Newcomer / Intro Quick question about celestial mechanics...

Hara Doon

H
Sorry if this is common knowledge and my search-fu just isn't strong enough, but I have really looked quite a bit and the only thing I seem to be able to find is that planets/moons/stations/etc actually following their orbital paths is (or was) a planned feature...but I can't tell if it's in the game yet or not. If I park close-ish to anything I can't tell if it is actually moving or not (visually it all appears quite stationary, except for rotating), but there could be several reasons for that.

It might just be that when I think I am standing still what I am actually doing it just not adjusting my orbit anymore, so technically I am standing still...but in reality I am just just orbiting the star along with everything I am parked next to...so it seems like I am standing still.

Not sure I have been very clear, but whatever.

TL:DR: Do planets/moons/stations/etc. actually move along their orbital paths or is that a "planned-but-not-yet-implemented" feature still?
 

Bluebird007

Bluebird007
That's a good question and I'm sorry that I don't know the answer!

It would be awesome to visit some systems at times of alignment! :)
 

Dommarraa

Dommarraa
Yes it is. They had to adjust the orbit of a station, it was whizzing around at the max ship speed (due to gravity well) and was virtually impossible to dock with unless you came from the correct direction
 

CrispyLeper

CrispyLeper
All celestial bodies are in orbit and move accordingly. You may just not realise as the timescales could be great and is not always easily spotted. Great way to spot this effect is if you consistently visit a RES over time, sometimes it's well lit and other times shadowed by the parent body!
Another thing to remember is that you always enter each system at the same nav point, if you try to make a mental note of the positioning of a few bodies the next time you jump in you will probably spot they are not the same.
Personally I'm not that observant and I'm always too focused on my task in hand to really take much notice but I can assure you that it is true.
 

krysohmyz

K
I personally can testify to orbiting mechanic. I have several favourite systems I keep returning to and I know the positions of bodies, there. When I return, say, a week later, the planets are definitely in different relative positions.
But let me continue with OT question - why aren't moons called moons? That's what baffles me. :)

And it's a pity they made the stations stationary (pun not intended. >.<). I remember back in betas, there was a system with the station orbiting lonely, close to the star (forgot the names, it was the original bubble) It was great fun, trying to chase it around, or one could simply sit on the orbit line and wait for the station to catch up. It was nice. :)
 
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Rhaedas

Rhaedas
Find a system where the bodies are close to the parent star, travel there, and plan a route to get behind one of the planets enough so it eclipses the star. If the orbit is small enough, you'll be able to see the planet creep and the light from around it change.

A number of videos out there, some time lapses, some real time. Here's one as it occurs:

[video=youtube;OQ2WdzlPPxw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ2WdzlPPxw[/video]
 
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Rhaedas

Rhaedas
krysohmyz said:
Okay, just for peoples to know, this clip is from an early beta or so. There are now much cooler effects involved and the whole eclipse looks much more awesome. Do try! :D
Click to expand...

Good point and advice. Trying to find specific video and pictures of ED stuff these days is hard, there's so much out there now.
 
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