on the net. If you want to contact JPL, try calling their print library at 818-354-4200. Or send me email and I will send you my contact numbers. Happy hunting! John Turner, john@l5comp.wa.com, way up in Edmonds WA
mccaugh@s.cs.uiuc.edu (08/25/89)
Responding to: rick@hanauma re: Voyager images > It would be nice if JPL-NASA would make representative sample available. > Fortunately this time we are able to digitize the cable TV stuff on computers. > It is inferior to the original data, but better than nothing. I believe if you write JPL-NASA, they might help you. Also, I was curious as to what is meant by "it (digitized cable TV stuff) is inferior to the original data:": does that mean the original data wasn't digitized ( as in: analog), or that it was but you needed to sacrifice resolution? And by what factor is it inferior? The reason I ask is that it might be possible to enhance the digitized images (then again, maybe not).
lorne@megatest.UUCP (Lorne Covington) (08/26/89)
From article <4786@portia.Stanford.EDU>, by rick@hanauma (Richard Ottolini): > > It would be nice if JPL-NASA would make representative sample available. > Fortunately this time we are able to digitize the cable TV stuff onto computers. > It is inferior to the original data, but better than nothing. I know that the SPAN network (Space Physics Astronomical Netowrk, I think) was created and currently maintained by NASA to allow the rapid sharing of just this kind of data. I used it in connection with oceanography, so I'm not real sure about what's on there, but I know JPL is on-line as are most (if not all) of the various space research groups. Most large universities also have SPAN connections in the US, and the network involves hundreds of institutions around the world. SPAN is a DECnet (VMS) network, but I know they have several gateways onto ARPAnet, Bitnet, etc. Check with the nearest large network node near you - I'm afraid I can't remember who the SPAN controller is, but maybe someone else out there in net.land does. Sorry, but we're not on it at my current place of employment. Lorne Covington Megatest Corp. {decwrl,ucbvax}!megatest!lorne
rtczegledi@crocus.waterloo.edu (Richard Czegledi) (08/26/89)
In article <4786@portia.Stanford.EDU> rick@hanauma (Richard Ottolini) writes: > >It would be nice if JPL-NASA would make representative sample available. >Fortunately this time we are able to digitize the cable TV stuff onto computers. >It is inferior to the original data, but better than nothing. Truly, it is inferior to the original data, but tell me, what are you using to capture the images? I am getting reasonable results with my setup (352x480 21 bit greyscale capture) But the composite video is pretty lousy to work from. The image is more or less interesting, but I have to go in by hand and touch up the text and elimina te fringing from the box surrounding the view.
sparks@corpane.UUCP (John Sparks) (08/27/89)
In article <4786@portia.Stanford.EDU> rick@hanauma (Richard Ottolini) writes: > >It would be nice if JPL-NASA would make representative sample available. >Fortunately this time we are able to digitize the cable TV stuff onto computers. >It is inferior to the original data, but better than nothing. I remember someone saying on "Neptune All Night" the PBS special that Nasa has a BBS that you can call and download pictures. They didn't mention the phone number though. If someone from Nasa (or anyone else who knows) reads this, could you tell us if this is true or not and what the number is? -- John Sparks | {rutgers|uunet}!ukma!corpane!sparks | D.I.S.K. 24hrs 1200bps ||||||||||||||| sparks@corpane.UUCP | 502/968-5401 thru -5406 Life is like an onion: you peel off layer after layer, then you find there is nothing in it.
ingoldsb@ctycal.COM (Terry Ingoldsby) (08/30/89)
In article <1989Aug24.203726.20510@l5comp.wa.com>, john@l5comp.wa.com (John Turner) writes: > Included with the reel was a detailed spec sheet for the file format (which > also helped to explain all those cryptic codes and numbers you see around the > pics on TV) and a lengthy printout with all sorts of nifty information about > each picture. I haven't actually viewed the pictures yet because (sigh) I've Could you please explain what the codes mean? It would help those of us that video taped the encounter to understand what all the numbers are trying to tell us. Also, any info you have about the actual imaging system would be interesting. -- Terry Ingoldsby ctycal!ingoldsb@calgary.UUCP Land Information Systems or The City of Calgary ...{alberta,ubc-cs,utai}!calgary!ctycal!ingoldsb
asv@gaboon.UUCP (Stan Voket) (10/22/89)
I'm interested in obtaining some of the Voyager II images of Neptune for viewing with X windows. I have uucp and Telebit only. No ftp. Thanks for thaking the time! :-) +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | - Stan Voket, asv@gaboon - OR - ...uunet!hsi!stpstn!gaboon!asv | | Land Line: (203) 746-4489 TELEX 4996516 - | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ -- +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | - Stan Voket, asv@gaboon - OR - ...uunet!hsi!stpstn!gaboon!asv | | Land Line: (203) 746-4489 TELEX 4996516 - | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
mao@hpclmao.HP.COM (Mike Ogush) (10/26/89)
/ hpclmao:comp.graphics / asv@gaboon.UUCP (Stan Voket) / 3:48 pm Oct 21, 1989 / I'm interested in obtaining some of the Voyager II images of Neptune for viewing with X windows. I have uucp and Telebit only. No ftp. Thanks for thaking the time! :-) +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | - Stan Voket, asv@gaboon - OR - ...uunet!hsi!stpstn!gaboon!asv | | Land Line: (203) 746-4489 TELEX 4996516 - | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ -- +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | - Stan Voket, asv@gaboon - OR - ...uunet!hsi!stpstn!gaboon!asv | | Land Line: (203) 746-4489 TELEX 4996516 - | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ ----------