Swinburne Astronomy Productions

Frequently Asked Questions


Technical:

Is the mirrordome a fulldome projector?
Are the pixel sizes different across the dome?
Can I use my existing projector with the MirrorDome?
Can I use my existing Macintosh with the MirrorDome?
Do I have to use a Macintosh?

Software Licensing:

Isn't Stellarium free? Why would I pay for it?

Fulldome Movies:

Can the MirrorDome play fulldome movies ?
What is the required file format for fulldome movies on the MirrorDome ?
What codecs canbe used for fulldome movies ?



Is the mirrordome a fulldome projector?

The MirrorDome can be setup for full dome projection, but it is more pixel efficient to use it in a slightly truncated mode. This slightly truncated mode is better for an unidrectionally seated audience and puts more
pixels in the area of interest in your dome.



Are the pixel sizes different across the dome?

The short answer is yes. Since the projector's square pixels are reflected at different angles off the spherical mirror surface, the shapes and sizes of pixels in different parts of the dome are marginally different.
However this effect is barely noticable for the audience, particularly for a unidirectionally seated audience.



Can I use my existing projector with the MirrorDome?

Yes, There is only one requirement for the projector - it must be able to focus on an image about 30cm tall. To test this, follow this simple procedure
  1. Position your projector about 1 metre from a wall
  2. Point the projector at the wall and turn it on
  3. Adjust the zoom function on the projector to produce the smallest projected image
  4. Move the projector towards or away from the wall so that the projected image is at least 30 centimetres high
  5. Adjust the focus of the projector such that you obtain a crisp image
If your projector can focus on an image of this size, then it will be suitable for use with the MirrorDome. Contact us for more information, or recommended projectors.



Can I use my existing Macintosh with the MirrorDome?

Yes, you can use your existing Macintosh with the MirrorDome system, providing that it meets the minimum specifications:
  • Must have 2 graphics displays. This can be a laptop with and external display, or computer with a dual head graphics card.
  • Must be running OS X version 10.4.8
  • Recommended to be at least a MacBook Pro, Mac Pro or PowerPC G5




Do I have to use a Macintosh?

Yes. At this stage we only offer the MirrorDome on the Macintosh platform.




Can the MirrorDome play fulldome movies?

Yes. The MirrorDome can play all movie content that is in a square fisheye format.



What is the required file format for fulldome movies on the MirrorDome?

MirrorDome uses the powerful QuickTime playback engine to play fisheye movies. Any movie file must be in a QuickTime format, and must be playable by Apple's QuickTime Player.



What codecs can be used for fulldome movies?

Any apple codec can be used to encode the movie, as long as it plays in Apple's QuickTime Player. Note that some codecs are more efficient than others. Utilmatey the best codec to use is dependent on the content itself, but the Photo-JPEG codec generally gives a good compromise between image quality and file size.



Isn't Stellarium free? Why would I pay for it??

Stellarium isn't "sold" with the MirrorDome, it is simply provided with the MirrorDome software, pre-configured and ready to use. Swinburne SpaceWorks provides the standard version of Stellarium with a MirrorDome
system, it is not specially modified for warping. The licensing fees for the MirrorDome software are for a separate set of
applications that will warp any fisheye software - completely separate to the invidual application itself.