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ASTv2.1.Doc
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1993-11-07
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ASTRONOMYv2.1 November 1993
-------------
Welcome to ASTRONOMYv2.1,a menu driven astronomy program which
calculates information about the Sun,Moon,Planets and constellations.
The program is written and compiled with Hisoft Basic using programs
from Peter Duffet Smiths' "Astronomy With A Personal Computer".
Please note that times are not corrected for any daylight saving time
that may be in effect in your area.
I wrote the program principally to help me determine the best time to
observe the planets.I have a keen interest in observing the planet
Jupiter and find the Jupmoons program ideal for predicting
interesting Jovian moon events such as transitions and occultations
and identifying which moon is which.
To anyone just starting out in astronomy I would suggest a visit to
the local library to gain as much knowledge as possible,and then
buying a Phillips Planisphere,a reference book (Collins-Guide To
Stars And Planets by Ridpath and Tirion is excellent),and a pair of
good quality 10x50 binoculars (Russian binoculars have excellent
optics and are good value for money).If funds will allow binoculars
are best mounted (with a binocular clamp from photostores) on a
tripod.You will be amazed at how much can be comfortably seen with
such a system.
Eventually the beginner will want a telescope.I would strongly
recommend you look through a magazine such as "Astronomy Now" to get
an idea of prices.Telescopes are expensive,but a good quality three
inch refractor or six inch reflector will give superb images for a
lifetime.
*******************************************************
** NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN THROUGH BINOCULARS **
** OR A TELESCOPE,YOU MAY BE PERMANENTLY BLINDED **
*******************************************************
Do not expect to see superb images as in the books,you won't,those
images are achieved using multi-million dollar equipment,however
whatever you have,aim to gain the maximum enjoyment out of it.
I wish you warm nights and clear skys,and if it's not clear then you
now have ASTRONOMYv2.1 to wander through.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ASTRONOMYv2.1
-------------
MAIN MENU
---------
Upon loading the program the main menu will be displayed along with
an information box of current settings:-
OPTION - Displays the current menu or selected object.
DATE - Defaults to 01.01.1993 and can be changed with option 9/10.
TIME - Defaults to 00.00 hrs and can be changed with option 9/10.
LAT/LON - Defaults to London and can be changed using option 12.
(Your latitude and longitude can be found from a good quality map).
OPTION 0 - QUIT
---------------
This option closes down ASTRONOMYv2.1 and returns you to the
workbench.
OPTION 1 - THE PLANETS
----------------------
Upon selecting this option a new menu appears allowing you to select
the planet of your choice.
When the calculations are finished,pressing any key will return you
to the planets menu,where inputting 0 will return you to the main
menu.
OPTION 2 - THE SUN
------------------
This option calculates data about the Sun.Remember to set the correct
time for accurate Sun details.
OPTION 3 - THE MOON
-------------------
This option calculates data about the Moon and draws a Moon phase
diagram.
OPTION 4 - ALT-AZ
-----------------
Upon selecting this option a new menu appears allowing you to select:
0 - Main Menu
1 - The Planets
2 - The Sun
3 - The Moon
4 - Constellations
Upon selecting option 1 - The Planets,a new menu appears allowing you
to select the planet of your choice (1 to 8) or to return to the
Alt-Az menu (0).
Options 2 and 3 (Sun and Moon) give immediate data.
Option 4 shows a new screen of the 88 constellations.You can choose
any constellation (1 to 88) or return to the Alt-Az menu (0).
Once a choice has been made the altitude and azimuth (compass
bearing) of the selected object will be calculated at one hour
intervals using the set date.
The accuracy in this program is sufficient for visual/binocular use
only.Telescope users should use the Right Ascension and Declination
values calculated in the Sun/Moon/Planets programs from the main
menu.
Please note that the times given are for the observers time zone and
are not Universal Time.
OPTION 5 - JUPMOONS
-------------------
This option will calculate and plot the positions of Jupiters four
largest moons on a given date.
The program defaults to a magnification of x100 to allow you to see
all four moons (if visible).
The magnification can be increased to x800 from within the Jupmoons
program (option 1),if for example you want to watch a moon crossing
the surface of Jupiter.
Increasing the magnification decreases the field of view,so you may
not see all four moons at higher magnifications.
The time can also be altered from within the Jupmoons program
(option 2) to allow you to animate the motion of Jupiters moons.
The X and Y data indicates in terms of Jupiters radius how far away
from the centre of Jupiter a moon is.
X gives the horizontal displacement (-tive is left of Jupiters
centre), Y gives the vertical displacement (-tive is below Jupiters
centre).
The left (<) and right (>) arrows indicate the direction in which a
moon is travelling.Moons moving left travel in front of Jupiter,
moons moving right travel behind jupiter.
Pressing option 0 will return you to the main menu.
Please note that you do not need a telescope to see Jupiters moons.
A pair of good quality 7x50 binoculars,held steady will show these
four moons.
OPTION 6 - SATDRAW
------------------
This option will display the changes in ring angle of Saturn.
Please note that to see the rings of saturn requires a good quality
telescope.
OPTION 7 - ORRERY
-----------------
This program will use the set date to compute the positions of all
the planets in the solar system.
You view the planets from directly above the Sun,placed some
considerable distance outside the solar system looking straight
down.Elliptical paths of the planets and orbital scales have been
ignored,however the program is still capable of predicting favourable
elongations of the innner planets and oppositions of the outer
planets.
Option 0 returns you to the main menu.
Option 1 allows you to animate the planets by altering the date.
OPTION 8 - QUICK LIST
---------------------
This program uses the set date and time to calculate the positions of
the Sun,Moon and Planets,giving the user a quick overview of what can
be seen and what cannot.
Please note that times given are for the observers time zone and are
not Universal Time.
OPTION 9 - SYSTEM DATE/TIME
---------------------------
The current date and time can be loaded from your computer clock (if
you have one).
The computer clock can be changed from the preferences option on the
workbench (click on the Astronomy icon after loadup to access the
preferences program).
OPTION 10 - ALTER DATE
----------------------
This option allows you to manually change the date.
OPTION 11 - ALTER TIME
----------------------
This option allows you to manually change the time.
OPTION 12 - ALTER LAT-LON
-------------------------
This option allows you to manually change your observing location.