OpenGL for space simulators
3d, direct3d, glut, java, opengl
Solution
Consider using an open source 3d engine like Ogre3D or Irrlicht. This way you can focus on making a game: content, gameplay.
Both engines define an abstraction layer that can map to Direct3D or OpenGL backends.
EDIT: at first I didn't notice you mentioned Java, anyway both engines support Java bindings.
Problem
with a few friends we started this amateur platform-independent java-based project for a space combat simulator game (something like the long dead saga of wing commander). None of us though is a 3D programmer, so the road is gonna be long. My question is: in our place would you start learning OpenGL (maybe via GLUT) or is there a better possibility today? What about Direct3D? Any books you may suggest? We ordered a couple, specifically - Dave Shriner's OpenGL Programming Guide - Luke Benstead's Beginning OpenGL Game Programming