281 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
281 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
ASTROCLK Astronomical Clock and Celestial Tracking Program Page 1
|
||
Program Revision History
|
||
|
||
|
||
ASTROCLK REVISION HISTORY
|
||
|
||
Each released version of ASTROCLK uses a four digit
|
||
revision code such as 8805. The first two digits indicate the
|
||
year and the second two digits indicate the week of the year. In
|
||
some cases, an additional letter suffix is added to distinguish
|
||
changes occuring within the same week. A partial week at the
|
||
beginning or end of the year is counted as a full week. Using
|
||
this method, a year will typically have 53 weeks although it is
|
||
possible to have 54 weeks in a leap year (1972 is an example).
|
||
The current year-week revision code is shown on the Julian Date
|
||
display, Display Mode 7, in ASTROCLK.
|
||
This file records the recent revision history of program
|
||
ASTROCLK through all of the minor twists and turns that usually
|
||
accompany the evolution of such a program. (Early revision notes
|
||
have been deleted from this file but are available on request.)
|
||
It illustrates the tortuous process of maintaining and refining a
|
||
program as ideas and problems are reported from every quarter. It
|
||
may also be helpful to users who are upgrading from one version
|
||
to another to find out what has changed.
|
||
|
||
David H. Ransom, Jr.
|
||
|
||
|
||
8947 11/19/89
|
||
-----------------
|
||
-Improved Apparent Geocentric Equatorial Coordinates for internal
|
||
database stars and catalog stars, mean to apparent position, to
|
||
include effects of nutation and annual aberration. Parallax NOT
|
||
included. Apparent coordinates are now accurate to within one
|
||
second/arc-second.
|
||
-Added navigation function F5 to show first 20 USNO stars in view
|
||
and suitable for star sights. Uses current coordinates and time.
|
||
-Revised external star catalog logic. Search times halved and
|
||
direct access by catalog number is now immediate.
|
||
-Expanded external star catalog searches F5+F4 and F5+F5 to show
|
||
list of 10 stars nearest the coordinates input.
|
||
-Repaired SUB Refract to give correct answer when converting
|
||
apparent to real altitudes and adjusted the navigation example
|
||
data accordingly. Real to apparent was OK.
|
||
-Fixed horizon dip calculation (misplaced decimal point in a
|
||
constant).
|
||
-Added SHIFT-F6 for entry of DESTINATION data using external city
|
||
file and updated HELP.
|
||
-Added '/' prefix to F6 and SHIFT-F6 city name input to allow
|
||
match within name.
|
||
-Improved degree input routine for small negative angles; now
|
||
processes both "-0,26" and "0,-26" correctly. A minus sign
|
||
anywhere flags a negative angle.
|
||
-Fixed "Division by Zero" error in navigation mode when speed was
|
||
set to zero.
|
||
-Corrected Planetary Heliocentric Longitude to remove multiples
|
||
of 360 degrees.
|
||
-Corrected USNO coordinates per AA 1989.
|
||
ASTROCLK Astronomical Clock and Celestial Tracking Program Page 2
|
||
Program Revision History
|
||
|
||
-Corrected paging problem with ephemeris if more than 40
|
||
intervals requested.
|
||
-ASTROCLK.INI now always written on exit.
|
||
-Reformatted these notes to use a little less paper ...
|
||
|
||
8943 10/25/89
|
||
-----------------
|
||
NOTE: Program operation with Navigation DISABLED is essentially
|
||
unchanged from previous versions. See also the notes which follow
|
||
and the program documentation.
|
||
-MAJOR UPGRADE: F10 is now NAVIGATION. May be used to predict
|
||
current position by DEAD RECKONING and by SIGHT REDUCTION of USNO
|
||
Standard Navigation Stars. Added new NAVIGATION section in
|
||
documentation with discussion and instructions.
|
||
-Added ASTROCLK Errors 60 thru 62 if a Navigation function is
|
||
requested and Naviga-tion mode has not been set up with F10.
|
||
-Added ALT-F6 to set LOCAL CONDITIONS of Elevation, Temperature
|
||
and Pressure. Affects apparent ALTITUDE of target object and
|
||
adjusts for horizon dip with elevation. Elevation is saved but
|
||
temperature and pressure are initialized to 20C (68F) and 1010mb
|
||
(29.83") respectively upon startup.
|
||
-Corrected calculation of Greenwich Hour Angle [GHA] on Target
|
||
Tracking Display per Nautical Almanac 1989. (How did that slip by
|
||
for so long?)
|
||
-Fixed minor error in SUB ZoneName so that Local STANDARD Time is
|
||
displayed correctly in Dual Time displays for modes 2 thru 5.
|
||
Clarified text in DUAL TIME section.
|
||
-ALT-F5 now sets POLARIS as target, moved from F10. [ALT-F10 is
|
||
unchanged.]
|
||
-Added designation [Ho] for Apparent or Observed Altitude on
|
||
Target Tracking Display.
|
||
-Improved accuracy of SUB AngleDiff for very small angles.
|
||
-Extensive reorganization and cleanup to add NAVIGATION mode and
|
||
to relieve memory constraints with QB4 compiler.
|
||
-Deleted revision notes for versions 8905 and earlier. Available
|
||
on request.
|
||
|
||
8935 8/30/89
|
||
-----------------
|
||
-Changed F2 to display an EPHEMERIS of the current target object.
|
||
User sets interval and number of intervals with F2. Use the
|
||
"PrtSc" key to print. Added by popular request!
|
||
-Added manual entry menu of orbital para-meters for planetary
|
||
objects using "Z" command on planet selection menu ("P" command).
|
||
-Added Day-of-Year (current year, JAN 1 = 1) to F3 date input.
|
||
Any time input is ignored. Allowed DOY formats are (quantities in
|
||
[] are optional):
|
||
Dnnn[.nnnn]
|
||
Dnnn:hh[.hhhh]
|
||
Dnnn:hh:mm.mm[.mm]
|
||
Dnnn:hh:mm:ss[.ss]
|
||
Times are UT. The comma is also allowed as the separator.
|
||
-Changed date input using F3 to allow JD with no letter prefix.
|
||
Eliminated QB4 error in this case.
|
||
-Removed on screen HELP from ASTROCLK code and added program
|
||
ASTROCLK Astronomical Clock and Celestial Tracking Program Page 3
|
||
Program Revision History
|
||
|
||
ASTROHLP. Operation of help using Function Key F1 is unchanged.
|
||
Saved about 10K of RAM compared to V8931, all but about 3K of
|
||
which was consumed by new features. Also corrected/updated the
|
||
help screens. Modified in response to user requests to reduce RAM
|
||
requirements!
|
||
-Added SHIFT-F9 to execute a preset DOS command or batch file.
|
||
Use ALT-F10, SETTING PROGRAM OPTIONS, to set the command. The DOS
|
||
command is saved in file ASTROCLK.INI. Default is no action.
|
||
-Modified Interval Timer displays to include negative days. Range
|
||
is now -999 to +9999 days on small window, -99 to +999 days on
|
||
main window.
|
||
-Clarified text for Alarm & Interval Timer.
|
||
-Removed ESC key "cancel" codes except during external file
|
||
searches and to quit ASTROCLK; RETURN is usually used where ESC
|
||
was used before. F8 PRECESSION now requires "Y" or "y" to proceed
|
||
and RETURN to cancel. Changed per user requests!
|
||
-Extensive minor editing and corrections to the documentation,
|
||
principally related to the new features and changes in this
|
||
version.
|
||
|
||
8931 8/04/89
|
||
-----------------
|
||
-Added most likely chart numbers for Sky Atlas 2000.0 and
|
||
Uranometria 2000.0 on Target Tracking display, Display Mode 0.
|
||
-Corrected Interval Timer problem: if timer is non-zero and a
|
||
date >32,767 days different from the timer start date was entered
|
||
with F3, ASTROCLK aborted with QuickBASIC Error 6, OVERFLOW.
|
||
Another oops!
|
||
-Added automatic conversion to JD for numeric dates greater than
|
||
50 entered without a prefix when using F3. Prior versions would
|
||
sometimes abort in this situation.
|
||
|
||
8930 7/23/89
|
||
-----------------
|
||
-In response to numerous requests, the exit from HELP has been
|
||
changed from ESC to the SPACE BAR. Other ESC functions unchanged.
|
||
-Minor corrections and updates to the text sections DATES AND THE
|
||
GREGORIAN CALENDAR and WHAT TIME IS IT? Data corrected to agree
|
||
with the ASTRONOMICAL ALMANAC 1989 (vs. AA 1988).
|
||
|
||
8926 6/30/89
|
||
-----------------
|
||
-Assigned estimated angular size and standard visual magnitude to
|
||
Halley's Comet to match data reported by Lowell Observatory in
|
||
September, 1985; both were 0 -- oops! Will someone please check
|
||
this in 2062? Reported by Steve Brewster, Stony Ridge
|
||
Observatory.
|
||
-Changed minor planet magnitudes from H (visual) to B (blue
|
||
photographic) per Steve Brewster.
|
||
-Corrected interval timer error if .INI file not present. Timer
|
||
showed incorrect day value until reset with Z command.
|
||
-Corrected color errors on main clock window (linked to timer
|
||
on/off!) and on large digit Horison Coordinates, Mode 0 Target
|
||
Tracking Display.
|
||
|
||
ASTROCLK Astronomical Clock and Celestial Tracking Program Page 4
|
||
Program Revision History
|
||
|
||
8924 6/11/89
|
||
-----------------
|
||
-Added large digit display for horizon coordinates in Display
|
||
Mode 0. Top line is APPARENT ALTITUDE and bottom line AZIMUTH.
|
||
While in Display Mode 0, press "0" to toggle between normal
|
||
(text) and large digits.
|
||
-Added /R and /G command line options to force RED or GREEN color
|
||
modes, per request.
|
||
-Corrected very minor rounding errors in function PrintDeg.
|
||
-Redesigned Interval Timer logic to try to get it right ...
|
||
finally! Now uses a "local Julian day" to correct bugs in timer
|
||
value upon restart. (V8916 interval timer acted erratically on
|
||
startup; an unusually sloppy bit of work, even for me.)
|
||
-Interval Timer may now be set using SHIFT-F3 and suffixing the
|
||
time entered with T.
|
||
-Interval Timer capacity increased from 99 to 999 days.
|
||
-Alarm display logic corrected so that correct alarm countdown
|
||
time is displayed with clocks off or during simulation.
|
||
-Documentation revised to caution users of DOS 3.3+ that DATE and
|
||
TIME commands may set BOTH the hardware and software clocks.
|
||
|
||
8916 4/20/89
|
||
-----------------
|
||
-Modified Interval Timer to save values and resume if active when
|
||
program halted.
|
||
-Repaired bug with "On The Hour" beep that disrupted the screen
|
||
when coincident with an alarm time.
|
||
|
||
8915 4/12/89
|
||
-----------------
|
||
-Added compatibility with USNO Interactive Computer Ephemeris
|
||
(ICE). New ICE Flag, set using ALT-F10, selects ICE, FA or none.
|
||
Flag is saved in ASTROCLK.INI.
|
||
-Reassigned function keys F4-F6 for SETTING PROGRAM OPTIONS, ALT-
|
||
F10.
|
||
-Revised errors for ICE/FA: deleted errors 20 and 21; added
|
||
errors 50 thru 54.
|
||
-Changed negative Local and UTC Dates to BLINK in all monochrome
|
||
modes.
|
||
|
||
8914 4/02/89
|
||
-----------------
|
||
-Planet name omitted or was incorrect in Display Modes 0 and 9
|
||
under certain circum-stances. Thanks to Bob Krohn for reporting
|
||
this bug.
|
||
-Cleaned up interval timer code to eliminate occasional failure
|
||
to increment then skip one second.
|
||
|
||
8911 3/14/89
|
||
-----------------
|
||
-Rearranged items on Precision Data Displays #1 and #2 to group
|
||
all solar data on #2.
|
||
|
||
8910 3/05/89
|
||
-----------------
|
||
ASTROCLK Astronomical Clock and Celestial Tracking Program Page 5
|
||
Program Revision History
|
||
|
||
-Added SUN Geocentric Rectangular Equatorial Coordinates (X, Y,
|
||
Z) to new Precision Data Display #3. The coordinates are
|
||
displayed for the current date and for the current standard epoch
|
||
as set by F8.
|
||
-Moved all SUN and MOON orbital calculations from SUB Precess to
|
||
new SUB SunMoon. Modified SHARED COMMON to store sun/moon
|
||
variables.
|
||
-Added Perihelion Distance and Perihelion Date to orbital data
|
||
for Minor Planets in Display Mode 9.
|
||
-Corrected leap year error for minus years which allowed Feb 29
|
||
in wrong year and disallowed Feb 29 in correct year. Thanks again
|
||
to Ward Harman [WH].
|
||
-Corrected SUN Mean Longitude. An adjustment was applied to the
|
||
MEAN long which should have been applied to the TRUE long. [WH]
|
||
-Added explicit QuickBASIC error text messages rather than just
|
||
numbers.
|
||
-Removed history for versions 8845 and back.
|
||
|
||
8908 2/22/89
|
||
-----------------
|
||
-MAJOR UPGRADE: Added Minor Planet processing and external Minor
|
||
Planet Catalog. NOTE: The minor planet logic and calculations
|
||
have not been extensively tested. User feedback is most welcome!
|
||
-Default catalog is ASTROCLK.MPC which contains the first 250
|
||
minor planets, and was prepared using Program MPCAT, also
|
||
available on the BBS at (213) 541-7299 or by mail. The full minor
|
||
planet catalog (ELEM891.MPC) with 3,774 entries is also
|
||
available.
|
||
-Changed PLANET SELECT logic so that RETURN is not needed, only
|
||
planet number or the first letter(s) of the planet name. Added
|
||
"X" to select minor planets and "H" to select Comet Halley
|
||
(internal data added).
|
||
-Reorganized the source for SUB and PROCEDURE code into three
|
||
files: ASTROSB1.BAS through ASTROSB3.BAS.
|
||
-Repaired minor bug in path so that "\" is not expected when path
|
||
is reset to blank.
|
||
-Extensive documentation additions primarily related to minor
|
||
planets.
|
||
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
8806 thru 8905 NOTE: Intermediate revision notes have been
|
||
deleted here to save file space.
|
||
---------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
|
||
8805 1/24/88 -Initial Release
|
||
|