04.1 Types of motion
When you are simply standing on the Earth, you don't even notice that you are moving through space, but actually you are moving in rather a complicated manner made up of three independent types of motion. For simulating the sky from earth, you don't need to worry about this. By default RedShift simulates a view of the sky from the Earth's surface, with the horizon as the fixed point of reference.

When you want to leave the Earth to look at it from space, or explore other bodies in the solar system, our Earth-bound viewpoint must be left behind. RedShift allows you to relate your position as the "observer" to any of the bodies of the solar system, so that you can travel with them in their orbits.

04.2 Choosing your observation position
If you wish to see the Earth from space, or to visit anywhere else in the solar system, use the Location panel (see section 21. Working with Location for more information).

Location mode allows you to choose to

observe from the surface of the body (planet, moon, etc.)

go into space, and study particular points on the surface (track surface)

go into space, and watch the body rotate as is moves in its orbit

move freely around the solar system.

If you set time running using the Control time panel, then your position will move to track the object and your view will be directed according to the location mode that you have chosen.

Often, however, you may simply wish to lock your view on a particular object at the same time as running time forward or back (this mode is particularly useful if you wish to observe a planet or a moon from another object). In this case, select Lock Aim from the drop-down menu in the Track Aim panel.

TIP
If you're new to RedShift, and would like to see an illustration of the effect of Location mode and Aim, open the Track aim panel, and click the button. An animation will be displayed which explains the currently selected Location mode and Aim. (see24. Track aim panel and Motion preview sub-panel for more information).