Author Topic: Universe Sandbox 2.1.5 Now Available - December 21 (Read 19790 times)

Dan Dixon · « **on:** December 21, 2011, 09:30:37 PM »

The latest version, 2.1.5, is now available on Steam and the standalone version.

If you have the standalone (non-Steam version) just run your installed standalone version to update.
The Steam version will automatically update if you run the Steam application.

What's New in 2.1.5? Full list of improvements and fixes:
http://universesandbox.com/whatsnew/

Please let me know if you run into any problems.

smjjames · « **Reply #1 on:** December 21, 2011, 09:49:01 PM »

That was fast, and cool update.

Not quite sure what you're saying here though: 'Surface temperature distance is now measured from the star surface to the planet surface.' Meaning we can look at any spot on the grid and see what the temperature would be? It's probably because I'm tired, but I'm a bit confused as what exactly you mean.

I'll check the stuff out in the morning.

Also, can't wait to see how the temp will affect binaries especially since the habitable zone is harder to define for close orbiting binaries or binaries of very different stars.

Naru523 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 21, 2011, 09:54:38 PM »

I think it means that the temperature is now measured of the star's surface instead of the center of the star. Or the other way around. Idk.

Dan Dixon · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2011, 10:00:59 PM »

What Naru said. Distance was measured from the object centers, but in 2.1.5 the distance used by temperature is measured from their surfaces.

And yes, surface temperature will correctly calculate in binary star systems.

FiahOwl · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2011, 10:06:52 PM »

Cool! Gonna try it out tomorrow morning!

smjjames · « **Reply #5 on:** December 22, 2011, 09:00:59 AM »

From the initial test (after a bit of figuring out how to make a planet in a close binary stay in orbit), I used the sun and barnards star (with barnard orbiting every 36 days or so) and from what I can see, life around a close binary would be challenging because of the extreme temperature changes. Challenging, but not impossible as long as it's in the right place.

According to http://universesandbox.com/forum/index.php/topic,3471.0.html , the temperature change should be essentially nil for the centauri system even at closest approach. So, we'll see how that works when I put it to full scale, despite the fact that the once stable system has had its planets thrown into chaos by wrecking ball gas giants....

Also, thank you Dan for fixing that crash with the middle mouse button.

Edit: Oh yea, speaking of that link, the lighting system will probably illuminate both sides of the planets with equal illumination. I know the lighting system isn't perfect since it just cuts off at 100 AU rather than fading over distance, but maybe we'll have that function someday.

FiahOwl · « **Reply #6 on:** December 22, 2011, 10:00:03 AM »

Wow, this is a nice update! I like the star auto change feature.

smjjames · « **Reply #7 on:** December 22, 2011, 10:20:44 PM »

*poke* somehow the post didnt get through the first time.

Where did the other slider for the atmosphere thing go? Also, not sure if the temp is a bit off for earth in the solar system simulation since its different than before., unless that takes into account global warming.

Dan Dixon · « **Reply #8 on:** December 22, 2011, 11:01:45 PM »

I removed the visible emissivity slider since it wasn't totally working right for all values (and you usually wanted to keep it at 0 for Earth anyway). Atmosphere properties will be expanded in a future update.

Otherwise, the math behind it is exactly the same, that wasn't changed from 2.1.4 to 2.1.5.

smjjames · « **Reply #9 on:** December 23, 2011, 08:59:36 AM »

Hrm, on closer examination this morning (using the solar system simulation), I'm seeing that the average temperature goes from 13 C to almost 18 C. I don't know if that is more variation than there is suppoused to be, although the average according to NASA is 15 C.

Someone probably should try to find out if there is that much variation or not, at least in a single year.

Also, this page has a nice listing of average temperatures. Not sure if the ones for the gas giants are correct since I thought that deeper in the atmosphere, temperatures would get to Earth average temperatures. For Jupiter and Saturn at least, Neptune and Uranus are too far away.

Dan Dixon · « **Reply #10 on:** December 29, 2011, 03:15:01 PM »

Quote from: smjjames on December 23, 2011, 08:59:36 AM

I'm seeing that the average temperature goes from 13 C to almost 18 C. I don't know if that is more variation than there is suppoused to be, although the average according to NASA is 15 C.

Good observation. The simplistic atmosphere model calculates the instantaneous temperature and doesn't average out the value.

If you switch to the accurate mode the orbit is more accurate and the temperature swings are slightly less.

Either way... I believe the values are correct given the simplistic model that's being used.

smjjames · « **Reply #11 on:** December 29, 2011, 05:47:09 PM »

Quote from: Dan Dixon on December 29, 2011, 03:15:01 PM

Quote from: smjjames on December 23, 2011, 08:59:36 AM
I'm seeing that the average temperature goes from 13 C to almost 18 C. I don't know if that is more variation than there is suppoused to be, although the average according to NASA is 15 C.

Good observation. The simplistic atmosphere model calculates the instantaneous temperature and doesn't average out the value.

If you switch to the accurate mode the orbit is more accurate and the temperature swings are slightly less.

Either way... I believe the values are correct given the simplistic model that's being used.

That was Accurate mode, I believe. Anyways, lets see how the more advanced (I think?) version is that's in the major release coming up in the spring works.

Dan Dixon · « **Reply #12 on:** December 29, 2011, 08:28:09 PM »

Quote from: smjjames on December 29, 2011, 05:47:09 PM

...lets see how the more advanced (I think?) version is that's in the major release coming up in the spring works.

I never said the release would be in the spring, just sometime next year.

clockworks · « **Reply #13 on:** December 30, 2011, 02:41:34 PM »

is it out for non steam yet, mine won't update

vh · « **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2011, 03:03:16 PM »

there should be a message in a new window pop up that says something about a new version, and prompting you to start the auto-update...have you gotten any messages? or run the program since the update with an internet connection?

Dan Dixon · « **Reply #15 on:** December 30, 2011, 04:37:57 PM »

If you're having problem updating the non-Steam version, inside Universe Sandbox... click on Options and then click the button "Reset Update System".

If you're still having problems after that... just download the setup file again and re-install it (no need to uninstall it first).

ConfuZzled · « **Reply #16 on:** December 31, 2011, 06:33:18 AM »

It would be really funny if you released the next update just as it turns midnight. Then you would be releasing it as soon as it's next year, if you know what I mean

Darvince · « **Reply #17 on:** December 31, 2011, 09:47:48 AM »

I don't think that's going to happen, as it's a rather large update.

Dan Dixon · « **Reply #18 on:** January 01, 2012, 07:00:26 PM »

The major update is still months away... sorry to disappoint.

Seventh cavalry · « **Reply #19 on:** March 11, 2012, 10:12:22 AM »

I really like this simulator and i want to buy it, but i don't know how. But i tried free version planets get ejected from systems when i speed up not sure why. Am i able to update my version for free when i buy it ?

Bla · « **Reply #20 on:** March 11, 2012, 10:37:24 AM »

Quote from: Seventh cavalry on March 11, 2012, 10:12:22 AM

I really like this simulator and i want to buy it, but i don't know how. But i tried free version planets get ejected from systems when i speed up not sure why. Am i able to update my version for free when i buy it ?

Here it is explained why planets get ejected if you speed up time too much:

Quote from: Bla on October 01, 2011, 04:28:20 AM

The time step is the time between every time the position of everything in the simulation is calculated.
If a planet orbits a star in 8 days, and you set the time step to 1 day, it will only make 8 calculations every orbit. Because of that, the orbit will have an unstable octogonal shape, and if the timestep is increased even further, it will be slingshot away.

How fast the time in the simulation appears to be going depends on the time step and how fast your computer is. The faster the time step is, the more inaccurate the simulation will be, but the faster time will pass. The faster your computer is, the faster time will pass without needing to increase the time step.

Also, the update will be free:

Quote from: Dan Dixon on February 13, 2012, 04:48:43 PM

This will be a free update to everyone who has ever purchased Universe Sandbox through this website or on Steam.

Seventh cavalry · « **Reply #21 on:** March 12, 2012, 02:03:01 AM »

Ok cool, how to download ? I have never purchased anything online before.

vh · « **Reply #22 on:** March 12, 2012, 02:47:09 AM »

go http://universesandbox.com/buy/ here, and you can make payments with paypal. Then, download the program from here http://universesandbox.com/download/ and enter the key when you are sent it (in your email).

Dan Dixon · « **Reply #23 on:** March 12, 2012, 09:54:39 AM »

Or better yet... download it first, make sure it works on your computer and try it out for 60 minutes. Then if you like it, buy it.

Seventh cavalry · « **Reply #24 on:** March 13, 2012, 06:35:05 AM »

Quote from: Dan Dixon on March 12, 2012, 09:54:39 AM

Or better yet... download it first, make sure it works on your computer and try it out for 60 minutes. Then if you like it, buy it.

Yeah i downloaded and i love it ! I'm only 17 and i don't have any credit card so i will ask my mom to buy for me after my exams :-)