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AAS WorldWide Telescope Changelog

What's new in AAS WorldWide Telescope 6.1.2.0

Jul 12, 2022
  • Code changes:
  • Update the version of the Newtonsoft.Json library. This should not change
  • anything.
  • Data updates:
  • Add today’s JWST image release! The new data are available in a new
  • top-level “JWST” folder in the Explore ribbon.

New in AAS WorldWide Telescope 6.1.1.0 (Apr 1, 2022)

  • Code changes:
  • Tweaks to how tour files are created to ensure interoperability with the web client when including progressive HiPS catalog data sets (#208, @Carifio24).
  • Fix mirror-imaging of .OBJ 3D model files (#207, @Carifio24).
  • Date updates:
  • Add six new Mercury planetary maps (@astrodavid10)
  • Mercury MESSENGER MDIS Global Basemap BDR 166m
  • Mercury MESSENGER MDIS Global Basemap LOI 166m
  • Mercury MESSENGER MDIS Basemap MD3 Color Global Mosaic 665m
  • Mercury MESSENGER MDIS Global Color Mosaic 665m v3
  • Mercury MESSENGER MDIS Basemap Enhanced Color Global Mosaic 665m
  • Mercury MESSENGER MDIS DEM Global Color Shaded Relief 2km v1
  • Add “constellation” information to all of the core catalog records (@pkgw). This is mostly a matter of tidyness but should be helpful for updating the search indices used by the web client.
  • Remove a smattering of images with bad astrometry with no clear path to recovering the correct coordinates (@pkgw). Fix up negative zoom levels for some other images

New in AAS WorldWide Telescope 6.1.0.0 (Feb 22, 2022)

  • HiPS Support:
  • In tandem with the web client, the WWT 2022 Windows application adds long-awaited support for HiPS datasets! This feature was contributed by the China-VO developer group. The new version includes a large built-in database of HiPS datasets accessible in a new top-level folder in the “Explore” ribbon. Both imagery and catalogs are supported. HiPS catalog data can be displayed to update on-the-fly as the WWT viewport moves around on the sky.
  • Updated Oculus Support:
  • The new WWT Windows application supports modern Oculus VR developer kits, instead of the preview versions, providing compatibility with current headset models.
  • Image-Based Projector Distortion Calibration:
  • There is early work to support calibration of dome projector distortions by processing a captured grid display from third-party software. This functionality is not yet documented, so reach out to [email protected] if this capability may be of interest to you.
  • Exploring FITS Cubes:
  • Some FITS cubes can now be loaded in the app such that you can scrub through the cube planes interactively.
  • Updated Branding and System Locations:
  • WWT assets have been updated to align with AAS’s stewardship of the project. In particular, installation and data storage directories are now filed under “American Astronomical Society” rather than “Microsoft Research”. In particular:
  • The default installation location has moved from [ProgramFiles]Microsoft ResearchMicrosoft WorldWide Telescope to [ProgramFiles]American Astronomical SocietyAAS WorldWide Telescope.
  • The user data storage location has moved from [LocalAppData]MicrosoftWorldWideTelescope to [LocalAppData]American Astronomical SocietyWorldWideTelescope. (Here, [LocalAppData] is usually C:Users[user]AppDataLocal.)
  • The location for WWT configuration registry keys has moved from HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWorldWide Telescope to HKCUSoftwareAmerican Astronomical SoftwareWorldWide Telescope.
  • These moves may break the usages of some tools such as the Remote Control or custom system startup scripts.
  • More 3D Models:
  • Now glTF 3D models (.glb files) can be displayed.
  • “Universal Windows Platform” Framework
  • While we are still only distributing the standard WWT Windows application, the WWT 6 codebase has undergone extensive revisions to prepare it for build in the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), laying the groundwork for making WWT available on a variety of different devices.

New in AAS WorldWide Telescope 5.1.01 Beta (Jul 31, 2014)

  • Sandbox mode: Bring in your own data from the microscopic to the scale of the universe, as we did with MIT EyeWire at TED
  • 3d Cities : Explore the same 3d Cites featured in Bing Maps Preview
  • Improvements to key-frame animation in timeline slides
  • On Screen controls are now “Auto pilot” like for cinematic real-time driving with a mouse
  • Support for foot pedal controls for thinks like all-stop and zooming
  • Support for 3d printing any feature of terrestrial planet or moon using STL file export
  • Oculus Improvements
  • Volumetric Milky Way : See the milky way like never before with real-time volumetric rendering
  • Planet by planet orbit visibility: Turn on and off orbits on a planet-by-planet basis.
  • Visibility by grouping for asteroids
  • Improved OBJ support
  • Galactic Mode: The sky mode now allows your to align to galactic coordinates for navigation.
  • LCAPI updates
  • Fixed Bugs

New in AAS WorldWide Telescope 4.1.74.1 RC (Jul 10, 2013)

  • Advanced Release. Planet Grids, WKT Like Text. Removed Redundant UI controls in Settings and View that were moved to Layermanager.

New in AAS WorldWide Telescope 4.1.70 RC (Jul 10, 2013)

  • Advanced Release. Significant performance and frame rate smoothing. Gamma Fixes. Reduced memory churn to 1% of 4.1.17 release. Transitions are new. Fixed mirror dome aspect.

New in AAS WorldWide Telescope 4.1.17 RC (Jul 10, 2013)

  • Advanced Release. Significant bug fixes, frame rate targeting, verticle sync, performance and stability improvements.

New in AAS WorldWide Telescope 4.1.5 RC (Jul 10, 2013)

  • Advanced Release. DX10/11 Hardware support. 64 bit support for huge data.

New in AAS WorldWide Telescope 3.1.52 Alpha (Jul 10, 2013)

  • Legacy Release for XP support

New in AAS WorldWide Telescope 3.1.43 Alpha (Jul 10, 2013)

  • Lunar and Gallelean Moon orbits added. Shader Bugs Fixed

New in AAS WorldWide Telescope 3.0.60.1 Layerscape Beta (Feb 16, 2012)

  • The Layerscape Beta gives you a whole new way to look at your universe of data, and share it through cloud communities on the web via tools fully integrated into the client.
  • You can now bring your image, vector and tabular data as well as 3ds models into WWT, placing them anywhere in time and space.
  • Researchers will appreciate the Virtual Observatory client.
  • Use the full dome content creation tools let you create full dome planetarium content on your desktop.
  • The multi-projector capabilities let institutions on a budget get world-class capabilities with their own planetarium.

New in AAS WorldWide Telescope 2.5.22.1 Aphelion Beta (Sep 4, 2009)

  • New releases of both the Windows and web Client are now available with many new features and bug fixes. The Windows Client has photo-realistic rendering of the Earth and Sun, as well as shadows of Jupiter's moons. The new Cosmos rendering incorporates the most advanced view of the universe outside of our Galaxy ever available. Both versions include new features for professional astronomers, including displaying FITS images and Virtual Observatory queries.