SPECIAL EFFECTS VIDEO DISC #4

A Solar System effects gallery of distinction is featured in Disc 4, with an array of solid modeled planets, beginning with a series of rotating Earths which zoom and sweep across the field. An often-requested "seasons explained" sequence depicts the orbiting Earth, which drops still images of itself at the equinox and solstice positions. Close-ups of the Earth at the solstices, complete with terminator, vividly illustrate the difference in day versus night at these times. The Earth-Moon System is next, with sequences showing the synchronization of the lunar rotation and revolution, as well as effects showing lunar phases, the causes of tides, and how eclipses happen. Next are 3D rotating planets, including spectacular and realistic Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Many contain special "extras": Mars has two moons in orbit; Jupiter is provided as both a screen-filling planet and an orrery with the Galilean moons in differential revolution; Saturn comes with Titan in orbit and with rotating rings. Uranus includes an amazing side view with back-lit rings and Miranda traversing the planet. Neptune is featured with its peculiar rings. A Neptune/Triton scene features the planet and ring system with a zoom-transit of Triton. Triton also receives a JPL surface scan. Finally Pluto and Charon are shown rotating and revolving, the shadow of Charon transiting the mottled surface of Pluto. The disc contains 30 minutes of color video (plus music); only a few sample frames are shown here.

1 NTSC LaserDisc or DVD w/production notes. Licensed for in-house planetarium performances only.

SS 703
SS 703T - tape copy in any format (requires purchase of disc).

Table of Contents without images, but with each sequence's category; subject; starting and ending frame numbers; total number of frames; and duration in seconds.