CompuServe Messages

the problem with mapping stars onto a sphere is the rendering time penalty. I am running a 2000 with LW3.0 and a 33 '040 but I prefer the following method for realistic stars. Load the actual stars and leave them exactly as they are. Then, load the random stars and pull the color values back to about 40,40,50. Then, load the random star object AGAIN, rotate the second random stars to offset them from the first set and set colors to 15,15,12 or so. You'll end up with density and a set of faint stars that really add to the realism. Try it. If memory is no problem, heck – load up a third set and make them almost invisible. They will render much,much faster than a globe taking up the entire screen (each star is only one pixel).