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README
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1991-11-30
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A s t r o D a t a
Version 1
System Requirement:IBM PC (100% compatible)
640K RAM
DOS 3.0 and Up
Math Co-Processor not required
When you unzip ASTRO.ZIP, you should have the following:
1) ASTRO.EXE 78504 11-30-91
2) TITLE.EXE 30436 11-27-91
3) README 5817 11-30-91
4) EGAVGA.BGI 5363 5-11-89
5) CGA.BGI 6253 5-11-89
6) TRIP.CHR 7241 5-11-89
To start program type ASTRO
Table of Content
1. Introduction
2. Instructions
3. Planets
4. Moon
5. Sun
6. Precision, Testing and Problems
7. Future Version
8. Closing Comments
1. Introduction
AstroData was developed for the "budget-minded" amateur
astronomers. It was designed to "clutter" the screen with information
necessary for the novice or serious amateur astronomer, and it is simply to
use. There are good commercial astronomy programs, but the programs are too
expensive!
Today the computers are getting smaller, and because of their size,
most amateur astronomer would like to take a notebook computer along
with their telescope (yours truly). Taking a computer would eliminate
the need for carrying along books, calculators, etc.
The formulas were derived from the book:
Practical Astronomy With Your Calculator 2nd Ed.
Peter Duffett-Smith
Cambridge University Press
Copyright 1979,1981
2. Instructions
NOTE 1: You are required to check your almanac for local area information
before using this program such as time zone, longitude, latitude, sea-level.
NOTE 2: IMPROPER INPUT OF DATA CAN CAUSED UNDESIRABLE RESULT!
When you start the program up, you should see a title. Afterwards,
it will ask if you wish to load geographical and time data from previous
use of the program. If you are using it for the first time, then you should
hit 2 to enter new geographical and time data.
The program will then request your date, time, time zone, longitute,
latitude, and sea-level. Afterwards, a menu pops up to let you choose to
view data for either the Sun, the Moon or the Planets. You can review, save,
and load your geographical and time data. Next time you run this software,
you can load your previous geographical and time data rather than typing
again. You can also change one of your geographical or time data elements
from the menu. If you wish to exit then press Esc.
3. Planets
The planetary elements of their orbits uses the epoch starting at
January 0.0 1980. The planet section of the program will show you the
following data:
A) Right Ascension (hr,min,sec) and Declination (deg,',")
B) Distance from Planet Earth (AU)
C) Light-Travel Time (hr,min,sec)
-the time taken for the light to reach us from the planet
D) Angular Size (arcsec)
E) Illumination of Planet (%)
-A value of 0 means the dark side of the planet is towards
the earth. A value of 100 means the whole bright side
faces the earth.
F) Position-Angle of the Bright Limb (deg)
G) Approximate Rising and Setting (hr,min,sec)
H) Solar Elongation (deg)
4. Moon
The moon's orbital elements uses the epoch January 0.0 1980. Due
to the perturbation of the moon's orbit, many correction values had to be
added to achieve higher order of accuracy. For most purposes this program
provides a good order of accuracy. The moon section of the program will
show you the following data:
A) Right Ascension (hr,min,sec) and Declination (deg,',")
B) Illumination of Moon (%)
-eg. 0 means New Moon or 100 means Full Moon
C) Position-Angle of the Moon's Bright Limb (deg)
D) Distance from Planet Earth (km & miles)
E) Angular Size (deg,',")
F) Horizontal Parallax (deg,',")
G) Approximate Moonrise and Moonset (hr,min,sec)
5. Sun
The Sun's apparent orbit elements uses the epoch January 0.0 1980.
The sun section of the program will show you the following data:
A) Right Ascension (hr,min,sec) and Declination (deg,',")
B) Distance from Planet Earth (km & miles)
C) Angular Size (deg,',")
D) Approximate Sunrise and Sunset (hr,min,sec)
E) Approximate Twilight (hr,min,sec)
F) Carrington Rotation Number
6. Precision, Testing and Problems
Factors such as parallax, refraction, solving Kepler's Equation have
been taken into account to provide a better precision of the coordinates,
rising, and setting.
This program was written in Turbo C 2.01 on an IBM AT clone using an
Intel 16 MHz 80386SX microprocessor. This program will never replace the
ones written for NASA or the major observatories, but it will give a good
order of accuracy for most amatuer astronomer. The precision of the data
will depend on the machine you use to run the program. It does not require
a lot of RAM memory, and the program takes very little space on hard drive
or floppy.
If you discover their is a problem or numerical inconsistency feel
free to send me a letter stating the problem, and I will try to "debug" the
problem. Remember, I am only human!
7. Future Version
As you are reading this file, I am currently working on a future
version of this software, and it will include not only what is in this
version but the following:
A) A map display of the heavens from any location
and time in the world. (stars,planets,sun,moon,etc)
B) Messier Objects
C) Galilean Satelites
8. Closing Comment
This is a free shareware program, and I do not get any money for
developing this software. If you have any suggestions, comments, or
problems, please send a letter to:
P.O. Box 670
New York, NY 10451
NOTE: The author of this program assumes no responsibilty for any damage
cause by this software!