Digital Art Zone

I’m trying to do a space scene.  And I’ve just realized that, although I have some terrestrial nighttime skies, and I have some wrap-plane space shots, I don’t have any SkySphere or SkyDome maps of space.  I’m not looking for anything fancy, just reasonably realistic stars.  And since we’re halfway through the PA sale month (oh, my aching wallet!) it’d be great if they were free, but I’ll look at anything potentially helpful.

So, any of you have some favorite seamless starry space maps for either a SkySphere or SkyDome you can recommend?
 
Edited to add:  appreciate everybody’s input!  Any more?  I’ll try to keep this list updated:
 
 
Consolidated Suggestion List:

Free RDNA Skydome 3 and EvilInnocence’s Starfields — thanks DaWaterRat!

Space Sphere by coflek-gnorg — thanks Cagnazzo82!

Free NASA Star Maps — thanks cridgit!

Free Space Enviro Kit LE — thanks mjc1016!

Hi Beth

Just download a starry wallpaper and add it to your skydome. Google for “NASA star wallpaper” they have lots of good quality and real images. See below.

Oh and check the terms of use depending on what you’re doing with the render.

I’ve often used EvilInnocence’s Starfields textures with the RDNA Skydome 3, both free, for starry skies.  I’m fairly certain that they would work as a full starfield too.

http://www.evilinnocence.com/starfields.html

http://forum.runtimedna.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=229

In DS4, I’ve noticed I have to remember to turn off cast shadows on the skydome, and of course the textures have to be manually applied.

cridgit - 22 September 2012 05:00 PM

Just download a starry wallpaper and add it to your skydome. Google for “NASA star wallpaper” they have lots of good quality and real images . . .

Wallpapers distort horribly when mapped to a sphere primative (see attached), and I haven’t googled anything by NASA that didn’t have something “interesting” in it or was uselessly low-res.  A texture intended to map seamlessly to a sphere or dome has to be specifically set up for that purpose — I was able to do several daytime skymaps (available free here) using Bryce, but a star-filled Space spheremap is beyond my limited skills.  Surely somebody’s done a few, though?

DaWaterRat - 22 September 2012 06:43 PM

I’ve often used EvilInnocence’s Starfields textures with the RDNA Skydome 3, both free, for starry skies.  I’m fairly certain that they would work as a full starfield too.

http://www.evilinnocence.com/starfields.html

http://forum.runtimedna.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=229

In DS4, I’ve noticed I have to remember to turn off cast shadows on the skydome, and of course the textures have to be manually applied.

Still distorted, but EvilInnocence’s Starfields textures are lovely — if I can’t find some proper sphere or dome maps I’ll use ‘em mapped to a plane primitive.  Thanks!

The space sphere is by far, by far my favorite: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/space-sphere/85743

There’s also massive planets and suns included on the sphere, so you might have to rotate it to get the scene you want.

It’s pretty amazing if you’re using it for an outer-space scene however

KickAir 8P - 22 September 2012 07:01 PM

DaWaterRat - 22 September 2012 06:43 PM

I’ve often used EvilInnocence’s Starfields textures with the RDNA Skydome 3, both free, for starry skies.  I’m fairly certain that they would work as a full starfield too.

http://www.evilinnocence.com/starfields.html

http://forum.runtimedna.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=229

In DS4, I’ve noticed I have to remember to turn off cast shadows on the skydome, and of course the textures have to be manually applied.

Still distorted, but EvilInnocence’s Starfields textures are lovely — if I can’t find some proper sphere or dome maps I’ll use ‘em mapped to a plane primitive.  Thanks!

Did you try them with the DNA Skydome 3?  I know it’s only a half sphere, but I’ve never noticed any distortion.  (Randomly selected section of 9 tile skydome with starfield1)

KickAir 8P - 22 September 2012 06:44 PM

cridgit - 22 September 2012 05:00 PM

Just download a starry wallpaper and add it to your skydome. Google for “NASA star wallpaper” they have lots of good quality and real images . . .

Wallpapers distort horribly when mapped to a sphere primative (see attached), and I haven’t googled anything by NASA that didn’t have something “interesting” in it or was uselessly low-res.  A texture intended to map seamlessly to a sphere or dome has to be specifically set up for that purpose

http://maps.jpl.nasa.gov/stars.html (free)

cridgit - 22 September 2012 07:36 PM

KickAir 8P - 22 September 2012 06:44 PM

cridgit - 22 September 2012 05:00 PM

Just download a starry wallpaper and add it to your skydome. Google for “NASA star wallpaper” they have lots of good quality and real images . . .

Wallpapers distort horribly when mapped to a sphere primative (see attached), and I haven’t googled anything by NASA that didn’t have something “interesting” in it or was uselessly low-res.  A texture intended to map seamlessly to a sphere or dome has to be specifically set up for that purpose

http://maps.jpl.nasa.gov/stars.html (free)

Better than I was able to find — thanks!

Cagnazzo82 - 22 September 2012 07:04 PM

The space sphere is by far, by far my favorite: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/space-sphere/85743

There’s also massive planets and suns included on the sphere, so you might have to rotate it to get the scene you want.  It’s pretty amazing if you’re using it for an outer-space scene however

Cube-mapped sphere, interesting.  And not a bad buy, but since I’ve had some free options suggested I’ll probably go with one of them.  Wish-listing this though, thanks!

For a space environment…how about this?

http://www.blackraven3d.com/

mjc1016 - 22 September 2012 09:28 PM

For a space environment…how about this?

http://www.blackraven3d.com/

Oh, nice and free!  This might be what I go with.  But I very much appreciate everybody’s input, and there’s no reason to stop — I’m sure I’m not the only one who’ll ever need this info.  I’ve started a list in the first post, I’ll try to keep it updated with any more suggestions.