Synopses & Reviews
Astronomy on the Personal Computer provides the reader with a thorough introduction to the computation of celestial mechanics, which is of particular significance to astronomical observations. Covering everything from astronomical and computational theory to the construction of rapid and accurate applications programs, this book supplies the necessary knowledge and software solutions for determining and predicting the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, minor planets and comets, solar eclipses, stellar occultations by the Moon, phases of the Moon and much more. This completely revised edition makes use of the widely implemented programming language C++, and individual applications may be efficiently realized through the use of a powerful module library. The accompanying CD-ROM contains, in addition to the complete, fully documented and commented source codes, the executable programs for use with the Windows 98/2000/XP and LINUX operating systems.
Synopsis
A thorough introduction to the computation of celestial mechanics, covering everything from astronomical and computational theory to the construction of rapid and accurate applications programs. The book supplies the necessary knowledge and software solutions for determining and predicting positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, minor planets and comets, solar eclipses, stellar occultations by the Moon, phases of the Moon and much more. This completely revised edition takes advantage of C++, and individual applications may be efficiently realized through the use of a powerful module library. The accompanying CD-ROM contains the complete, fully documented and commented source codes as well as executable programs for Windows 98/2000/XP and LINUX.
Description
System requirements for accompanying computer disc: Windows 95/98/NT or SuSE Linux 6.2; 133 MHz Pentium or equivalent processor; 16 MB or more free memory; minimum 10 MB hard-disk space (150 MB recommended); optional Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0 or GNU C++ 2.91. Includes bibliographical references (p. [297]-303) and index.
Table of Contents
Introduction.- Coordinate Systems.- Calculation of Rising and Setting Times.- Cometary Orbits. - Special Perturbations.- Planetary Orbits.- Physical Ephemerides of the Planets.- The Orbit of the Moon.- Solar Eclipses.- Stellar Occultations.- Orbital Determination.- Astrometry.- Appendices.