System and methodology for displaying an adaptive virtual sky within an aircraft cabin

An aircraft comprising:

• a cabin having a cabin ceiling;
• a display element arranged on the cabin ceiling and oriented to present visual content to an occupant of the cabin;
• a source of aircraft status data that provides aircraft status data corresponding to current operating status of the aircraft;
• and
• at least one video processor coupled to the source of aircraft status data, the at least one video processor configured to render image data corresponding to an adaptive virtual representation of the sky, wherein the image data is rendered based on at least some of the aircraft status data, wherein the image data includes date and time information to estimate a position of a sun and moon relative to the aircraft;
• wherein the display element is coupled to the at least one video processor to receive the rendered image data;
• and
• wherein the display element is configured to display the adaptive virtual representation of the sky based on the received image data.

A display system for use onboard an aircraft having a cabin and a cabin ceiling, the display system comprising:

• a source of aircraft status data, wherein the aircraft status data comprises position data corresponding to current geographical position of the aircraft, and altitude data corresponding to current altitude of the aircraft;
• at least one video processor coupled to the source of aircraft status data, the at least one video processor configured to render image data corresponding to a virtual representation of the sky, wherein the image data is rendered based on the position data and the altitude data to adaptively adjust visual characteristics of the virtual representation of the sky in response to changes in the position data and in response to changes in the altitude data, wherein the image data includes date and time information to estimate a position of a sun and moon relative to the aircraft;
• and
• a display element arranged on the cabin ceiling and oriented to present visual content to an occupant of the cabin, the display element coupled to the at least one video processor to receive the image data, and the display element configured to display the adaptive virtual representation of the sky based on the received image data.