Just like there is for posting (hot linking) images into the body of a message post using the IMG and /IMG tags(BBCodes) there is one in use on other forums for placing(hot linking) Videos into a message body. Would be nice if we could use that code here.

The code / tag is as follows:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nWhnXM-tTI[/media]

It would place a small video window in the body of the message allowing a person to watch the video on the small screen in the message body by clicking the play button >, or clicking on the video window to open a larger window and viewing the full size version much like the option we have now for viewing images. It wouldn't require any more space on the a.com server since the video is stored and hosted elsewhere just like our photos are.

I'll second that Tim. It would be useful. A lot more videos have been added to the astrophoto's section recently.

 I think you can use the HTML Thumb code from PhotoBucket through the html feature here to display the video frame. However, it doesn't play on this site when you click it,  it takes you to the hosting site to watch it.  I know this isn't what Tim was talking about, but it does give us a way to post until we figure out how to embed the hot link.

I'm going to try what I suggested using Tim's Star Trail animation just to see if it works.

Just not the same Kevin. I've used the html thumbnail code from photobucket before and I don't like it. I've been uploading my videos to youtube an vimeo now. Having the use of the [media} tag sure would be nice and it looks much much better. Instead of placing an oversized looking blank thumbnail into you message it actually place a small video screen that you can either watch the video in that small window, or by clicking you mouse anywhere on that small window will open the larger video window.
Look in the Video test in General Chit Chat at ODS and you will see what I am saying.
http://forum.ourdarkskies.com/index.php?showtopic=24591