Why? Why not?

September 27, 2010 1:07 PM

Aaron Meyers has mapped NASA LIDAR data of Earth's moon to frames of an animated gif created by Paul Robertson [previously, previously]. This is the result. This is the result in GIGANTO-VISION [7000x7000]. This is some video, compressed to hell and back. Via Waxy Links
posted by brundlefly (23 comments total)

What is the mapping? frames of an animated GIF to --> contoured globe? But there is a time axis as well?
posted by kuatto at 1:21 PM on September 27, 2010

Finally!
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:23 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

That's no moon. It's a space station.

Was I the first? What do I win?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:28 PM on September 27, 2010

sorry, could someone point out the location of the newest McDonalds.
posted by tustinrick at 1:47 PM on September 27, 2010

Stunty link leaves me puzzled.
posted by sidereal at 1:51 PM on September 27, 2010

The "an animated gif" link gives me some Pokemon thing. I think.
posted by AzraelBrown at 1:51 PM on September 27, 2010

It's like V'Ger, but more frightening.
posted by mkb at 1:58 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

There is another link from Waxy's post here that helps explain what's going on.
posted by bitslayer at 2:08 PM on September 27, 2010

This is a great example of why you don't use a photo site to host your video....

Why does Flickr do video at all?
posted by toekneebullard at 2:20 PM on September 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

I'm sorry, but I've read every one of those links, and I still don't understand what this is, or why it's relevant.
posted by schmod at 2:20 PM on September 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

Relevant to what? I just thought it's a neat, fun thing this guy did.
posted by brundlefly at 2:30 PM on September 27, 2010

Relevant to what? I just thought it's a neat, fun thing this guy did.

It feels like there's some point that I'm missing too - I mean it makes the moon look all colour-cycly? Yes? Is that it?

I hate being a 'meh' guy, but I'm just interested to know if there's some piece of information which will let the whole thing achieve its local maximum for cool. For me. Ifyaknowworrimean.
posted by Sebmojo at 2:48 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

It feels like there's some point that I'm missing too - I mean it makes the moon look all colour-cycly? Yes? Is that it?

Yeah, pretty much. It's a weird, random thing to do and it struck me as cool... Sorry that it's not floating other people's boats. *shrug* Different strokes!
posted by brundlefly at 3:01 PM on September 27, 2010

Indeed!

De gustibus non est dispuTANDUM, motherfucker!
posted by Sebmojo at 3:16 PM on September 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

I feel that the video could be an object of interest. Given the right circumstances. Or dosages.
posted by ancientgower at 3:18 PM on September 27, 2010

And now that the big image has finished loading, I find that it too has viability as an object of interest.
posted by ancientgower at 3:19 PM on September 27, 2010

You really do need to load the full image. I don't want to ruin the surprise, but it might not be what you expect just from the preview.
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 3:41 PM on September 27, 2010

What I wanted: a 7000x7000 animated GIF.

*sob*
posted by Jubal Kessler at 4:18 PM on September 27, 2010

You really do need to load the full image. I don't want to ruin the surprise, but it might not be what you expect just from the preview.

Ah, that's the sort of thing I was wondering about.
posted by Sebmojo at 5:17 PM on September 27, 2010

Totally fantastic.
posted by gwint at 8:06 PM on September 27, 2010

FYI, Paul Robertson is awesome and anything even remotely assosciated with his name is awesome. Awesome.
posted by d1rge at 7:27 AM on September 28, 2010

Yeah, you have to look at the full image to get the effect.
posted by delmoi at 7:35 AM on September 28, 2010

all the moons
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 7:53 AM on September 28, 2010