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MOONLOC.DOC
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1984-04-29
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COMPUTER PROGRAMS FOR LOCATING THE MOON
EIMAC DIVISION OF VARIAN
301 INDUSTRIAL WAY
SAN CARLOS, CALIFORNIA
In two previous issues of the Eimac EME notes, methods
were described for determining antenna aiming data to "hit" the
moon. In bulletin AS-49, there was a reprint of an article by
Don Lund, WA0IQN, an article by Victor Michael, W3SDZ, and some
letters to the technical editor of QST from Alan Goodacre,
VE3BZS, all discussing antenna aiming. Also, in bulletin
AS-49-1 more information on aiming data was presented.
Bulletin AS-49-1 stressed the use of the Nautical Almanac and
the Hydrographic Office publication HO-214. It is possible to
determine the moon's position by means of those two
publications without extensive mathematics. However, as one
becomes more involved in the EME project, the habits of the
moon become interesting. Also, more sophisticated methods of
tracking the moon become attractive.
For those persons having access to handheld scientific
calculators, new techniques become available. For those
Amateurs having access to a computer, either punch-card or an
active terminal, another interesting hobby of writing and
modifying programs develops.
In this issue of the EME notes, four programs are
presented which may be of interest. One is in BASIC, two are
in TYMSHARE SUPERBASIC and one in TYMSHARE SUPERFORTRAN. As is
usually the case, these programs will probably need to be
modified to run on the machine available to the individual
amateur.
PROGRAM 1 [MOONLOC1.BAS]
LANGUAGE: BASIC
This program will run on almost all machines accepting
BASIC. The operator must put in data from the Nautical Almanac
for the year, month, day and hours that the elevation and
azimuth is desired. Also, the latitude and longitude of the
geographic location in question must be entered. Statement 20
allows the operator to put in the time interval, in minutes,
between each calculation.
The origin of this program is not known.
PROGRAM 2 [MOONLOC2.BAS]
LANGUAGE: TYMSHARE SUPERBASIC
The program is a modified version of program 1. The
output format is slightly different. Also, limits can be put
on the azimuth and elevation angles at the operator's
discretion. The program requires latitude and longitude and
time interval inputs. Also, Nautical Almanac data for the
year, month, day and hours must be put into the data
statements. Statement 610 allows the operator to put the data
in for identification. The computer does not use this
statement in the calculations. The computer will pause and let
you type in the date. When inserting the date, do not use
commas for seperating the month, day, and year. If you do, the
computer will become confused. When the carriage return is
depressed the computer will carry on.
PROGRAM 3 [MOONLOC3.BAS]
LANGUAGE: TYMSHARE SUPERBASIC
This program was originally written in BASIC by Lance
Collister, WA3GPL. However, the BASIC used on the General
Electric terminal was sufficiently different from the TYMSHARE
SUPERBASIC that the program would not run. A few modifications
were made to allow the TYMSHARE machine to run. What is
presented here will not run on the GE computer. Perhaps those
who attempt to use this program will have to make further
changes for their individual cases.
The program is very useful because no almanac data is
required. The program allows the calculation of the moon
position by comparing back to the position of the moon at the
start of the Julian calendar. The operator need put in only
the latitude, longitude, time interval, month, day, year and
hours between which aiming data is required. If rising, or
setting, moon calculations are required, the computer
determines the time and will execute the printout requested.
PROGRAM 4 [MOONLOC4.FOR]
LANGUAGE: TYMSHARE SUPERFORTRAN
This program was supplied by Louis Anciaux, WB6NMT. As
received, the program was on tape and written in FORTRAN IV.
Again, the program was modified to run with TYMSHARE
SUPERFORTRAN. This program requires nautical almanac data.
However the GHA and declination for 0000, 0600, 1200, 1800, and
2400 hours GMT is all that is required. The program will
interpolate for all othe times. Of course, the latitude,
longitude, and time interval for the calculation must be typed
in.
PROGRAM 5 [MOONLOC5.BAS]
LANGUAGE: MITS ALTAIR BASIC
This program is a version of Lance Collister's (WB7CCI)
original moon tracking program written in GE BASIC. This
particular version was modified by Jay Liebmann, K5JL, to run
on a MITS Altair 8800B. The program requires about 6700 Bytes
of memory.