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5 6 14 50 V.1.11
*******************
** STAR 2000 **
*******************
A Freeware Subset of STAR BASE
by J.Andrzej Wrotniak
Distributed by Debonair Software
To view a page, click on its top-right corner.
To change volume or to rearrange pages,
click on the proper volume number.
1-1
WHAT IS STAR 2000?
Star 2000 is a freeware subset of Star Base - a
commercial program distributed by Debonair Soft-
ware (for our address - see Page 5-6).
While being a copyrighted program, Star 2000 can
be freely distrubuted as long as all the files,
including the documentation, stay together.
This is not just a demo: Star 2000 is a fully
functional program, just scaled down as compared
to the original. The limitations and differences
are listed on Page 4-2 of this help.
While some users of Star 2000 will have a need
for Star Base, many should be perfectly happy with
the free version. We hope you enjoy the program.
DATABASE WINDOWS
The database windows display the data on stars,
deep sky objects (DSO) and on the objects of the
Solar System (Sun, Moon and the planets).
They are opened, respectively, by clicking on
<List|List stars>, <List|List deep sky objects>
and <List|List Solar System>.
If a window is already open, it will be just
brought it to the top. If, however, the parameters
describing window contents have beeen changed, the
window will be updated to reflect the change (this
is also true about the map and HR plot windows).
The current top window can be closed by pressing
the Escape key.
1-3
DATABASE OPERATIONS - I
To move around a data window use the scroll bars
on the right, or the keyboard:
* Clr/Home - go to the top of database,
* ⇧ or ⇩ - page up or down, respectively,
* ⇦ or ⇨ - line up or down, respectively.
The other operations are enabled only in the DSO
and star (not in Solar System) window:
* Clicking on a data line will display the object
in the Full Data dialog.
* Double-clicking will tag an object (marking it
with a ">") or untag it again. The listing can
be then limited to tagged objects only. The
<List> menu has also "Untag all" options.
1-4
DATABASE OPERATIONS - II
* The last tagged or accessed star is displayed
in inverse video (see "Finding an Object").
* The coordinate system used in data windows can
be changed by clicking on <List|Set list frame>
* Selecting <List|Mapped only> will limit the
listing to objects drawn within the most recent
map - the change is effective immediately.
* The listing order can be changed by clicking
on <List|Sort ...> menu entries. Objects can be
sorted by two attributes, in increasing or de-
creasing order.
1-5
DATABASE SUBSET SELECTION
The <List|Select...> menu entries enable data-
base filters: only objects with attributes falling
within specified ranges will be listed.
A dialog will show up, asking for low and high
limits ofeach attribute. An empty field means no
filtering of that attribute from that side (top or
bottom). If both fields of an attribute are left
empty, the attribute will not be filtered at all.
You may also limit the selection to previously
tagged objects.
For stars, the spectral type limits may contain
just a single letter and a digit, e.g. F9.
1-6
OBJECT CO-ORDINATES
All objects can be displayed or mapped using one
of the following co-ordinate systems:
* Equatorial: declination (α) and right ascension
(δ) (the latter in angle or time units)
* Ecliptic: latitude (β) and longitude (ג)
* Galactic: latitude (b) and longitude (l)
* Horizon: azimuth (A) and elevation (H).
The horizon system uses parameters entered pre-
viously via <Options|Set horizon frame>.
The mode of right ascension display can be chan-
ged by clicking on <Options|Show RA as "hhmm">.
The system used in all textual output is chosen
from <List|Set list frame>.
2-1
STAR DATA
In addition to co-ordinates, the following data
is displayed in the star database window:
* Catalog number: YBS 0001 to YBS 9100, with a
"D" denoting multiple stars;
* Greek/Numeric and constellation name, as EpsUma
* Apparent (m) and absolute (M) magnitudes in the
visual wavelength range;
* The B-V color index;
* Distance (d) in light years;
* Harvard/Yerkes spectral/luminosity class, shown
abbreviated (the full version can be seen in
the Full Star Data dialog).
2-2
DEEP SKY OBJECT DATA
In addition to co-ordinates, the following data
is displayed in the DSO database window:
* The NGC catalog number;
* Object type (abbreviated to three letters):
Gxy - galaxy
Neb - nebula
PlN - planetary nebula
OCl - open cluster
GCl - globular cluster
NCl - cluster with nebular associacion
* Visual magnitude (approximate).
2-3
DATA ON SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS
The Solar System Window lists the co-ordinates
(in the current list frame), distances from Sun
(rS) and Earth (rE), phases (1.0 means full disc)
and visible magnitudes. Distances are in AU.
The co-ordinates of Moon are corrected for the
parallax.
This window, accessible via <List|List Solar
System>, does not respond to any mouse clicks
except scrolling.
2-4
THE MAP WINDOW
This window is opened from the menu by clicking
on <Map|Draw grid>, <Map|Draw stars>, <Map|Draw
deep sky objects> or <Map|Draw Solar System>.
If, when this happens, the window is already
open, then the specified class of objects will
be just added to the map, unless some parameters
describing the previous contents have been changed
(and "Map disabled" warning is being shown).
In the latter case the window will be redrawn,
including the grid (if not disabled from <Map|Set
drawing mode>) and the requested objects.
The number of the recently drawn objects is dis-
played as the window title.
2-5
DRAWING A MAP
The redrawing uses the most recently entered map
parameters. If these have not been changed, if the
object selection remains the same and if the given
class of objects is already mapped, the window
will be just brought to the top, without drawing.
If <Map|Selected only> is checked, then only the
objects selected by the last select command will
be included. The map will then need to be redrawn
- until then search and identification of stars
will be disabled.
<Map|Set drawing mode> changes some of the map
drawing defaults (grid on/off and spacing, black
margin, magnitudes shown or not).
2-6
MAP PARAMETERS - I
Click on <Map|Set parameters> to set:
* PROJECTION: defines how the celestrial sphere is
projected onto a plane.
* RANGE: from 60° to 180° across the map window,or
Full, with the whole map fitting into the window
* PROJECTION FRAME: coordinate system in which the
sky will be drawn.
* GRID FRAME: the reference system depicted by the
grid (can be different than than the above).
* PROJECTION CENTER: in any reference frame. Chan-
ging the frame will re-compute the values. The
last marker position can be chosen by clicking
on [Last Mark] button.
3-1
MAP PARAMETERS - II
[Round] will round the center coordinates to the
nearest whole numbers of grid steps (so it should
be used only after the map scale is selected).
The map is NOT redrawn after new parameters are
entered, but only when one of the <Map|Draw ...>
menu entries is used.
The window info line will initially display the
projection information, which also can be recalled
at any time by clicking on <Map|Show parameters>.
A double-click in the map will display the mouse
coordinates in the grid frame. The same happens
for a single click when no obje