Map Bashing for the Poor and Computer Illiterate

[Sifu Blackirish]

This may be in the wrong area, but let's give it a shot!

Some years ago, I saw a really cool picture on the front page of my newspaper. It was a representation of what Venus would look like after being terraformed. So, it got me thinking...and there are so many unrelated thoughts floating around in my overheated brain, it finally bubbled back up to the surface.

Do some of you computer literate types know of sources for topographic/radar maps of astronomical bodies, and perhaps some software to render it in a real format? I would prefer freeware, since my tenuous internet link is my only luxury.

 

[far-trader]

This might have what you're looking for as base images:

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/

Pretty much all public domain (check the "Policy" link for details).

Not sure what you're after for playing with it or what you define as a real format though. I heard good things about paint.net (at www.getpaint.net ) and it is free. Downloaded it a while back but haven't had time to see what kind of learning curve it has. Opened it to make sure it had installed and that was all

Did you catch the thread a short while back about using Google Earth images as map bases?

http://www.travellerrpg.com/CotI/Discuss/showthread.php?t=21850

 

[aramis]

If you're looking for DEM's, the USGS hosts them for mars:
http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Teams/Geomatics/photogrammetry/topography_mars.html

And other stuff....
http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Teams/Geomatics/index.html

 

[Sifu Blackirish]

wow, someone's awake...

Thanks for the quick replies.

What comes to mind is that most physical maps show shades of blue for ocean depths, and colors ranging from green to yellow to brown for land elevations.

If I could find a good map, and now that I have sources, I just might...download a map and play with the pencils.I find that sort of activity immensely relaxing, but my wife doesn't understand it at all.

 

[Sturn]

I think Profantasy's Fractal Terrains (its not free) has some way of importing realword data to create a map. I know next to nothing about it, but I believe some realworld Nasa data was used to create Earth maps in Fractal Terrains. No idea if the resources are out there to do the same with other planets?

 

[Andrew Boulton]

There's a lot of stuff like this for Celestia, including "Blue Venus".

http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/catalog/fictional.php

 

[Andrew Boulton]

...and 'cos I was bored:

 

[aramis]

Fractal Terrains can take standard DEM files. It also can export the results to CC2/CC3.

And, for mac users, it runs OK in WINE. So does CC2/3.

 

[Colin]

I think Profantasy's Fractal Terrains (its not free) has some way of importing realword data to create a map. I know next to nothing about it, but I believe some realworld Nasa data was used to create Earth maps in Fractal Terrains. No idea if the resources are out there to do the same with other planets?

Fractal Terrains can import DEM (digital elevation maps) and comes with several of Earth and Mars.

 

[Sifu Blackirish]

Andrew, that picture made my heart skip a beat.

Poking around the USGS site, I found this...

http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/i-map/i2769/i2769_sheet1.pdf

With the elevation colors added, now it looks like a world! I scan it and see adventure possibilities already...