Idea Textures that change relative to seasons

[escapetomsfate]

How about changing earth's (or the other planets') texture according to the season?

There are textures for each season here;
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/BlueMarble/BlueMarble_monthlies.php

I don't think there are any APIs that can reload textures without reloading everything else though....


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I've converted those files into TEX. Now I just have to find a way of loading them depending on the season......

Is there any way to reload the earth textures?

 

[Hielor]

How about changing earth's (or the other planets') texture according to the season?

There are textures for each season here;
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/BlueMarble/BlueMarble_monthlies.php

I don't think there are any APIs that can reload textures without reloading everything else though....


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I've converted those files into TEX. Now I just have to find a way of loading them depending on the season......

Is there any way to reload the earth textures?

This thread is relevant to my interests.

I've briefly looked at the API and haven't seen a way to load different textures onto a planet. If you had a planet vessel, you would be able to dynamically load textures onto that. Maybe put a huge, relatively-low-poly vessel which matches the shape of the planet, and texture that?

Let me know if you figure anything out.

 

[escapetomsfate]

Making a vessel in place of the planet seems the only way. I've looked a few times for an API that could change the planet textures, but nothing jmps out at me.

 

[zerofay32]

What about loading textures based on MJD when the simulation is loaded? I think that would be just as effective visually.

 

[Hielor]

What about loading textures based on MJD when the simulation is loaded? I think that would be just as effective visually.

Not really, because then it wouldn't change during the simulation.

 

[escapetomsfate]

I could make two versions, one where the texture is loaded before the sim starts(zerofay's suggestion), and another using a vessel.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Maybe it can work this way: create a non-moving cloud layer stuck to ground and call it "snow"?

---------- Post added at 18:07 ---------- Previous post was at 18:05 ----------

A useful snow coverage map can be found here:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/archive.php?cat_id=16

Along with an animation covering several last years:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/37000/37308/snow_TMO_200002-200902.mov