This is part of an experiment I did in 2023 with using semi-realistic cosmic data in Godot Engine.
It features an extension written in Rust with gdext, random star placement in a cluster using a normal distribution, a Kroupa-like IMF for mass values, and blackbody-like colors.
It also features an attempt at emulated double precision in the shader that renders the stars. The experiment was partially successful: as the sky/starfield camera gets very, very close to a star (rendered as point mesh in a multimesh), the star visibly wiggles just before vanishing due to near clipping. The POV must get much closer before the sphere mesh of the star is large enough to be seen.
To improve the effect, I think an additional layer should be responsible for intermediate distances. It would functionally overlap with the far plane of the primary camera and the near plane of the starfield camera. Practically, it could be another render layer like the starfield. It could also be system of scaling, billboarded sprites that render just inside of the primary camera's far plane (which is similar to how stars currently work in this demo).
This will only work on Windows. Add more platforms in rust.gdextension. Build the Rust library first before opening the project in Godot.
Press 0 to move at 3 million times the speed of light (default), and press 1-5 to fly to a random star.
Approaching a red star, still rendered by the starfield only:
Getting close to a red star and the sphere mesh is visible:
