New camera mode (for just looking at a planet)

[vger]

Ever turn on NASA TV just so you could see some views of Earth? (you know you've done it) I'm sure I'm not the only one, who has just wanted to load up an orbiter in KSP and let it run, just so the scenery of the planet can roll by as if I were looking at a screensaver...

I want a camera mode that is designed for this. Is it is now, all camera modes are relative to the craft. This means that the planet will fall out of view when the craft goes behind it. How about a 4th camera mode that always keeps the nearest space body visible behind the vessel at all times?

[Amaroq]

Oh. Wow. Yeah, orient the camera so that it is pointing from one side of my craft, through my craft, to the center of the SOI. Very good idea.

[Tex]

Actually, there are two methods I know of so you can get beautiful rolling-by views.

For a close-up experience, try using a Cupola module or a lander can (or any pod with a good set of windows), go IVA, and zoom in until you can't see the sides of the windows. This makes for an epic view, and if you go to 10x warp, it looks simply spectacular.

For a farther-out view, simply use any old craft in any orbit you want, and zoom out like crazy. Eventually, your craft will no longer be drawn, and the view of the planet or other body will be hardly changed at all. This is a great view for seeing sunrises/sets or looking at Munar eclipses!

For best results, press F2 to disable the HUD and stuff. These two methods I've actually used in my filming (albeit films that I won't upload, they were just for testing purposes)

Hope this helps!

[Deathsoul097]

Umm, isn't this what free mode does? If you don't like that the craft seems to tumble, then just install MJ and use Smart A.S.S. to hold a heading relative to the surface, F2, physwarp, and enjoy.

[vger]

For a farther-out view, simply use any old craft in any orbit you want, and zoom out like crazy. Eventually, your craft will no longer be drawn, and the view of the planet or other body will be hardly changed at all. This is a great view for seeing sunrises/sets or looking at Munar eclipses!

Well the purpose of this isn't to hide the craft (though it would work with this using your zoomout option). The idea is to automatically point the camera towards the planet at all times so you don't lose sight of it during half of the orbit.

[Deathsoul097]

Well the purpose of this isn't to hide the craft (though it would work with this using your zoomout option). The idea is to automatically point the camera towards the planet at all times so you don't lose sight of it during half of the orbit.

Yeah. Free mode does this, kinda. It sets the Camera so that the planet is always "down", as if you were standing on the surface. You could really just look straight down and it would do exactly what you want.