# Content candidate pool — operator-selected, vetted (2026-06-24)

> **WIRED (session 0016).** The rotating pool below is now the live manifest:
> `simulator/build_pool_manifest.py` regenerates `simulator/sample_media/manifest.json`
> from this pool; the ring scale `forest`→`coast` rename + the cleanup list (bottom)
> are done; the player picks a random pool member on landing
> (`player.ring.pick_clip_id`). See content-pipeline design §11.

The 5 scales each get a **rotating pool** of clips. When the viewer lands on a
scale by zooming the ring in/out, the player **randomly picks one clip from that
scale's pool**. (This supersedes the one-clip-per-scale model — see
[`docs/superpowers/specs/2026-06-24-content-pipeline-design.md`](./superpowers/specs/2026-06-24-content-pipeline-design.md).)

Every clip below was operator-selected from the candidate gallery, is **strict
public-domain or CC‑BY‑class with attribution**, and was vetted **word‑free /
human‑free** (windows trimmed past title cards, captions, telemetry burn‑in,
divers, construction, logos). All processed via `tools/pipeline/run.py
process_clip` (trim → crossfade‑loop → 1080p proxy). **Media is gitignored**;
this file is the re‑sourceable record. Sim ids are the `simulator/sample_media/<id>/` dirs.

License rule confirmed by operator: **CC0 / CC‑BY / CC‑BY‑SA are acceptable with
a credit line** (our overlays + dream are derivatives, which these allow);
**CC‑BY‑ND is NOT usable** (no derivatives); **CC‑BY‑NC only if the installation
stays non‑commercial**.

## 🌌 cosmos (pool of 5)

| id | clip | source | window (s) | license / credit |
|----|------|--------|-----------|------------------|
| `cosmos` | Cosmic Cliffs — Carina Nebula flythrough | NASA SVS 31348 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/31348/ (`Clifs-3d-STScI.mp4`, *Exploring the Cosmic Cliffs in 3D*, Webb NIRCam, **4K**) | 10–34 | CC‑BY‑class — credit **NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI** |
| `cosmos_miri` | Cosmic Cliffs — Carina Nebula, **mid-infrared** (same towers, muted gray/teal/gold dust palette) | ESA/Webb weic2205c — https://esawebb.org/videos/weic2205c/ (*Pan of the Carina Nebula, combined NIRCam + MIRI*, **4K** `weic2205c.mp4`) | 4–26 | CC‑BY‑class — credit **NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI** |

> ℹ️ **Cosmos primary swapped to the Webb "Cosmic Cliffs" flythrough (2026-06-25, session 0018).**
> History: the original primary was NASA/JPL's *"Orion: Dust and Death"* (captions
> burned in → cropping lost framing); it was then swapped to STScI's text-free
> *Flight Through the Orion Nebula* (SVS 30957, visible light). The operator found
> the Orion clip merely good and asked for a more dramatic nebula, so the primary is
> now STScI's **Exploring the Cosmic Cliffs in 3D** (Carina Nebula, Webb NIRCam,
> **SVS 31348**) — a full-frame, text-free 3D flythrough sourced from its **4K**
> master (`Clifs-3d-STScI.mp4`, 3840×2160) → supersampled 1080p base + 4K master.
> Trim 10–34s clears the opening title card (gone by ~8s) and the end-credit card
> (~102s). The earlier `decaption_cosmos` crop helper remains removed.
| `cosmos_galaxies` | Flying Through Galaxies | NASA SVS — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014950/14950_Galaxies_FlyThrough_4k.mp4 | 8–32 | PD |
| `cosmos_hudf` | Hubble Ultra Deep Field zoom | NASA SVS — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a030000/a030600/a030687/hudf-b-1920x1080p30.mov | 20–44 | CC‑BY‑class — credit **NASA, ESA, STScI** |
| `cosmos_xdf` | eXtreme Deep Field flythrough | NASA SVS — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a030000/a030600/a030681/hxdf_fly-b-1920x1080p30.mov | 2–26 | CC‑BY‑class — credit **NASA, ESA, STScI** |

> ➕ **`cosmos_miri` added (2026-06-26).** Operator wanted more *Cosmic Cliffs*
> footage and a different-color rendering. The keep-the-flythrough-primary +
> add-the-mid-infrared-pan pair: ESA/Webb's **weic2205c** is the *same* Carina
> towers shot with NIRCam **+ MIRI**, so it renders in a muted gray/teal/gold dust
> palette instead of the iconic orange/blue — a distinct look from the same scene.
> Sourced text-free/human-free from the **4K** master, trim 4–26s (clears the
> opening fade-from-black, ends before any tail fade) → 1080p base + 4K master,
> 1 s crossfade-loop (~21 s). ESA/Webb's narration-free *"Diving Into the Cosmic
> Cliffs"* pan (`carina_revisit_pan`, NIRCam palette) was the runner-up — left
> out for now since it repeats the existing palette; easy to add if wanted.

> ⚠️ **DISCREPANCY to fix next session.** Operator selected cosmos **#1, #3
> (Orion), #4, #5**. During processing, **#6 Galaxy Traverse was run by mistake
> instead of #3 Orion**. The cosmos primary now lives at
> `simulator/sample_media/cosmos/base.mp4` as the Webb Cosmic Cliffs flythrough
> (SVS 31348 — see the cosmos-primary note above). **`cosmos_traverse` is an UNSELECTED extra on disk — drop it** (or
> confirm with operator). The current ring scale id is `cosmos`; when the pool is
> wired, `cosmos` becomes one pool member.

## 🏗️ BUILD (2026-06-28, branch `feat/sky-scale-expanded-pools`) — curated pools + sky scale

> **Decision:** add the `sky` scale + **curate every pool to ~7–8 clips** (operator chose
> "curate, expand from the sim" over a full ~2,000-morph bake). Morphs are **cheap and
> length-independent** — `transition_cmd` does `trim=0:3`, so each morph uses only the
> first 3s of each clip (2–6MB all-intra), so the curated bake is ~616 morphs ≈ ~1.8GB /
> ~30 min. **Long clips (45–60s) validated:** a 53s loop bitrate-capped (libx264 crf 23,
> `-maxrate 2.8M -bufsize 5.6M`, 1080p) = ~20MB, under the ~25MB front-proxy/LFS ceiling.
> The pool processor downloads each source, trims its long window, [vidstab-stabilizes /
> xfade-splices where flagged], crossfade-loops, and writes the capped proxy to
> `simulator/sample_media/<id>/base.mp4`.
>
> **Curated lineup (~43 clips; 30 new + 13 existing reused; prune/expand from the sim):**
> - **cosmos (7):** cosmos, cosmos_galaxies + cosmos_orion, _tarantula, _westerlund, _southernring, _carina_eso
> - **orbit (7):** orbit_planetearth, _bluemarble + orbit_aurora2025, _citylights, _helene, _epic, _illuminated
> - **sky (8) NEW SCALE** (between orbit & coast): sky_grca_templesa, sky_greenland_landice (stab), sky_greenland_suture (stab), sky_jungle_amazon (amazon+canopy splice), sky_jungle_waterfall, sky_coast_cliffspain, sky_mtn_castlecrags, sky_mtn_rocky
> - **coast (7):** coast_birdrock, _surfgrass + coast_kelp, _otters, _kalaloch, _seals, _mist (dropped short drakesbeach/elkbeach)
> - **reef (6):** reef_lionfish, _spawning, _hawkfish, _coralspacific + reef_redsea, _flowergarden (dropped murky reef_snapper; dropped reef_hawaiian — text overlay)
> - **abyss (7):** abyss_wow, _midwaterexp, _hiding + abyss_bigfin, _dandelion, _octopus, _seapig
>
> **Remaining build steps:** (1) processor finishes the 30 new bases → (2) wire
> `build_pool_manifest.py` (RING_ORDER + `sky`, POOLS, SCALE_AUDIO, META/AFFECT/LABELS for
> new clips) → (3) regenerate manifest + `--media` morph bake (~616) → (4) update
> `test_build_pool_manifest.py` morph-count assertion + run pytest/playwright → (5) ship via
> §9 (localhost+E2E → PPE). All dropped/unpicked Round-4 candidates remain in
> `/review_pool.html` for easy add-back.

## 📜 License policy FINALIZED (2026-06-28) + Round-4 expanded candidates

> **License policy (supersedes the "strict PD" framing above).** The operator confirmed
> the installation **alters** footage (needs derivative rights), **will keep a credits
> list**, and **may be shown commercially**. **Usable:** `CC0`, US-gov **Public Domain**,
> **CC BY**, **CC BY-SA** (share-alike accepted), **Pexels License**. **Never usable:**
> **CC BY-ND** (no derivatives) and **all NonCommercial (`CC BY-NC*`)** variants. For CC
> BY / BY-SA, credit the author + note "footage altered." Pexels needs no attribution.
> Recorded in agent memory `media-license-policy`.
>
> ⚠️ **License correction (abyss sourcing):** **Schmidt Ocean Institute, Nautilus Live /
> Ocean Exploration Trust, and MBARI are NonCommercial / all-rights-reserved → NOT usable.**
> Deep-sea picks are NOAA Ocean Exploration (PD) / CC0 only.
>
> **Round-4 (2026-06-28): ~10 fresh candidates PER altitude**, sourced under the widened
> licenses and chosen for **long clean windows (45–60s)** per the operator's "make the
> videos longer" ask (we cap bitrate to keep LFS objects <25MB). All 56 are HEAD-verified
> and live in the streaming gallery **`/review_pool.html`** (the URLs/windows/licenses are
> recorded in that committed file). Awaiting operator picks per altitude. Highlights:
> cosmos = Orion/Tarantula/Westerlund/Bubble/Carina-ESO/Stephan's-Quintet/Southern-Ring
> flythroughs (NASA SVS PD + ESA/ESO CC BY); orbit = ISS auroras + city-lights + storm-limb
> + EPIC full-disk + ESA Sentinel (PD/CC0/CC BY-SA); sky = volcano/savanna/autumn/sea-of-clouds/
> dunes/salt-flats/vineyards/badlands/boreal terrains; coast = kelp/otters/tidepool-crab/
> surf-on-rock/gulls/seals; reef = Red Sea (CC BY-SA) + 6 NOAA reels (clear-water windows);
> abyss = bigfin squid/dandelion siphonophore/psychedelic medusa/ghost shark/octopus/
> CC0 sea-pig/bamboo-coral forest/vents/dragonfish/isopod.

## ☁️ sky — PROPOSED NEW scale (candidates, awaiting operator review)

> ➕ **New altitude: "up in the clouds, flying over the earth" (sourced 2026-06-27).**
> A new ring scale that sits **between `orbit` (ISS / space) and `coast` (ground)** —
> the airplane-window / low-flight layer. Proposed slug **`sky`**, emoji ☁️; ring
> order would become cosmos → orbit → **sky** → coast → reef → abyss (operator to
> confirm slug + placement). The 20 candidates below are **NOT yet downloaded or
> processed** — they are a review list. Watch them streaming from the source at
> **`/review_sky.html`** (served by the sim; nothing downloads until you press
> play), then pick the keepers and we'll trim → crossfade-loop → 1080p them into a
> pool like every other scale. All are strict US-gov **public domain** unless noted;
> all direct URLs HEAD-verified 200 + `video/mp4` on 2026-06-27.

> ✅ **OPERATOR SELECTED (2026-06-28) — 15 clips, SOURCING CLOSED** (Selected band on `/review_sky.html`):
> - *Aircraft aerials (4):* `sky_grca_templesa`, `sky_grca_templesb`,
>   `sky_greenland_landice` (**stabilize**, vidstab — wobbly), `sky_greenland_suture` (**stabilize**).
>   *(`sky_greenland_gopro` removed.)*
> - *Rainforest (4):* `sky_jungle_amazon` (**spliced with `sky_jungle_canopy`** into one clip,
>   short crossfade at the seam), `sky_jungle_river`, `sky_jungle_waterfall`,
>   `sky_jungle_warmlight`. *(All Pexels License.)*
> - *Coast (3):* `sky_coast_dunes` (CC-BY — credit; downscale the 4K),
>   `sky_coast_turquoise`, `sky_coast_cliffspain` (Pexels).
>   *(`sky_coast_norway` and `sky_coast_cliffsurf2` removed.)*
> - *Mountains (4):* `sky_mtn_rocky`, `sky_mtn_castlecrags`, `sky_mtn_granite`,
>   `sky_mtn_sierra` (swapped in for `sky_mtn_snowfield`).
>
> Balance: aircraft 4 · rainforest 4 · coast 3 · mountains 4. The Round-3b/3c
> rainforest candidates not listed above (`misty`/`clouds`/`riverhd`/`textured` +
> `_alt`s) were **not chosen**.
>
> **Clip-length audit (2026-06-28, measured via cv2 on the on-disk pool):** shortest
> existing loops are `coast_drakesbeach` **14s** and `coast_elkbeach` **17s** (both the
> ground-level coast scale), then `reef_snapper` 20s, `cosmos_miri` 21s; everything else
> ~23s (`reef_spawning` 27s longest). The new `sky` clips all have ≥24s windows → bake to
> ~22–23s. Open option: re-trim the two short coast outliers to longer windows during the
> sky processing pass.
>
> **Dropped / superseded:** the other 15 round-1 candidates; round-2 coast
> `sky_coast_icefjord` + `sky_coast_moher`; round-2 mountains `sky_mtn_shasta` +
> `sky_mtn_snowfield`; the round-2 rainforest batch (lidar/DVIDS jungle — all rejected);
> round-3 coast `sky_coast_reef` (unpicked) + `sky_coast_oregon` (humans + nauseating
> FPV). `sky_coast_reeflagoon`/`sky_coast_cliffsurf` (too short) → replaced; the short
> round-3 rainforest clips (`amazon`/`canopy`/`river` kept; `misty`/`clouds`/`riverhd`
> too short) → replaced in Round-3b. Live review page: `/review_sky.html`.

**Group A — real aerial, from aircraft** (the heart of the scale):

| id | clip | source | direct media | window (s) | notes |
|----|------|--------|--------------|-----------|-------|
| `sky_grca_pivot` | Grand Canyon — high-altitude, straight down + slow 360° pivot | NPS GRCA b-roll hd09 — https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/photosmultimedia/b-roll_hd09.htm | https://www.nps.gov/nps-audiovideo/audiovideo/302c9dbf-f9ad-4964-bbf3-a21b536f36ed1080p.mp4 | 0–24 | PD · 1080p · text/human-free; ~25s clip (use whole) |
| `sky_grca_upstream` | Grand Canyon — high-elevation glide tracking upstream | NPS GRCA hd09 (same page) | https://www.nps.gov/nps-audiovideo/audiovideo/237ed336-b101-4a44-81f1-36d692c08a7a1080p.mp4 | 12–36 | PD · 1080p · trim before the mid-clip zoom |
| `sky_grca_templesa` | Grand Canyon — banking aerial over cliffs & "temples" (A) | NPS GRCA hd10 — https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/photosmultimedia/b-roll_hd10.htm | https://www.nps.gov/nps-audiovideo/audiovideo/0121cbe5-b185-4f9f-94af-e55f3ade40161080p.mp4 | 0–24 | PD · 1080p |
| `sky_grca_templesb` | Grand Canyon — cliffs & "temples" aerial (B, alt angle) | NPS GRCA hd10 (same page) | https://www.nps.gov/nps-audiovideo/audiovideo/0b014199-8287-441c-b535-2416d7b049521080p.mp4 | 0–24 | PD · 1080p |
| `sky_grca_river` | Grand Canyon — low-elevation aerial skimming the Colorado River | NPS GRCA hd08 — https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/photosmultimedia/b-roll_hd08.htm | https://www.nps.gov/nps-audiovideo/audiovideo/008a5147-7b14-49a1-9871-13aeb03325aa1080p.mp4 | 0–24 | PD · 1080p · lower/faster altitude variety |
| `sky_greenland_gopro` | IceBridge — Western Greenland, forward flight (GoPro) | NASA SVS 13474 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13474 | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013400/a013474/YOUTUBE_1080_13474_2019_GoPro_Front_4K_youtube_1080.mp4 | 30–54 | PD · 1080p (4K master on page) |
| `sky_greenland_landice` | IceBridge — N. Greenland, low flight over snowy land ice | NASA SVS 13472 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13472 | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013400/a013472/YOUTUBE_1080_13472_Panasonic_2016_Airborne_LandIce_4K_youtube_1080.mp4 | 20–44 | PD · 1080p |
| `sky_svalbard_land` | IceBridge — Svalbard, over glaciated mountains | NASA SVS 13473 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13473 | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013400/a013473/YOUTUBE_1080_13473_LandIce_2017_iPhone_youtube_1080.mp4 | 25–49 | PD · 1080p |
| `sky_svalbard_seaice` | IceBridge — Svalbard, banking over fractured pack ice | NASA SVS 13477 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13477 | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013400/a013477/YOUTUBE_1080_13477_iPhone_2017_SeaIce_Broken_youtube_1080.mp4 | 20–44 | PD · 1080p · abstract ice leads |
| `sky_petermann_icebergs` | IceBridge — over icebergs toward Petermann calving front | NASA SVS 13471 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13471 | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013400/a013471/YOUTUBE_1080_3471_4K_SeaIce_2017_Icebergs_CalvingFront_youtube_1080.mp4 | 30–54 | PD · 1080p (4K master) |
| `sky_greenland_suture` | IceBridge — N. Greenland, overhead sea-ice patterning ("Suture") | NASA SVS 13472 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/13472 | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a013400/a013472/YOUTUBE_1080_13472_4K_SeaIce_2017_Suture_youtube_1080.mp4 | 15–39 | PD · 1080p (4K master) · nadir ice texture |
| `sky_helheim` | "The Helheim Experience" — scenic C-130 flight near Helheim Glacier | NASA SVS 11862 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11862/ | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011800/a011862/Helheim_scenic_youtube_hq.mov | 40–64 | PD · ⚠ **720p only** · source has a music bed (mute it) |
| `sky_clouds_mountains` | "Cloudy with a Chance of Mountains" — clouds + mountains aerial | US DoD / DVIDS 464215 — https://www.dvidshub.net/video/464215/cloudy-with-chance-mountains-no-lower-thirds | https://d34w7g4gy10iej.cloudfront.net/video/1604/DOD_103314280/DOD_103314280-1024x576-1769k.mp4 | scrub | PD (DoD) · ⚠ **576p** · "no lower thirds" cut; scrub to an aerial-only segment |

**Group B — cloudscapes & atmosphere (CG renders, "in/above the clouds"):**

| id | clip | source | direct media | window (s) | notes |
|----|------|--------|--------------|-----------|-------|
| `sky_clouds_na` | Clouds over North America — cinematic cloud-layer sweep | NASA SVS 3860 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3860/ | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003800/a003860/hsymph_na.mp4 | 3–27 | PD · 1080p · closest "sea of clouds" beauty shot (~115 MB) |
| `sky_clouds_gulf` | Simulated clouds over the Gulf — artistic "beauty" render | NASA SVS 3921 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3921/ | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003900/a003921/michael_beauty_v08_1080p.mp4 | 2–26 | PD · 1080p · art-lit towering clouds (~118 MB) |
| `sky_geos_7km` | GEOS-5 modeled clouds — 7 km global resolution | NASA SVS 3657 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3657/ | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003600/a003657/comp_geos5_7km.mp4 | 3–27 | PD · 1080p · small file (~23 MB, LFS-friendly) |
| `sky_geos_35km` | GEOS-5 modeled clouds — 3.5 km global resolution | NASA SVS 3659 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/3659/ | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a003600/a003659/comp_geos5_3.5km_new.mp4 | 4–28 | PD · 1080p · ⚠ white flashes at loop-restart — land window between them (~141 MB) |
| `sky_geos_visible` | GEOS-5 "visible" — photoreal clouds + aerosols deck | NASA SVS 30591 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/30591/ | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a030000/a030500/a030591/geos_visible_1080p.mp4 | 10–34 | PD · 1080p (4K master) · ⚠ **large ~573 MB**; scrub for any colorbar |

**Group C — atmospheric limb / full-disk (orbit-adjacent, optional — may overlap `orbit`):**

| id | clip | source | direct media | window (s) | notes |
|----|------|--------|--------------|-----------|-------|
| `sky_earth_atmos` | Spinning Earth with atmosphere, clouds & night lights | NASA SVS 5570 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5570/ | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005570/Earth_wAtmos_spin_02_1080p60.mp4 | 0–24 | PD · 1080p60 (4K master) · visible atmospheric limb + cloud layer (~33 MB) |
| `sky_goes_fulldisk` | GOES-16 — first full-disk Earth (true color) | NOAA GOES-R — https://www.goes-r.gov/multimedia/dataAndImageryVideosGoes-16.html | https://www.goes-r.gov/multimedia/originalVideoCopies/dataAndImagery/GOES16/ABI_Jan15_2017_fulldisk_loop.mp4 | 0–7 (loop) | PD (NOAA/NASA) · 1440×1080 · ⚠ tiny NOAA+NASA logo bottom-right (croppable) |

### Round-2 candidates (2026-06-28) — aerial over rainforest / coast / mountains

All direct URLs HEAD-verified 200 on 2026-06-28. Strict US-gov **public domain**
unless a license is given; CC-BY/CC-BY-SA usable with the credit shown; ⚠ Pexels
clips use a custom non-PD license (flagged). "Human-free" on the CC-BY/Pexels clips
is from descriptions — eyeball the window before baking.

**🌴 rainforest (aerial over canopy)** — *clean strict-PD photographic rainforest aerial is thin; NASA's are lidar renders, the DVIDS clips need windowing:*

| id | clip | source | direct media | window (s) | notes |
|----|------|--------|--------------|-----------|-------|
| `sky_canopy_transect` | 50 km of Brazilian forest canopy — continuous flyover | NASA SVS 4530 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4530 | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004500/a004530/transect2014_1080p30.mp4 | 18–42 | PD · 1080p (4K avail) · ⚠ lidar render, not photographic |
| `sky_canopy_flythrough` | Flying through LIDAR canopy — into the leaves | NASA SVS 4532 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4532/ | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004500/a004532/flythrough_1080p30.mp4 | 10–34 | PD · 1080p · ⚠ lidar render; abstract |
| `sky_jungle_pr` | Puerto Rico — helicopter aerial over jungle mountains | DVIDS 584062 — https://www.dvidshub.net/video/584062/ | https://d34w7g4gy10iej.cloudfront.net/video/1802/DOD_105308416/DOD_105308416.mp4 | 34–58 | PD (USACE) · 1080p, no audio · ⚠ recovery b-roll — only mountain-overflight is clean |
| `sky_jungle_thai` | Thailand — aerial over dense jungle canopy (Cobra Gold) | DVIDS 585804 — https://www.dvidshub.net/video/585804/ | https://d34w7g4gy10iej.cloudfront.net/video/1802/DOD_105335187/DOD_105335187.mp4 | 0–24 | PD (USMC) · ≤1080p · ⚠ live-fire exercise — pick early canopy beat |

**🌊 coast — no humans (aerial):**

| id | clip | source | direct media | window (s) | license / notes |
|----|------|--------|--------------|-----------|-----------------|
| `sky_coast_icefjord` | Greenland — Ilulissat ice fjord, glaciers meeting the sea | NASA SVS 11982 — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11982/ | https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a011900/a011982/Aerials.webm | 30–54 | PD · 4K webm ~56 MB · real helicopter aerials (1080p mp4 `Aerials_2.mp4` also live, ~282 MB) |
| `sky_coast_moher` | Cliffs of Moher — drone over Atlantic sea cliffs | Wikimedia — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cliffs_of_Moher_drone-video.webm | https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Cliffs_of_Moher_drone-video.webm | 15–39 | **CC BY-SA 4.0 — credit Wiebe de Jager** · 1080p · use over-water window |
| `sky_coast_norway` | Arctic Norway — fjords &amp; coastal waterways (FPV drone) | Wikimedia — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aerial_imagery_of_fjords_and_rivers_in_Arctic_Norway.webm | https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Aerial_imagery_of_fjords_and_rivers_in_Arctic_Norway.webm | 60–84 | **CC BY 3.0 — credit anotherview** · 4K ⚠ ~485 MB, trim |
| `sky_coast_dunes` | The Slufter, Texel — coastal dunes &amp; tidal channels | Wikimedia — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Slufter_from_above.webm | https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/The_Slufter_from_above.webm | 30–54 | **CC BY 3.0 — credit Sander van Schie – De Verfilmer** · 4K ⚠ ~436 MB, trim |
| `sky_coast_reeflagoon` | Coral reef / turquoise lagoon from above | Pexels 12952333 — https://www.pexels.com/video/drone-video-of-coral-reefs-under-turquoise-sea-water-12952333/ | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/12952333/12952333-hd_1920_1080_25fps.mp4 | 0–24 | ⚠ **Pexels License (not PD)** · 1080p (1440p avail) · "No People" tag — confirm |
| `sky_coast_cliffsurf` | Rugged cliff coastline above the surf | Pexels 5619876 — https://www.pexels.com/video/drone-footage-of-a-cliff-coastline-above-the-sea-water-5619876/ | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/5619876/5619876-hd_1920_1080_25fps.mp4 | 0–24 | ⚠ **Pexels License (not PD)** · 1080p ~8 MB · confirm no surfers/boats |

**⛰️ mountains (aerial over peaks &amp; ridgelines)** — *the richest strict-PD vein (NPS + US Forest Service):*

| id | clip | source | direct media | window (s) | notes |
|----|------|--------|--------------|-----------|-------|
| `sky_mtn_rocky` | Rocky Mountain NP — aerial over alpine summits &amp; tundra | NPS — https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm?id=8E66DB80-64C2-4258-B878-5F9244FB6C60 | https://www.nps.gov/nps-audiovideo/audiovideo/188046ff-c9d6-4859-8c7a-1e0d3d306ed61080p.mp4 | 60–84 | PD · 1080p · pick peaks segment (Trail Ridge Rd in some shots) |
| `sky_mtn_castlecrags` | Castle Crags — past jagged granite spires &amp; ridgelines | DVIDS 998726 — https://www.dvidshub.net/video/998726/ | https://d34w7g4gy10iej.cloudfront.net/video/2603/DOD_111563303/DOD_111563303.mp4 | 120–144 | PD (USFS) · 1080p · confirmed no text/people — strongest pick |
| `sky_mtn_shasta` | Mount Shasta — drone aerial of the snow-capped volcano | DVIDS 998733 — https://www.dvidshub.net/video/998733/ | https://d34w7g4gy10iej.cloudfront.net/video/2603/DOD_111563312/DOD_111563312.mp4 | 30–54 | PD (USFS) · 1080p · distant town in part of clip |
| `sky_mtn_granite` | Shasta-Trinity NF — high alpine terrain near Granite Peak | DVIDS 998735 — https://www.dvidshub.net/video/998735/ | https://d34w7g4gy10iej.cloudfront.net/video/2603/DOD_111563314/DOD_111563314.mp4 | 90–114 | PD (USFS) · 1080p · ridgelines, no text/people noted |
| `sky_mtn_snowfield` | Mount Shasta slopes — over white alpine snowfields | DVIDS 998725 — https://www.dvidshub.net/video/998725/ | https://d34w7g4gy10iej.cloudfront.net/video/2603/DOD_111563300/DOD_111563300.mp4 | 30–54 | PD (USFS) · 1080p · favor higher-altitude snow (trailhead may appear low) |
| `sky_mtn_sierra` | Sierra near Peddler Hill — snow-blanketed high country | DVIDS 996457 — https://www.dvidshub.net/video/996457/ | https://d34w7g4gy10iej.cloudfront.net/video/2602/DOD_111530221/DOD_111530221.mp4 | 40–64 | PD (USFS) · 1080p · softer snowy ridges |

### Round-3 candidates (2026-06-28) — fresh rainforest + longer reef/cliff

Replaces the rejected round-2 rainforest batch, and gives the two "liked but too
short" coast subjects proper length. All HEAD-verified 200 on 2026-06-28; all
durations support a 24s+ window. **Mostly Pexels License** (free to use, **not**
PD/CC — flagged) since clean strict-PD photographic aerial in these subjects is
effectively absent; one CC-BY option included. Human-free is per description —
eyeball the window before baking.

**🌴 rainforest — fresh batch (photographic drone, wild/uninhabited):**

| id | clip | direct media | window (s) | license / notes |
|----|------|--------------|-----------|-----------------|
| `sky_jungle_amazon` | Lush Amazon rainforest canopy — slow aerial push | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/31291128/13360655_3840_2160_60fps.mp4 | 3–27 | ⚠ Pexels · 4K60 · confirmed no people/buildings/roads/watermark — **top pick** · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/aerial-view-of-lush-amazon-rainforest-canopy-31291128/) |
| `sky_jungle_canopy` | Lush green jungle canopy — gliding aerial | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/29780524/12796533_1920_1080_25fps.mp4 | 2–26 | ⚠ Pexels · native 1080p ~61 MB · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/aerial-view-of-lush-green-jungle-canopy-29780524/) |
| `sky_jungle_river` | Amazon rainforest river through unbroken jungle | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/35969886/15251199_3840_2160_30fps.mp4 | 3–27 | ⚠ Pexels · 4K · the "jungle river" angle · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/stunning-aerial-view-of-amazon-rainforest-river-35969886/) |
| `sky_jungle_misty` | Misty mountain forest — low cloud over jungle hills | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/34697024/14706326_3840_2160_30fps.mp4 | 3–27 | ⚠ Pexels · 4K · cloud-forest mood · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/misty-mountain-forest-aerial-view-in-dense-jungle-34697024/) |
| `sky_jungle_clouds` | Lush greenery shrouded in clouds — aerial | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/36998596/15673868_3840_2160_60fps.mp4 | 3–27 | ⚠ Pexels · 4K60 ~19 MB (small) · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/aerial-view-of-lush-greenery-shrouded-in-clouds-36998596/) |
| `sky_jungle_riverhd` | Serene jungle river landscape — aerial | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/35897960/15226438_1920_1080_30fps.mp4 | 0–24 | ⚠ Pexels · native 1080p ~25 MB (fits LFS as-is) · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/serene-aerial-view-of-jungle-river-landscape-35897960/) |

**🌊 coast — longer replacements (≥26s of footage):**

| id | clip | direct media | window (s) | dur | license / notes |
|----|------|--------------|-----------|-----|-----------------|
| `sky_coast_reef` | Coral reef + blue lagoon, Balicasag (replaces `reeflagoon`) | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/36379860/15428423_3840_2160_60fps.mp4 | 4–28 | 32s | ⚠ Pexels · 4K60 · truest coral match · ⚠ dive site — check window for boats · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/aerial-drone-view-of-balicasag-island-coral-reefs-36379860/) |
| `sky_coast_turquoise` | Rocks in shallow turquoise water, straight down (reeflagoon alt) | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/12738229/12738229-uhd_2560_1440_30fps.mp4 | 4–28 | 32s | ⚠ Pexels · 1440p · cleanest turquoise (rocky seabed > coral) · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/drone-view-of-rocks-in-shallow-turquoise-water-12738229/) |
| `sky_coast_cliffsurf2` | Mountain cliffs above the sea, crashing surf (replaces `cliffsurf`) | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/4385207/4385207-hd_1920_1080_30fps.mp4 | 8–32 | 50s | ⚠ Pexels · native 1080p · rugged cliffs + surf, no man-made · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/drone-footage-of-mountain-cliffs-above-the-sea-water-4385207/) |
| `sky_coast_cliffspain` | Dramatic Atlantic sea cliffs, N. Spain (cliffsurf alt) | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/36668415/15545045_3840_2160_60fps.mp4 | 1–25 | 26s | ⚠ Pexels · 4K60 · page-confirmed no people/boats/buildings/text · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/dramatic-cliffs-in-northern-spain-with-ocean-views-36668415/) |
| `sky_coast_oregon` | Oregon Coast — rugged Pacific sea cliffs &amp; surf (FPV drone) | https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/40/Oregon_Coast_Odyssey-_FPV_Drone_Captures_Stunning_Ocean_Views.webm | 20–44 | 96s | **CC BY 3.0 — credit EagleView** · 4K · the one clean CC cliff option · ⚠ FPV = faster/tilted motion · [page](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oregon_Coast_Odyssey-_FPV_Drone_Captures_Stunning_Ocean_Views.webm) |

**🌴 Round-3b rainforest — longer versions of the three liked-but-too-short moods (still open):**

Durations measured via ffprobe; all comfortably support a 24s window. All ⚠ Pexels License.

| id | clip | direct media | window (s) | dur | notes |
|----|------|--------------|-----------|-----|-------|
| `sky_jungle_misty` | Misty rainforest in dense fog — fog rolling over canopy | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/30770305/13162099_3840_2160_30fps.mp4 | 10–34 | 120s | 4K · top misty pick, no flags · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/misty-rainforest-aerial-view-in-dense-fog-30770305/) |
| `sky_jungle_misty_alt` | Misty mountainous jungle, Vietnam — mist on ridgelines | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/30575002/13092740_3840_2160_60fps.mp4 | 3–27 | 31s | 4K60 · cloud-forest ridgelines · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/misty-mountainous-jungle-in-vietnam-30575002/) |
| `sky_jungle_clouds` | Serene misty green hills — same shoot as original, longer | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/36998553/15673828_3840_2160_60fps.mp4 | 5–29 | 38s | 4K60 · adjacent ID to the liked clip · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/serene-aerial-view-of-misty-green-hills-36998553/) |
| `sky_jungle_clouds_alt` | Flying through clouds over green hills | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/28499216/12400645_3840_2160_25fps.mp4 | 12–36 | 49s | 4K · strongest "shrouded" feel · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/aerial-view-through-clouds-over-green-hills-28499216/) |
| `sky_jungle_riverhd` | Lush green forest &amp; river — river through canopy | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/35612503/15091993_3840_2160_30fps.mp4 | 10–34 | 54s | 4K · 2nd river (redundant if one river is enough) · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/aerial-view-of-lush-green-forest-and-river-35612503/) |

**✨ Round-3c rainforest — more distinct looks (balance rainforest to ~4, still open):**

Distinct subjects beyond canopy/river/misty. All ⚠ Pexels License, all ≥33s.
Gaps the search could NOT fill at the 28s + clean bar: golden-hour raking light,
volcanic-rainforest ridges, dramatic oxbow S-curves, mist-in-columns (closest
options were <28s, vertical, contaminated with villages/canoes, or temperate biome).

| id | clip | direct media | window (s) | dur | look |
|----|------|--------------|-----------|-----|------|
| `sky_jungle_waterfall` | Waterfall plunging out of dense jungle canopy | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/8334944/8334944-uhd_4096_2160_24fps.mp4 | 10–34 | 46s | WATERFALL — fully distinct, strongest new look · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/drone-footage-of-a-forest-with-waterfalls-8334944/) |
| `sky_jungle_warmlight` | Tropical jungle canopy in warm hazy morning light | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/26829790/12015586_3840_2160_30fps.mp4 | 4–28 | ~33s | warm low-light (closest to golden-hour found) · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/aerial-view-of-a-tropical-jungle-with-fog-and-trees-26829790/) |
| `sky_jungle_textured` | Varied jungle canopy — mixed greens &amp; emergent texture | https://videos.pexels.com/video-files/2317719/2317719-uhd_3840_2160_24fps.mp4 | 6–30 | 37s | textured/emergent canopy, richer than the plain glide · [page](https://www.pexels.com/video/aerial-footage-of-a-jungle-2317719/) |

> **Round-3 sourcing note:** reef/lagoon clips ≥25s are scarce (most are 12–20s); the
> two above clear the bar. Cliff-coast supply is good. The genuine remaining gap is
> *strict-PD / CC* reef + rainforest — Commons has no clean aerial reef video and only
> short/credit-bound rainforest, so Pexels is the pragmatic floor here.

> **Round-2 sourcing notes:** NPS bans in-park drone ops (2014) → almost no NPS
> *aerial* coast/forest; DVIDS coast aerials nearly all had people/boats/vehicles;
> photographic strict-PD rainforest aerial is the genuine gap (NASA's are lidar
> renders) — Pixabay/Pexels drone canopy is the fallback if none of the above land.
> DVIDS direct files serve as `binary/octet-stream` but are valid mp4 (the page uses
> `<source type="video/mp4">` so they preview inline).

> **Sources considered & rejected** (so a future session doesn't re-chase them):
> NOAA's high-res GOES satellite loops (FOUREASTER full-disk, Irma/Maria geocolor,
> "Clouds with Precipitation", "Satellite Models") all carry burned-in telemetry
> bars / political borders / date stamps / colorbars → **unusable**. NOAA's clean
> globes (SOS "Clouds real-time", "Blue Marble") are text-free but only **400×400**
> *and* overlap the existing `orbit` blue-marble. NESDIS "Earth from Orbit" and the
> Ocean-Today "Hurricane Hunters" piece are produced/narrated packages with
> text+people. NASA "Fly Above Alaskan Glaciers" is 360°/equirectangular (not a flat
> clip). The IceBridge cockpit "banking over Disko Bay" cut has windshield/panel in
> frame. The full **NASA SVS IceBridge 13471–13477** series is a rich vein if more
> aerial-ice clips are wanted later (each page also offers multi-GB 4K `.mov`
> masters).

## 🛰️ orbit (pool of 3)

| id | clip | source | window (s) | license |
|----|------|--------|-----------|---------|
| `orbit_planetearth` | ISS — View of Planet Earth | NASA SVS — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a030000/a030700/a030771/ISS_View_of_Planet_Earth_2160p.mp4 | 10–34 | PD |
| `orbit_crewobs` | ISS — Crew Earth Observations | NASA SVS — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a030000/a030700/a030771/ISS_Crew_Earth_Observations_2160p.mp4 | 9–33 | PD |
| `orbit_bluemarble` | NPP "Blue Marble" rotating globe (CG) | NASA SVS — https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a004500/a004550/BlueMarble_starfield_4k_2160p30_v2.mp4 | 10–34 | PD |

> Operator also selected aurora→Perth (#4) and west‑coast lights (#5); both
> **rejected as UNUSABLE** — #4 has a date/time burned into every frame, #5 has the
> ISS module + solar panel in frame throughout. No clean window exists in either.

## 🏖️ coast (pool of 4) — NEW scale, replaces the granite/waterfall `forest`

| id | clip | source | window (s) | license |
|----|------|--------|-----------|---------|
| `coast_birdrock` | Bird rock + ocean (aerial) | NPS Channel Islands — https://www.nps.gov/nps-audiovideo/audiovideo/663a2f13-6183-4b3e-a4a9-6698a84619d01080p.mp4 | 3–27 | PD |
| `coast_surfgrass` | Surfgrass / coralline tidepool | NPS Cabrillo — https://www.nps.gov/nps-audiovideo/audiovideo/de7d1cf2-e422-45b5-aa66-4c69e29a4d811080p.mp4 | 2–26 | PD |
| `coast_elkbeach` | Elk resting in coastal grass/fog | NPS Redwood — https://www.nps.gov/nps-audiovideo/legacy/redw/4634070E-F68D-4F74-E43174448168AC8A/redw-elkbeach_1280x720.mp4 | 20–38 | PD (720p source) |
| `coast_drakesbeach` | Elephant seals on dark sand | NPS Point Reyes — https://www.nps.gov/nps-audiovideo/audiovideo/1cfd8165-1061-4d75-af53-b46c2e3ed2701080p.mp4 | 20–35 | PD |

> Operator also selected the Lifeboat Station "elephant seal timelapse" (more‑options
> #3) — **FAILED**: the NPS page's video resolved to the wrong footage (an aerial of
> the bay with road/parking/boats, no seals). An alternate source UUID
> (`50a7a20a-9e52-4643-b186-c61ce1cef0f7`) appeared in the page HTML and could be
> retried next session if the seal timelapse is still wanted.
>
> **Scale rename:** the live ring scale is still `forest` (Yosemite). Next session
> renames it `coast` and points it at this pool. The old real Yosemite base
> (`simulator/sample_media/forest/`) becomes unused.

## 🐠 reef (pool of 5)

All NOAA Fisheries b‑roll (PD, credit "NOAA Fisheries"); Brightcove download
endpoint `https://download.gallery.brightcove.com/api/gallery/account/659677166001/site/site-600408/video/<VIDEO_ID>/download`.

| id | clip | VIDEO_ID | window (s) | notes |
|----|------|----------|-----------|-------|
| `reef_spawning` | Snapper school + yellow fish over sunlit reef | 1553921798001 | 50–78 | clean window from a 12‑min reel |
| `reef_hawkfish` | Humphead parrotfish over reef (Hawaiian atoll) | 6039896460001 | 250–274 | |
| `reef_lionfish` | Lionfish hovering + blue snapper | 4088881464001 | 12–36 | underwater clean; humans on land after ~190s |
| `reef_snapper` | Red snapper schooling (Gulf, greenish water) | 5305427942001 | 7–31 | |
| `reef_coralspacific` | Pacific coral macro, spotted fish | 5231464663001 | 30–54 | diver‑free window (divers at 6–25s) |

## 🦑 abyss (pool of 3)

All NOAA Ocean Exploration (PD, 17 U.S.C. §105). These have creatures drifting
**into and out of frame** — the prime material for time‑windowed tracked labels.

| id | clip | source | window (s) | creatures |
|----|------|--------|-----------|-----------|
| `abyss_wow` | "World of Water" | https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/wow-1280x720-1.mp4 | 10–34 | jelly + ctenophore + siphonophore enter/exit |
| `abyss_midwaterexp` | "Midwater Exploration" | https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/midwater-exploration-1920x1080-1.mp4 | 16–40 | white medusa + red worm enter/exit |
| `abyss_hiding` | "Hiding in the Dark" | https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/dark-1280x720-1.mp4 | 20–44 | crimson jelly + ctenophore enter/exit |

> Operator also selected Crossota (#4) and comb jelly (#5); both **rejected** —
> Crossota has only ~17s clean (too short for a 24s window), comb jelly has a
> species caption covering the whole clip.

## On disk but NOT in any pool — ✅ CLEANED UP (session 0016)

Removed from local media (all were gitignored, so repo-invisible):

- `cosmos_traverse` — unselected (the #6/#3 mix‑up above). **dropped.**
- `orbit_westcoast` — rejected (ISS hardware in frame). **dropped.**
- `forest` — the old Yosemite base, superseded by the `coast` pool. **dropped.**
- `reef` — the original placeholder/early reef base, superseded by `reef_*`. **dropped.**
- `orbit` / `abyss` — the Increment‑1 single real bases (NASA ISS Exp65 / ctenophore),
  not in the new pools. **dropped** (the cosmos base — now the Webb Cosmic Cliffs flythrough, SVS 31348 — stays as the cosmos pool primary).
- `review.html` gallery — now `.gitignore`d (local‑only, re‑buildable).