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ASTRNOMY
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SKYMP20A.ZIP
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VENDOR.TXT
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S K Y M A P
---------------
Version 2.0
---------------
V E N D O R I N F O R M A T I O N
----------------------------------------
This file provides information for Shareware Distributors,
Disk Vendors, BBS Sysops and Computer Clubs who wish to
distribute the SKYMAP package.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Part 1: Program Information:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Program Name, Category:
-----------------------
SkyMap, Windows, Astronomy Application (Disk)
Preferred File Name For BBSs Etc:
_________________________________
SkyMap is a large package, and is normally distributed as
two ZIP archives. These should be called "SKYMP20A.ZIP" and
"SKYMP20B.ZIP". If you wish, the program may be distributed
as a single file containing all the files from both archives,
in which case it should be called "SKYMAP20.ZIP".
Of course, other file name extensions are perfectly acceptable
when compression programs other than PKZIP are used.
The package must be distributed "as is". You may add your
own short promotional files to the package, but no files
must be removed from it.
Short Description:
------------------
SkyMap is a highly accurate "planetarium" for Windows 3.1.
It can draw a map of the sky, as seen from any place on Earth,
for any date between 4000BC and 8000AD, displaying stars,
planets, comets, deep-sky objects, constellation names and
figures, and a whole lot more. Detailed information about
any object on a map can be obtained simply by clicking on it
with the mouse, and high quality charts can be printed on any
printer supported by Windows. Pictures of objects, in several
formats, can be associated with objects and displayed, either
manually or automatically.
Long Description:
-----------------
SkyMap v2.9 is a shareware "Planetarium" program for Microsoft
Windows 3.1 or later. It will display a map of the sky as seen
from any point on Earth for any date between 4000BC and 8000AD.
Two different types of map can be drawn: a "Horizon" map showing
the observer's local horizon, and a "Sky Area" map showing a
detailed view of a small area of the sky. You can "zoom in" on
a map to a practically unlimited extent, and rapidly scroll
around it.
There are many planetarium programs available today. Unlike
some of these, SkyMap makes no claims of blinding calculation
speeds. Instead, what SkyMap concentrates on is accuracy.
SkyMap uses the most accurate methods available to the author
for all the calculations. This accuracy makes SkyMap equally
suited for both the novice astronomer who just wants to know
"what's that bright object up there?" and the serious amateur
or professional astronomer who wants a detailed "finder chart"
for a faint galaxy.
Examples of this accuracy are:
- Planetary positions have a mean error of less than half a
second of arc.
- Star positions are rigorously corrected for the effects of
proper motion, precession, aberration, and refraction.
Planetary positions are corrected for aberration and
diurnal parallax.
SkyMap carries out its calculations in as efficient as manner as
possible, but it never compromises accuracy for the sake of speed.
An increase in speed can always be achieved by using a faster
computer! Having said all that, the speed is still reasonable;
on the author's 33MHz 486-based PC for example, the horizon map,
with default settings, is computed and drawn in about 5 seconds.
The following information can be displayed on a map:
Stars: SkyMap uses the SAO star catalog as the source of star
data. The shareware version of the program comes with a
database of 15,925 stars down to magnitude 7; the
registered version of the program is supplied with a much
larger star database, up to and including the complete
SAO catalog of 258,997 stars to magnitude 9.5 or so.
Stars can optionally be labelled with proper names, Bayer
letters, or Flamsteed numbers.
Constellations: Constellation names, figures, and official IAU
boundaries can all be displayed.
Planets: The Sun, Moon, and planets can be displayed, labelled
with their standard astronomical symbols. The Moon is
displayed with the correct phase and orientation.
Comets: The program maintains a catalog of comets, in which the
user may add, remove, and edit entries. Comets from the
catalog can be selected for display on the map.
Deep Sky Objects: The complete RNGC catalogue of non-stellar
objects is available. The user can select
between the Messier catalogue or the complete
RNGC catalogue, and can apply detailed
selection criteria, such as "display globular
clusters brighter than magnitude 11".
All types of object can be switched on or off with the click of
the mouse, making it easy to see exactly the information you want,
without being flooded with unwanted information.
Detailed information about any object can be obtained simply by
clicking the mouse on it. In the case of planets, the displayed
information includes both positional (RA, Dec, Distance) and
physical (Magnitude, phase, light time, elongation, phase angle
etc) information.
When you have a map as you want it, it can be printed on any type
of printer supported by Windows. The printed map is not simply a
copy of the screen; it is printed at the full resolution of the
printer. Maps printed on a laser printer compare favourably with
high-quality star atlases such as "Uranometria 2000". Maps can be
printed in either black and white or colour. If you have a colour
printer you can select the colour of each component of the map.
SkyMap can also display photographic images, supplied in the
form of GIF, BMP or PDS files. Thousands of such images are
freely available on bulletin boards and commercial information
systems such as CompuServe. This allows you to build up your own
personal library of astronomical photographs which, coupled with
the map displays, really helps to bring the sky to life. Images
can either be displayed manually, or can be linked with specific
objects and displayed by simply clicking on the object on the map.
System Requirements
-------------------
SkyMap will run on any computer supporting Windows 3.1, although a
fast 386 or a 486-based computer is strongly recommended. A maths
co-processor is not essential, but again is recommended; SkyMap does
a huge amount of trigonometry, and use of a co-processor can speed
the program up by a factor of 10 or more!
SkyMap runs under both OS/2 v2.1 and Windows NT v3.1 without
problems.
For the display of photographic images, a video card capable of
displaying 256 or more colours (simultaneously) is recommended.
Images CAN be displayed on a standard 16-colour VGA display,
but will generally look pretty terrible!
Maps can be printed on any printer supported by Windows. Good
quality maps can be obtained even from a 9-pin dot matrix printer.
SkyMap's files require a total of 1.6MB of disk space.
Registration Information:
-------------------------
For full information about registering SkyMap, please refer to
the separate registration files.
Author/Publisher Information:
-----------------------------
SkyMap is written by:
Chris Marriott
9, Severn Road
Culcheth
Cheshire WA3 5ED
UK
E-mail addresses:
CompuServe: 100113,1140
Internet: chris@chrism.demon.co.uk
SkyMap is exclusively distributed in the USA and Canada by
Shareable Software Internation, Inc. Vendors in the USA or
Canada should contact Bill Dickson at the following address:
Bill Dickson
Shareable Software International, Inc
PO Box 59102
Schaumburg, IL 60159
USA
Also by voice or electronically as follows:
Phone: (708) 397 1221
Fax: (708) 397 0381
CompuServe: 76226,2652
Internet: 76226.2652@compuserve.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Part 2: Distribution Requirements
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ASP Associate (Disk Vendor) Member Information:
-----------------------------------------------
Vendors who are ASP Associate Members in good standing are
hereby given permission to distribute SkyMap. ASP Associate
Members (often called "ASP Approved Vendors") in good standing
do not need to request permission to distribute this package.
This permission is in effect until or unless we notify you
otherwise, in writing.
Other (Non-ASP) Disk Vendor Information:
----------------------------------------
Shareware Distributors and Disk Vendors who are not ASP Associate
Members, but who wish to distribute SkyMap must comply with
the following restrictions:
If the version of the program that you have is more than 12
months old, please contact the author before distributing the
package, since it is likely that a more recent version will
be available.
You may not list any of our products in advertisements, catalogs,
or other literature which describes our products as "FREE
SOFTWARE". Shareware is "Try-Before-You-Buy" software, it is
not free.
Applying for ASP Associate Membership:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you would like to apply for ASP Associate Membership (to
become an ASP Approved Vendor), simply write to the following
address and request a Vendor Membership Application Package:
ASP Executive Director
545 Grover Road
Muskegon, MI 49442-9427
U.S.A.
or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe MAIL to ASP
Executive Director 72050,1433.
CD-ROM Distribution
--------------------
SkyMap may be incorporated in CD-ROM collections provided that
the complete package is included, and it is made clear that it
is NOT "Free Software". If the version of the program that you
have is more than 12 months old, please contact the author before
distributing the package, since it is likely that a more recent
version of the program will be available.
Please Help Us Serve You Better:
--------------------------------
We would appreciate copies of anything you print regarding
SkyMap. Please send us a copy of any reviews, articles,
catalog descriptions, or other information you print or
distribute regarding the SkyMap package. Thank you for
your time and assistance and for supporting the shareware
marketing concept.