----- Original Message -----

From: Patrick Chevalley

To: virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:34 AM

Subject: [virtualmoon] New version 4.0

Hello,

For May 2008, that's to say 6 years after VMA creation, we are happy to
propose you the new version “Pro” 4.0, an important evolution of the Virtual
Moon Atlas.

NEW MODULES :

THE MODULE "POCKETLUN" :
Exclusive : Patrick Chevalley has programmed “POCKETLUN”, the translation of
VMA “Light” version on Pocket PC ! It allows you a more easier field use of
VMA and becomes a real interactive guide with the audio comments it can
handle. Samples recorded by Christian Legrand (with french accent !) are
available . This module is a complement to the CD PRO 4.0 version.

THE PICTURES MANAGER MODULE "PHOTLUN" :
Patrick Chevalley has also programmed “PHOTLUN”, a pictures manager that
allows you to select pictures to view, to rotate them, to process them about
luminosity and contrast, to magnify them and to record the selected setup !

DISAPPEARANCE OF "BASIC" version :
To keep a coherent versions range, we delete the “Basic” version which
doesn't
include the FarSide. Released versions are presently :
       VMA “Light” downloadable
       VMA “Expert” downloadable
       VMA “Pro” downloadable
       VMA “Pro” CD with “PocketLun”

BETTER COMPATIBILITY WITH WINDOWS VISTA :
To improve the compatibility with Windows Vista all the user modifiable file
(configuration, database, …) are now stored in user profile
(%APPDATA%\virtualmoon).
Now the program propose privilege elevation if a texture in installation
directory is need to be rebuild.
If you are upgrading from a previous version the user files are copied the
first time this version of the program is run. After that be sure to only run
avlpro 4.0, avllight 3.5b or avlexpert 3.5b to avoid duplicate configuration.

NEW HIGH RESOLUTION TEXTURE :
The "Lunar Orbiter" texture :
USGS has recently released new Lunar Orbiter Moon surface map. This new
exclusive texture realized by Christian Legrand shows the highest resolution
with shaded relief available in computerized lunar atlases.

NEW SCIENTIFIC OVERLAY :
The "Clementine ratio" overlay :
This new overlay realized by Christian Legrand and based on exclusives datas
from Clementine probe shows soils composition differences.

NEW SCIENTIFIC DATABASE :
The second scientific database "Pyroclastic deposits " :
Beyond traditional databases compiling IAU officially named formations, it
exists peculiar formations with a huge scientific interest that must be
included in VMA databases. After the “Historical sites” database, here is
now
the “Pyroclastic deposits” database presenting volcanic ashes deposits on
Nearside surface compiled by Lisa Gaddis and her team. Sure, these deposits
are localized on the map and can be sorted with DATLUN ©.

NEW PICTURES LIBRARIES :

The new "Best of Lazzarotti" library :
Paolo Lazzarotti is presently the most prolific lunar imager releasing his
high resolution pictures to others amateurs. In this new library, Christian
Legrand has extracted more than 450 pictures formations from Paolo products.

The new "Best of Higgins" library :
Wes Higgins is back to lunar imaging with his 18” Dobson.. In this new
library, Christian Legrand has extracted more than 250 pictures formations
from Wes products.

The new "LOPAM Destripped" library :
Niels Hoordhoek has realized a powerful routine that blow away those
disgracious stripes on LOPAM pictures. Christian Legrand has used this
routine to provide the new “LOPAM Destripped” pictures library that shows
now
the extracted pictures in all their beauty and resolution.

NEW DOCUMENTATIONS :
POCKETLUN and PHOTLUN documentations :
Christian Legrand has realized new specific and illustrated documentations
for “POCKETLUN” et “PHOTLUN” with screens captures showing the new
possibilities offered by this “mobile” version and this new pictures
manager.

General VMA PRO 4.0 documentation :
Christian Legrand has updated the main documentation with new databases and
overlays with new screen captures.

As usual, this new version is freely downloadable from our site
http://ap-i.net/avl/en/start

or is available on a CD that we can burn on demand (See conditions on site).

Sincerely yours,

Christian Legrand & Patrick Chevalley

Hi John, well i'm still on good ole XP SP3 with the same prob. yep i
think you may be right, open gl has also caused endless probs with
starry night pro plus on my machine :-(
getting a bit fed up with it to be honest.

cheers
glyn

--- In virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com, "John Chajecki"
<yahoog.chajecki@...> wrote:
>
> I've tried Virtual Moon Atlas on two Vista Home Premium laptops and
it
> has problems on both.
>
> All 3.5 versions except Lite suffer the same problems.
>
> Laptop A suffers the same exit crash problem as described in these
> ostings.
>
> Laptop B suffers with access violation exception errors and the moon
> graphic does not show.
>
> I've tried applying the recommended fixes but neither of them work.
>
> I'm glad I did not purchase the CD!
>
> The problem here clearly is OpenGL support. This is known to be poor
> under Vista anyway and seems to be supported by the fact that
Redshift
> 5 and 6 suffer problems when OpenGL support is enabled too.
>
> It may be better to drop OpnGL support altogether or at least have
the
> option to turn it of in all versions of the product.
>

Or how about a properly working edition of 3.5 first?
Maybe you haven't tested with Vista yet?

--- In virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com, "Laren Dart" <sandman@...> wrote:
>
> I know that a new release of VMA involves much work, but is there a
> potential date yet?  Are we getting close?
>
> Thanks,
> Laren
>

I've tried Virtual Moon Atlas on two Vista Home Premium laptops and it
has problems on both.

All 3.5 versions except Lite suffer the same problems.

Laptop A suffers the same exit crash problem as described in these
ostings.

Laptop B suffers with access violation exception errors and the moon
graphic does not show.

I've tried applying the recommended fixes but neither of them work.

I'm glad I did not purchase the CD!

The problem here clearly is OpenGL support. This is known to be poor
under Vista anyway and seems to be supported by the fact that Redshift
5 and 6 suffer problems when OpenGL support is enabled too.

It may be better to drop OpnGL support altogether or at least have the
option to turn it of in all versions of the product.

Hi Patrick,
  thanks for the response :-)

Unfortunately i am already using 3.5 Pro 2006-11-4  :-(

It used to be ok but developed this problem just before xmas.

would it be anything to do with open gl or graphics card settings ?

thanks

glyn



--- In virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com, Patrick Chevalley <pch@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Please look at this message:
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/virtualmoon/message/346
> and try the updated software version.
>
> Patrick
>
>
>

Hi Joe, thanks for the response :-)
sorry i've been a long time reading it and replying, i  forgot about
my post LOL :-)
thanks again,
cheers
glyn

--- In virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com, "Joe Shuster" <jshuster42@...>
wrote:
>
> Glyn,
>
> I recently installed VMA and for a while it always locked up on
exit. Then
> for a while it exited a little slowly, but cleanly. I just tried it
(and
> used it for about 1 hour) and it locked up on exit.
>
> I had searched the archives for information about problems during
exit but I
> was surprised to find none.
>
> I can't offer help, but it's not just you.
>
> Joe
>
>
>
>   _____
>
> From: virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of glyn foulkes
> Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 6:04 AM
> To: virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [virtualmoon] exit crash
>
>
>
> Hi all,
> for some reason just lately my pro version hangs every time i exit,
> well i try to exit and nothing happens and i have to manually end
it
> using task manager :-( any help or ideas welacome ?
>
> thanks
> glyn
>

Hi,

Please look at this message:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/virtualmoon/message/346
and try the updated software version.

Patrick


----- Original message -----
From: "glyn foulkes" <glynfoulkes@...>
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:03:44 -0000
Subject: [virtualmoon] exit crash
To: virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com

>Hi all,
>for some reason just lately my pro version hangs every time i exit,
>well i try to exit and nothing happens and i have to manually end it
>using task manager :-(  any help or ideas welacome ?
>
>thanks
>glyn
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

---

From: virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com [mailto:virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of glyn foulkes
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 6:04 AM
To: virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [virtualmoon] exit crash

Hi all,
for some reason just lately my pro version hangs every time i exit,
well i try to exit and nothing happens and i have to manually end it
using task manager :-( any help or ideas welacome ?

thanks
glyn

Hi all,
for some reason just lately my pro version hangs every time i exit,
well i try to exit and nothing happens and i have to manually end it
using task manager :-(  any help or ideas welacome ?

thanks
glyn

I know that a new release of VMA involves much work, but is there a
potential date yet?  Are we getting close?

Thanks,
Laren

Sorry about this, but I've come up with a complete blank trying to
find observation logging software suitable for lunar
observing/imaging.

How about an observation logging module for VMA?  This could replace
or be in addition to the existing 'Notes' section.

The user could record:
Date
Time
Location
Co-longtitude and Libration (long and lat) could be automatically
imported given that the program would then already have the date
time and location details.
Seeing conditions
Feature(s) observed (from drop down list of features already in VMA
database?)
Instrument used, Eyepiece, Barlow (These can be added as 'resources'
and used for calculation of FOV for the main program as well)
Filters
Observing notes
The observer could also upload images they have captured or scanned
sketches and associate them with the observation.  Maybe, these
images could be viewed using the image viewer already associated
with VMA. In fact, it would be neat if the user could associate
their images with features on the Moon, as is already done with ther
Apollo and lunar orbiter photos.  Perhaps observation records could
also be called up by a simple right click on the feature as well.
Imager details - make and model, type of use (prime, afocal etc),
number of frames, gain settings, exposure etc.

This could be basically a searchable relational database add-on that
links into existing databases of features and images.

What do you think?

Michael,

I like that idea. I hope it makes it into VMA.

--- In virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com, "michaelcharlesmorris"
<michaelmorris4@...> wrote:
>
> Firstly, can I say what an absolutely amazing piece of software you
> have written, well done, and thank so much for sharing it with us.
>
> I have a couple feature requests relating to imaging the Moon for
> the next version of VMA.
>
> Like many other people, I have started trying to capture mosaics of
> the Moon.
>
> http://annmarie.tamaris.org.uk/astronomy/a-lunar-mosaic-440
> http://www.digitalsky.org.uk/lunar/2005-06-17-mosaic.jpg
> http://geogdata.csun.edu/~voltaire/roland/m_mosaic.html
> http://www.robertreeves.com/webcam.htm
>
> Such mosiacs are typically made of anything between 10 and 40 images
> captured on a Toucam Pro II webcam.
>
> One of the problems I have is making sure that I don't miss small
> parts of the Moon out (very easily done) or have inadequate overlap
> to allow programs such a Panaorama Plus or Autostitch to
> automatically stitch the mosaic together.  I am also keen to
> minimize the number of captures needed.  Processing each AVI may
> take up to 2 hours and I do not want to have to do these
> unnecessarily.
>
> So here are my feature requests.
> 1)  There are user-defined eyepiece views of the Moon.  Would it be
> possible to have similar user-defined CCD/webcam views.  These would
> be different from how VMA handles eyepiece views.  Rather than
> zooming in and putting a circular mask around the view,  The
> CCD/webcam views would project a coloured lined rectangle on to the
> existing Moon view in a similar way to Cartes du Ceil.  This would
> help with planning single feature imaging sessions.
>
> 2)  There would be a Mosaic Planner feature that would allow the
> user to define:
> a) The relevent image size as in 1) above,
> b) The amount of overlap between images (expressed as a percentage).
>
> The software would then allow the user place any number of frames on
> the Moon map.  The desired overlap area could be indicated by a
> shaded or hatched area inside the outer line of each rectangle.  The
> user could then place any number of these frames on the Moon map to
> help them plan the mosiac.  The program would automatically number
> each frame, working either north to south, south to north, west to
> east, east to west or combinations of these numbering systems,
> depending upon the user's preference.  The mosaic plans would be
> saveable so that mosaics can be planned many nights in advance.
> This system would make planning and executing Lunar mosaics very
> much easier.
>
> During an imaging session the user could simply bring up the mosaic
> plan, compare the VMA view with that in the webcam and adjust the
> webcam view to match that shown in the mosaic plan - the result,
> perfectly executed mosaics.
>
> Regards
>

Firstly, can I say what an absolutely amazing piece of software you
have written, well done, and thank so much for sharing it with us.

I have a couple feature requests relating to imaging the Moon for
the next version of VMA.

Like many other people, I have started trying to capture mosaics of
the Moon.

http://annmarie.tamaris.org.uk/astronomy/a-lunar-mosaic-440
http://www.digitalsky.org.uk/lunar/2005-06-17-mosaic.jpg
http://geogdata.csun.edu/~voltaire/roland/m_mosaic.html
http://www.robertreeves.com/webcam.htm

Such mosiacs are typically made of anything between 10 and 40 images
captured on a Toucam Pro II webcam.

One of the problems I have is making sure that I don't miss small
parts of the Moon out (very easily done) or have inadequate overlap
to allow programs such a Panaorama Plus or Autostitch to
automatically stitch the mosaic together.  I am also keen to
minimize the number of captures needed.  Processing each AVI may
take up to 2 hours and I do not want to have to do these
unnecessarily.

So here are my feature requests.
1)  There are user-defined eyepiece views of the Moon.  Would it be
possible to have similar user-defined CCD/webcam views.  These would
be different from how VMA handles eyepiece views.  Rather than
zooming in and putting a circular mask around the view,  The
CCD/webcam views would project a coloured lined rectangle on to the
existing Moon view in a similar way to Cartes du Ceil.  This would
help with planning single feature imaging sessions.

2)  There would be a Mosaic Planner feature that would allow the
user to define:
a) The relevent image size as in 1) above,
b) The amount of overlap between images (expressed as a percentage).

The software would then allow the user place any number of frames on
the Moon map.  The desired overlap area could be indicated by a
shaded or hatched area inside the outer line of each rectangle.  The
user could then place any number of these frames on the Moon map to
help them plan the mosiac.  The program would automatically number
each frame, working either north to south, south to north, west to
east, east to west or combinations of these numbering systems,
depending upon the user's preference.  The mosaic plans would be
saveable so that mosaics can be planned many nights in advance.
This system would make planning and executing Lunar mosaics very
much easier.

During an imaging session the user could simply bring up the mosaic
plan, compare the VMA view with that in the webcam and adjust the
webcam view to match that shown in the mosaic plan - the result,
perfectly executed mosaics.

Regards

Any new estimate for the release date of 4.0?  Not bugging you guys,
just anxious!    :-)

Thanks, Laren

Hi all,

>We now plan to put this new 4.0 pro version online in january. Sorry for this
>new waiting period. Be sure that we don't forget the VMA users.

>Thank you to all for your support

>Sincerally yours,

>Christian Legrand & Patrick Chevalley

VMA 4.0 pro - it's good news! :))

Regards,
Oleg Maliy

-- ������� -----------------------------------------------------------
���������� ���������������� ����� �������� �������� ����� @i.ua
http://mail.i.ua/reg - � ������ 1Gb ��� �������� �����

Happy new year to everybody !

We hope that 2008 will bring you health, happiness, prosperity... and many Moon
observing sessions in good seeing skies !

Now, to answer to Laren's question, VMA 4.0, which release was planned for
december 2007, is a little delayed because of some personal problems encountered
during the last month and also because of the important remaining work to end
before.

We now plan to put this new 4.0 pro version online in january. Sorry for this
new waiting period. Be sure that we don't forget the VMA users.

Thank you to all for your support

Sincerally yours,

Christian Legrand & Patrick Chevalley


> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Are we getting closer to VLA Pro 4.0?  Really looking forward to it!
> Thanks, Christian & Patrick, great program!!
>
> Laren
>
>


--

--- In virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com, Christian LEGRAND <chlegrand@...>
wrote:
>
> Dear colleague,
>
> Sure, there are new features coming in VMA. We know that 3.5 version
is near one
> year old. This is a lot of time in the software world.
>
> Patrick has programmed two new modules and I have prepared new pictures
> libraries, databases, overlays and documentations. This time, the CD
will be
> completely full.
>
> All this will be packed in the "Pro version 4.0", another major
evolution of VMA
> that we hope to release for December if everything goes well. Be
patient.
>
> One more time, thank you to all for your support
>
> Sincerally yours,
>
> Christian Legrand & Patrick Chevalley
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Selon Lenny Schmidt <lpschmidt@...>:
>
> > Are there any new features in store for VMA?
> > Any new picture collections coming?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are we getting closer to VLA Pro 4.0?  Really looking forward to it!
Thanks, Christian & Patrick, great program!!

Laren

Do you try to apply the fix describe here?
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/virtualmoon/message/346

Please report the result.

Patrick

Hi Folks,
Does VMA work with Vista Home Basic?
Respectfully,
Stu Hopper

--- In virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com, "Ketil Thorsen" <kethorse@...>
wrote:
>.......>
> This sounds like a problem with ATI graphic card drivers. Have
checked
> that have the newest drivers for your graphic card ?
>
> --
> mvh / with kind regards
> Ketil Thorsen
>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Am running a laptop (traveling) and the info available does not give
the current ATI driver name, only the version etc.  AMD/ATI lists
updates by specific name or number.  Will continue to look....  In the
meantime, have remo'd VMA Expert and replaced it with VMA Lite - seems
to work acceptably until I can see if an updated driver will help.
Many thanx for the help.

Tom Walker

--------------------------------------------------
From: "thomkat_34" <a-castle@...>
Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2007 8:56 PM
To: <virtualmoon@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [virtualmoon] Error: Access Violation

> Have just downloaded/installed VMA Expert 3.5 and cannot get
> application to function.  I receive the error "Access violation at
> address 690075CC in module atioglxx.dll. Write of address 0F99103C"
> and
> Windows closes the application.
>
> Have not been able to find a previous occurrence of this problem in
> the
> forum.  Suggestions?

This sounds like a problem with ATI graphic card drivers. Have checked
that have the newest drivers for your graphic card ?

--
mvh / with kind regards
Ketil Thorsen

Have just downloaded/installed VMA Expert 3.5 and cannot get
application to function.  I receive the error "Access violation at
address 690075CC in module atioglxx.dll. Write of address 0F99103C" and
Windows closes the application.

Have not been able to find a previous occurrence of this problem in the
forum.  Suggestions?

Thanx  - T. Walker

Dear colleague,

Sure, there are new features coming in VMA. We know that 3.5 version is near one
year old. This is a lot of time in the software world.

Patrick has programmed two new modules and I have prepared new pictures
libraries, databases, overlays and documentations. This time, the CD will be
completely full.

All this will be packed in the "Pro version 4.0", another major evolution of VMA
that we hope to release for December if everything goes well. Be patient.

One more time, thank you to all for your support

Sincerally yours,

Christian Legrand & Patrick Chevalley

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Selon Lenny Schmidt <lpschmidt@...>:

> Are there any new features in store for VMA?
> Any new picture collections coming?
>
>


--

Are there any new features in store for VMA?
Any new picture collections coming?

Steve,

I just install the latest Wine 0.9.47 now and it work with the OpenGL version!
performance is very good with the nvidia driver 1.0.9631.

You don't need Wine for Celestia as there is a native Linux version. Just
search for Celestia in Synaptic to install the Ubuntu version.

Patrick