Community DVD Project

[anthmartian]

Hi all.<br /><br />I'm quite new here to the community section. But not new to Space.com itself.<br /><br />I have recently been visiting several topics and posting images from ongoing unmanned missions. Such as Cassini, MER Rovers, and New Horizons at Jupiter. Posting a few of the images which have become a hobby of mine. ie trying to enhance mission imagery, or colouring Mars Rover images etc.<br /><br />Since i began posting it's been mentioned a few times that the images posted would be good on a video DVD. Others are posting their enhanced or worked on images too. It's hoped that we can get a collection together on a disc. I've even had an offer today from brellis for a soundtrack for the project!<br /><br />The idea i have is for a community project, where any interested members can submit astro images. That could be their own astronomy photographs, the kind of images i talked about earlier, any relevant video content, art work, etc.<br /><br />There would be plenty of room on the video. I also feel a section on members favourite space images of any kind, and from any source would be good too.<br /><br />I feel Christmas would be a great time to release this. Giving everybody plenty of time to gather up or choose content, film their inclusions, take their astro images, or work on any project they would like to put forward.<br /><br />My idea is to make this a kind of round up of the year in space, with the added personal touch of our own work or images added to the usual output by space agencies and organizations.<br /><br />We can thrash out all the details here. Or if you're not quite sure what i'm talking about..ask away here too!<br /><br />My website is here...<br /><br />http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth<br /><br />And is a good example of the enhanced, or worked upon images that could be featured. I'm hoping my astrophotography will have esculated to the point i can add some to th <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

I like this idea. Anything that can put space activity more in the public eye is a good thing. If I come up with anything I can do that I think is useful (I'm pretty useless so thats gonna be a tough one), I'll contact you by E-mail on your site. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Count me in. I would like to contribute!!<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

Oh, this sounds extremely cool! I'm not sure I have much to contribute, but I'd love to buy a copy when it's done. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

Hi Anthmartian<br /><br />Thanks for starting this -- it's a great idea, and I look forward to helping in any way that I can.<br /><br />One very valuable aspect of the roundup might be picking some highlights from various threads. For example, I had a great time reading all the exchanges when Cassini spotted the geyser on Enceladus. <br /><br />One of the great things about space.com is the diversity of backgrounds among the membership. When you post a Mars Image, you can get a wide range of reactions. Someone like JonClarke can give his "Areological" take on it, qso or rlb or 3488 might offer some opinions on the processing of the pic itself.<br /><br />I would suggest that we all volunteer to dig through a few of our favorite thread topics to see what jewels of our thinking processes could be displayed in a short narration that might accompany a portion of the video. For that matter, why don't we all think about submitting a short recording of each of our voices.<br /><br />I hereby volunteer to do the narration for the "Girls in Pajamas" section, lol. {A now-defunct thread that broke all the box office records for Anonymous Lurker Views, hehe}<br /><br />More seriously, I'll start fishing through my favorite threads, and see what comes to mind.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br /><br />Brad <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[anthmartian]

Sounds good. Any contributions will be sure to make the whole thing that much better. I'm a newcomer here. You guys are much better placed to put forward what will really deliver a community project in the spirit of this place. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />This DVD will not be for sale! *L* It will be free. I think you'll find the NASA images and such are all free to use, as long as image credits are given, and it is non profit. <br /><br />We will tackle distribution nearer the time. But Bit Torrent is one option, good old fashioned snail mail is another ( send a blank disc and postage to others who already have the disc ). Maybe some generous person would even provide server space and bandwidth? You never know!<br /><br />There are plenty of options for getting content through to me. Free options, if we are talking about video files, or large stuff. Obviously single images are easy. There is nothing that cannot be solved here. I'm working on an amateur film right now, so have some experiance with getting media from A to B from the other side of the world.<br /><br />This can just evolve as we go along. There is no plan, and no limit to how many menu's or category's we can have on the disc. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

<font color="yellow">This DVD will not be for sale! *L* It will be free.</font><br /><br />Excellent! For a minute there, I thought we were going to have to consult the space.com legal staff <img src="/images/icons/rolleyes.gif" /><br /><br /><font color="yellow">There are plenty of options for getting content through to me. Free options, if we are talking about video files, or large stuff. Obviously single images are easy. There is nothing that cannot be solved here. I'm working on an amateur film right now, so have some experiance with getting media from A to B from the other side of the world.</font><br /><br />I work with ProTools, which now lets you keep a list of QuickTime movies similar to the Audio List. So, as you get some bits and bobs coming together video-wise, I can put on my Gustaf Holst cap and help tailor a musical accompaniment.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[anthmartian]

I think i'm going to go ahead and begin making slide show movies and animated still images of all the major ongoing space missions press release images. For example the colour images from Cassini etc.<br /><br />That is a good place to start i feel. I will begin doing the same for the members images here too after a short while.<br /><br />If you have images you would like included, or you hold larger resolution images than the ones posted here in the forums, that would look sharper on DVD video, please e-mail me them.<br /><br />anthmartian@gmail.com <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Brellis, i know it will be difficult for you but we would want to leave a sequence unfinished until the last possible moment which enables us to feature the very latest pictures. But, hopefully you'll have enough footage to get a feel for how it's going to be. For something like Cassini the film will either be pictures fading out for the next one in a kind of slide show, or fading into another large image that needs to be panned across. I will keep to the same kind of pace throughout. So once you see the first segment, you'll know the subject matter, and pacing of the whole feature. <br /><br />I will save these movies on a DVD Rom for safe keeping. Building more and more content as we go. Then in about November time, i will start building the final disc. <br /><br />If you feel there have been any great comments, or thoughts posted here on a subject. Which could accompany images. Post it here, for inclusion on the disc. As per Brellis's suggestion. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[anthmartian]

I have begun work on the DVD. <br /><br />Starting with Cassini. I have all the great press release images. I've made a slide show of around 10 mins. Plus i am right in the middle of producing animated versions of Saturn's moons. Meaning i'm placing high res images from Cassini on a project area the same res as a TV screen, and kind of "flying" around the image with a virtual camera. I believe this will take the Cassini content to around 20 minutes plus on the disc.<br /><br />I'm going to use the above method on any mission with high res imagery. Such as MRO and Mars Express. Seems as we are dealing with a video media such as DVD video it would be a shame to just have it totally full of static shots, which are far bigger than a TV screens resolution.<br /><br />Would you like to help? <br /><br />I've realized that if this disc is going to be really special, comprehensive, and a snap shot of space exploration right now, then it is going to take time.<br /><br />If anybody would like to offer help it would be greatly appreciated. There are many missions underway right now. If you'd like to select one. Let me know. Most people have the capability to produce a slide show on a video file. The newer "Nero" software is absolutely fantastic for this, and very user friendly.<br /><br />I would very much like any members to gather images, video, or anything you can lay your hands on on a given subject, and produce video for these or any missions you choose. If you would like to help, post here. Stating the mission you'd like to work on. I say that, so we don't have 10 people working on Hubble! *L*<br /><br />I would also very much like to include the astro photography images shown at Space.Com. If any of you guys involved in that side of the community are reading. It would be fantastic to gain permission to use your work. Also if the word could be put around that would be good too.<br /><br />Shortly, i'll upload some previews to youtube, which should give you a taste of what we're attempt <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[abq_farside]

I look forward to some prelease material - great idea, can't wait. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><em><font size="1" color="#000080">Don't let who you are keep you from becoming who you want to be!</font></em></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

<font color="yellow">I have begun work on the DVD. </font><br /><br />Great news, Anthmartian! I very much look forward to seeing your work. it would be great to have a drop-box somewhere for people to post music, images and voice recordings for possible inclusion on the DVD. <br /><br />i hope to find time this week to start brewing up some original music. i'd love to take a stab at arranging songs or pieces that people suggest. i could even lay down an orchestral track around some Dragon guitar riffs!<br /><br />I'll start browsing through threads for some posts that might be deserving of animated sequences that help illustrate what is being said.<br /><br />Offhand, I know that Andrew and JonClarke {among others} have had some interesting exchanges comparing geological formations on Mars to similar formations on earth. <br /><br />For example, the sublime volcanic tubes and craters of Lanzarote somehow feel even more otherworldy now that we've seen some potentially similar places on Mars.<br /><br />borman recently brought up the notion of interstellar gas heating up our solar system. i wonder if that can be depicted graphically.<br /><br />oh, yeah, i wonder if you've ever come across a computer model of the motion of stars in galactic spiral arms. i saw a vid of this once, and found it quite beguiling. the structure of the arms hold together and rotate, while countless individual stars are moving in all kinds of chaotic directions, including retrograde to the motion of the arms. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[anthmartian]

abq_farside, thanks. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Brellis : Anybody can e-mail me content at anthmartian@gmail.com i have a pretty big inbox there.<br /><br />Also, bigger file sizes can be sent via http://www.yousendit.com which i've found to be quite a reliable free file sending service.<br /><br />I think your music will be an amazing addition. An idea i had is to maybe send you a disc via "snail mail" with every finished video sequence on when the time comes, if you then mix the music to suit the track lengths etc, if you then zip up the tracks and i can download them from yousendit and add to the video this end before burning the DVD.<br /><br />I'll be happy to take anybody's inclusions for this. As Brellis suggests some audio narration would be great, either new or in the form of an old post. If you are particularly proud of a forum post, it could accompany the image or data on the DVD. <br /><br />The MRO topic i think has raised some fantastic points, and there has been some great investigation of features on Mars in there. The large images from MRO also lend themselves very well to animated still images rolling past the "camera"<br /><br />Also, i think the New Horizons segment of the disc is going to be great. That is one where practically all images will have been enhanced by myself and Andrew. There is also some good computer animations available. I would really like Andrew to do something either narration, or written word to accompany that section on the disc. He has a wonderful knowledge of the Jupiter system. That feature has the potential to be a very comprehensive discovery channel style "mini documentary" <br /><br />This will be quite a long time in the making, the more people who join in the better it will be. It will either be finished sooner, or free anybody involved up to do more elaborate and better work, it could also see a DVD with more last <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

I'm browsing through some 'classic threads' for consideration.<br /><br />Enceladus, the Europa of Saturn ranks very high on my list. <br /><br />Several pages down, on August 30, 2005, the exciting discovery as reported by telfrow.Skeptics, enthousiasts, geologists - everyone's reaction to the exciting discovery of the outgassing is entertaining to read.<br /><br />Much of the cool news about Enceladus hit back in 2005, but I think it deserves a special mention in the DVD, because IMO it demonstrates why SDC is such a vibrant place!<br /><br />There are many fascinating posts, images and diagrams in the Enceladus thread as well as the Enceladus' Soup thread. The discovery of possible Dione outgassing deserves a little footnote, too. borman and Andrew start branching their discussion out to include the volcanic moon Io spewing material that reaches several of its neighbors at Jupiter.<br /><br />I'd love to see their discussion illustrated by creating a short motion-graphics piece that reveals the processes so recently discovered. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[brellis]

Another absolute classic is the Current Water on Mars thread. Again, borman, bonz and stevehw among many others exchange some interesting ideas. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[5billionyearslater]

If you need some music for the video, I'm your man!

 

[anthmartian]

5billionyearslater : Brellis is already involved with the music side of the disc. I suggest you discuss your wish to get involved with him, either here, or by email. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Brellis : Maybe you yourself would like to focus on a few forum topics covered here which you feel would make good features for the disc. I would be happy to have a go at presenting the feature as best i can visualy. Maybe you could approach those involved in the discussions you've selected, and explain what we're doing. Requesting or asking permission to use their posts, or even a narration for the video sequence? <br /><br />Maybe we could find a narrator within our ranks here?<br /><br />So far my plan is to one by one build a feature on each major ongoing space mission in 2007. Each will feature slide shows, any video released, my own animations of still images from those missions, plus any content which members have created around those missions. For example enhanced imagery as seen in the New Horizons topic, and colour Mars views from the Rovers. I also dabble in CG, so there may well be some stuff like that ( i sometimes take real data and work on it in 3d animation software )<br /><br />Then in addition to that we can have the individual features as you propose, taking their content from topics here.<br /><br />Also, i've already invited anybody here to think about whatever content they could contribute. I know guys in our field of interest get up to all sorts of things within the hobby of astronomy. I've seen amazing stuff, such as meteor showers filmed via a night vision set up, even recordings of those showers made on FM radio's! I know people are involved in a diverse array of activity which would be very interesting to feature. <br /><br />Summer is approaching ( for us in the north ) maybe some members will attend a star party and fancy themselves as a film maker?<br /><br />Of course we want to see the best of what 2007 has produced from the worlds space a <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[qso1]

Just dropped by my image thread and saw your invite. I'll see what I can put together. I got a few ideas, glad you liked my stuff and thanks for inviting me to participate in the DVD project.. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Another very good thread, one of the best on SDC IMO is this one: Approaching Iapetus - what makes it two-faced? began by CalliArcale, with much informed input from vogon13, regarding this fascinating Saturn moon. In September this year, Cassini is due to make a very close pass & I am trying to get the flyby distance reduced. Fascinating object indeed.<br /><br />Yes, I should be able to provide text & images for the disk. Thanks Anthmartian for your very kind comments about me. <br /><br />Is there a chance of rlb2 joining in. His images are superb!!!!!<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[anthmartian]

Andrew, i hope rlb2 will join in. Because his contributions can help make large parts of the space mission section hugely dominated by our own work.<br /><br />If you, or anybody else would like to gather posts, and accompanying images which could be made into a feature together, then either send them to me, or work on them personally that would be great. <br /><br />I'm hoping to have a preview of part of the Cassini video up on youtube in the next couple of days, with a link here. This will demonstrate some of the animation of still images that can make up parts of the disc. rather than just having 100% static slide shows. Many images are just too big, and would lose a huge amount of impact being viewed just as a zoomed out static image which could fit on a TV screen. So, i am planning on panning across those big pictures, such as those gathered by Cassini, or MRO. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[brellis]

hi Anthmartian<br /><br />In the next few days, I will assemble the highlights from the Enceladus thread and "storyboard" them with suggestions for related images/sequences. <br /><br />5BillionYears - your musical input is most welcome! The soundtrack to our DVD should reflect the good taste of our esteemed members. Translated: no Rap! <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /><br /><br />I'm pretty busy the next few days, but I'll do what I can in my spare time. I'm working on a comedy pilot spoofing the mysterious "Area 51" starring Paul Reubens as a captive alien. Men in Black meets M.A.S.H. - it's a hoot! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>

 

[5billionyearslater]

Brellis, I've sent you an email.

 

[anthmartian]

Brellis : That sounds a good way to go. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[anthmartian]

I have posted a short segment of the Cassini section of the DVD at Youtube.<br /><br />It's up on my site, on this page.<br /><br />http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/videopage<br /><br />Please remember, Youtube do horrible things to your video regarding quality. I can assure you the DVD resolution files i have for the project are sharp, and will be presented in perfect DVD quality on the finished disc.<br /><br />Just try to imagine this on your big TV, with Brellis's sound track work accompanying it! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />I'm sure it will be quite a stunning experiance. I've been lucky enough to see this video clip on my new TV at full reolution, through media center on my X-Box. It was amazing. Now i'm very eager to see this project whole and can't wait to grab my popcorn, beer, and be sat down in comfort with remote in hand! Seeing the best that 2007 has given us in space from all here, and the worlds space agencies. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>

 

[ianke]

Hello Anthmartian,<br /><br />I went to your sight, and I am sold. Please pencil me in for a copy. I want one! This is going to be something special.<br /><br />Ianke <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[anthmartian]

Ianke : Thanks for that! <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />At present, the best way i can think of for distribution would be initialy downloading from Bit Torrent. <br /><br />If several people download, it then also opens up the possibility of using a postal service in many territories around the world. A blank DVD and a pre addressed envelope could allow a person who already has an ISO image of the DVD downloaded to simply burn another copy and post it back, if they are a nice kind person! This will help those with restricted bandwidth, or slow connections.<br /><br />it's important no money changes hands, not even for postage or to cover costs. As this would breach copyright on the content. Which is free to use as long as no money changes hands.<br /><br />The download could be bundled together with cover art etc to print. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em>"Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"</em></font></p><p><font color="#33cccc"><strong>Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....</strong></font></p><p><br /><br />Click Here And jump over to my site.<br /></p> </div>