Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around viewing a large .bin file generated from a NASA Blue Marble topographical image of Earth, which is over 10GB in size after decompression. Participants explore various methods and software options for opening and visualizing this file, including MATLAB, Photoshop, GIMP, and other tools.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- One participant expresses difficulty in viewing the .bin file in MATLAB due to memory limitations of their computer.
- Another suggests using Photoshop CS2 to open the file as a Photoshop Raw image, indicating specific steps to do so.
- A different participant proposes using GIMP as an alternative for opening raw files, noting it is a free software option.
- One participant questions the format and resolution of the original 2.4GB picture file, indicating a lack of familiarity with MATLAB.
- Another participant mentions discovering NASA World Wind software as a potential solution for viewing the data, highlighting its offline capabilities and additional features.
- There is a discussion about the nature of .bin files, with conflicting views on whether they are executable files or image files, and the necessity of accompanying .cue files.
- One participant shares their experience of attempting to mount the .bin file as a virtual disc but encountering format issues, speculating that it may contain raw data.
- Another participant requests a link to the file for further investigation.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method to view the .bin file, with multiple competing views and suggestions remaining unresolved.
Contextual Notes
Participants express uncertainty about the file format and resolution, as well as the technical requirements for viewing the large .bin file. There are also limitations related to the hardware capabilities of some participants.