- In the project folder you download from the project link, search for the .exe file and open it. If you don't find the executable file then go to the 'How to Build' page to build the project and create an executable.
- The Unity executable file should open and you can directly use the VIVE wands to interact with the application.
- When you start the application, (assuming you're in the default configuration) the first thing you will see is the semi-panoramic 2D view in front of view currently displaying 27 out of the 616 unique planetary systems including our solar system, all in enclosed within a skybox that will give you an immersive feeling.
- You will also hear a mesmerising cosmic ambient sound in the background.
- To your left you see a floating menu where all the controls for the application's 2D, 3D and star systems view are present.
- If you can't see the menu or you have closed it accidentally then you can make it viewable again by pressing the 'Menu' button on the wand. The menu will appear on the left of the 2D view. If the menu button on the wand doesn't work then try pressing the same button on the other wand. It will work. Make this your primary hand wand (Right wand for right-handed people and Left wand for Left-handed people). At any point in the application, irrespective of your position if you cannot see the menu or it is too far, just press this 'Menu' button and it will appear close to you, on the left side of the 2D view. (You'll find this very useful; don't struggle to search for or work with a far away menu!)
- The menu options are activated when holding down the 'Trigger' button on the wand.
- Below you, you will see our solar system animated in 3D.
- Press on the left and right triangular buttons placed on both ends of the 2D view with the 'Trigger' button of the wand to reveal more systems. A count present near the button indicates the number of systems which are hidden on the left and right ends (The default label for the left button is '0 Systems' and the default for the right button is 589 Systems; initially, to show more systems you will be pressing on the left button imitating the action of swiping the 2D screen leftwards).
- Each planetary system has designated windows in the 2D view that display relevant data of that system.
- The solar system highlighted in purple in the centre of the 2D view will always remain fixed at that position irrespective you swiping through the 2D view.
- The planets are applied various textures and the stars are applied specific colour textures based on their temperature data.
- You can mess around with the 2D view by dragging individual 2D views to whatever location you want. To do this, just point the laser of the primary wand to the window you want to drag and and hold down the 'Grip' button on the wand. You will see that the window moves along till the grip button is pressed. Release the grip where you want to place the window.
- If you want to delete some systems in the 2D view then press the red 'x' buttons on the top right corner of the 2D window. The system will disappear from view. You can make it appear by clicking the 'Reset View settings' button on the menu.
- To select systems from the 2D view and display them in 3D, you can just point to a window in 2D and select that window by pressing the trigger button. The system will display in 3D.
- The Three D View Panel of the menu shows the systems that are being displayed currently in 3D.
- You can add upto 3 additional systems to the 3D animated view for comparison with our solar system. If you add more then the last system added will be replaced.
- You can delete the systems shown in 3D by pressing the red 'X' button against that system in the menu.
- From the menu you can change the size of the planets or the orbits (scaling) using the respective sliders.
- You can choose where to apply the scalings in point 14, in either 3D or in 2D, by selecting or deselecting their check boxes against the 'Apply on' option.
- Dragging the 'Orbit Speed' slider will increase or decrease the rate of time passing or alternatively, change the speed of planet revolution around their stars in 3D.
- You can also check the 'Stop' field to pause the planet revolutions.
- The 'Show 3D View' and 'Show 2D View' check boxes show or hide the 3D and 2D views respectively.
- The filters included are dynamic filters that can filter from the read data and display only those systems that satisfy certain criteria that's decided by you. Here you allowed to filter systems based on their distance from us, sun related stars and the number of planets in the systems. Accordingly the 2D view will be updated with those specific systems.
- The habitable zones are highlighted in green in both 2D and 3D views for the systems for which the data was available.
- An additional filter for 'Systems with habitable zone', when checked, displays those systems for which habitable zone data is present.
- If you want to maintain a copy of the changes that you made by applying filters or from changing scales, you can press on the 'Save Configuration' button to view the same configuration where you left off from.
- Contrary to this, if you want to go back to the default look of the application then you can press the 'Reset View Settings' button to go back to the default settings.
- Additionally, if you have drifted away from your default position to an unwanted location in the application then you can go back to your default position by pressing the 'Reset Viewer Location' button.
- To switch to the view where you can see stars in 3D space, press the 'Star System' button on the menu and you will be transported to a vast open space where you can fly through stars in 3D. The stars have name labels on them.
- Pointing towards a star will highlight that star in green and selecting it with the trigger button will display that star system in the 3D view.
- Feel free to play around with the application. Enjoy!