I'm sure this is already well known in the community but I haven't seen it mentioned elsewhere. It is apparent that the shadows cast by planets have a very limited range of perhaps 1 or 2 planetary diameters.
The effect of this is that objects (i.e. moons and spacecraft) beyond that limiting distance from the planet are still fully illuminated by sunlight when the sun is out of sight, obscured by the parent planet.
I first noticed this while in orbit around one of Jupiter's moons. The moon moved into Jupiter's shadow during its orbit, so the sun was now hidden, but the moon and spacecraft were still fully illuminated by sunlight. Same thing happens with other moons much closer to their parent planet such as Phobos which remains fully illuminated when it passes into the shadow cast by Mars.
I don't know if this an issue that could be addressed within the scope of D3D9 development in pursuit of improved visual realism, or whether the limited shadow range effect is coded into Orbiter's core and can't be touched.
Anyway, thought I'd mention it in this forum for comments as it is a visualisation thing.
The effect of this is that objects (i.e. moons and spacecraft) beyond that limiting distance from the planet are still fully illuminated by sunlight when the sun is out of sight, obscured by the parent planet.
I first noticed this while in orbit around one of Jupiter's moons. The moon moved into Jupiter's shadow during its orbit, so the sun was now hidden, but the moon and spacecraft were still fully illuminated by sunlight. Same thing happens with other moons much closer to their parent planet such as Phobos which remains fully illuminated when it passes into the shadow cast by Mars.
I don't know if this an issue that could be addressed within the scope of D3D9 development in pursuit of improved visual realism, or whether the limited shadow range effect is coded into Orbiter's core and can't be touched.
Anyway, thought I'd mention it in this forum for comments as it is a visualisation thing.