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CompuServe - Multimedia W…shop 1995 February/March
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CompuServe Multimedia Workshop February-March 1995 (Metatec Corporation)(1994).iso
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nautical
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nautical.doc
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1994-11-28
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Nautical v 1.5
An Astronavigation program complete with
built-in almanac for 1950 - 2050
reduction of sights
graphical displays of the stars
world map
It works, but a SatNav system is simpler and wiser !
Copyright 1990-94 Rory O'Conor
Distributed as a Shareware product
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DISCLAIMER
I have taken every effort to ensure that the data used is accurate
and that my formulae are correct.
However there may be inaccurate data or totally wrong code. I am not
qualified in any way to judge. I know that there are inherent weaknesses
in my reductions of the planets and main star data.
I have used the program to compute my position on many occasions, and it
seems to work. This does not mean it will continue to work. Do try using
the program and then working the sight out with an almanac. You need to
be able to use the Almanac when this program does not work, or your
computer gets wet.
If you are prepared to accept this program as it is, with all its faults,
then do use it, but do not forsake other means for checking your position.
Remember that AstroNavigation has its limitations, as do programmers.
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There were five distribution files :
they have now been compressed to one file
NAUT15D.ZIP
Please distribute in this form although the
program will state otherwise.
If you dis/like the program and wish to send contributions $20,
comments or criticism then address them to :
Rory O'Conor
7 South Park Road Saltway Farm
Harrogate Northleach
N Yorks HG1 5QU Gloucester GL54 3QB
UK UK
Tel & Fax: 01423-523404 Tel: 01285-720110
Compuserve [100115,2656]
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HELP
You will have to use the on-line help - ie press F1 at a menu.
The help available is minimal.
If you have not got a Sextant and want to try the sight-reduction
routines. Then
(a) Find out what is visible in a certain place at a certain
time using option ( Visible Bodies ) , and printing one page of
output.
(b) Using this data take a fix ( Taking a Fix ).
(c) View the result ( Visible Bodies ) and see the Position lines
on a Map ( Press M at the graphics menu ).
(d) Use the Re-work sight option to remove appalling fixes
and re-view the result.
There are lots of hidden (but nice) features that will only
become apparent with use.
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Complete File List
ALMANAC.BIN - Navigational stars data
CONSTEL.BIN - Constellations
GASH.BIN - General data
METEOR.BIN - Meteor showers
NOTE.BIN - Notes
NOTEPAD.BIN - Pointers to notes
PLANET.BIN - Planetary elements
STAR.BIN - Star data
STARLINE.BIN - Constellation outlines
ATT.BGI - ATT graphics driver
CGA.BGI - CGA graphics driver
EGAVGA.BGI - EGA graphics driver
HERC.BGI - Hercules graphics driver
IBM8514.BGI - IBM graphics driver
PC3270.BGI - PC3270 graphics driver
LITT.CHR - Small character graphics font
NAUTICAL.DOC - This document
CITY.BIN - Towns and cities
COAST1.BIN - Coastal outline (100 mile resolution)
COAST2.BIN - Coastal outline (200 mile resolution)
COUNTRY.BIN - Countries
OCEAN.BIN - Oceanographic features
PORT.BIN - Ports of the world
NAUTICAL.EXE - Map version
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ACCURACY :
The data on the Sun is accurate to 0°.01 and 0.1 mins
between 1950 and 2050.
The data on the Moon is accurate to 0°.3 between 1950 and 2050.
The value for GHA Aries is accurate.
The Positions of the Navigational stars are accurate to 4
minutes of degree over the period 1991-1995 and probably
have similar accuracy up to 2000.
The Positions of the other stars are accurate to minutes of
degree probably over the period 1980 - 2000, except for
those with large Declinations eg Polaris.
The Planetary data is only designed to be accurate for 1990,
but may be reasonably accurate over 5 years ? Accuracy in
fractions of a degree.
DO NOT RELY ON THIS PROGRAM. YOU MUST BE ABLE TO USE A NAUTICAL
ALMANAC, AND CHECK IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT. THE POSITIONS FOR THE
SUN AND NAVIGATIONAL STARS ARE PROBABLY ACCURATE ENOUGH OVER THE
PERIOD 1991 - 1995. YOU CAN ALWAYS ENTER THE ALMANAC DATA INTO THE
PROGRAM.
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SOURCES :
Nautical Almanac 1989
Astronomical Almanac 1989
Astronomical Almanac 1990
Compact data for navigation and astronomy 1986-1990
Compact data for navigation and astronomy 1991-1995
Yallop & Hohenkerk
Supplement to Astronomical Almanac 1962 ?
Encyclopedia of Astronomy Ronan
Star Names RH Allen
Times atlas of the Oceans
Philips world atlas
World digitalized
Reader's Digest Great World Atlas
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INPUT :
Much improved on version 1.4
Dates are dd/mm/yy ie British system
All angles are in degrees.
Input will accept decimal degrees as well as
degrees and minutes.
+ and - are converted on input to N and S etc
There are default values for latitude and longitude
These change if you change them.
Default values for date and time are taken from the
system clock. The time is converted to approximate UT.
The program works in UT ( universal time ).
There are various units for length.
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OUTPUT :
Many results can be printed or added to a file. Files will
either be overwritten or added to as you request.
MONITORS :
Only tested on CGA,Hercules,EGA,VGA screens so far. The graphics
may not work on other monitors. If they do/do not I would
be interested in knowing.
FIXES :
Allows upto about 20 sights per fix.
PRINTER :
Will test for presence of printer.
BUGS :
There are still lots of bugs. The program may halt with a
cryptic debug message. If so please send me the details.
Polar sights may cause the program to terminate. The program
gets sick at the poles.
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UPDATE
This program supercedes NAUT_V1.EXE & NAUT102.EXE
NAUT103?.EXE & NAUT104?.EXE
please delete the old versions.
IMPROVEMENTS on version 1.4
Improved input routines
Coastal outline
List of places
Constellation outlines
Updated Almanac data
Updated Planetary data
Measurement unit conversion
Timezone check
Automatic installation
NB the planetary data will not be suitable for anything other than
identification purposes.
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FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
Tightening up of routines for increased speed
Possibly higher resolution coastline (speed and size probs)
Possibly use of overlays
Orbital elements for planets
Improved star reduction formulae
Confidence ellipse for position
Improved graphics menu
Improved online help
Logging of input and output
User configuration of program
Better documentation
All suggestion welcome
Rory O'Conor 19/07/90, 14/01/93, 23/11/94
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