A Computer Canon Of Lunar Eclipses 1500 B.C.

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A Computer Canon Of Lunar Eclipses 1500 B.C. - A.D. 3000

Eagle and Liu 3.5-inch 720Kb or 5.25-inch 360Kb IBM-PC diskettes, $29.95.

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This program is based upon the tables presented in this book and runs on an IBM-PC or true compatible using CGA, EGA, VGA or Hercules compatible video graphics adapters. The program requires a machine configured with 640Kb of dynamic memory running DOS version 3.0 or later. A total of 3.0Mb storage space is required for the program and data files. While it is possible to run the program from a high density floppy disk, a hard disk is recommended. A math coprocessor will be utilized if present. Data and graphic displays can be displayed, saved to files and/or printed using Epson dot matrix or HP LaserJet compatible printers. The program is menu-driven and user friendly but no user manual is provided with the software. While the software and book are sold separately the use of the book and software together is highly recommended.

Circumstances of 10,990 lunar eclipses can be interactively displayed on the monitor screen, saved as an ASCII file or printed using an Epson or HP LaserJet compatible printer. Included are 1) Serial number and type of lunar eclipse 2) Saros series number 3) Calendar date and Julian day number of the eclipse 3) Lunar eclipse magnitude 4) Position angles of first and last contact 5) Geographic latitude and longitude of the sublunar point at first and last contact 6) The value of 7) Ephemeris/Dynamical and Universal Times of each eclipse phase

Data File Option allows the creation of a custom database in ASCII format similar to the data tables in the book of any number of eclipses between 1 and 10,990. The user need only specify the serial number of the beginning and ending eclipse, and a filename under which to save the data. These database files are lunar eclipse conditions based on Ephemeris Time before 1984 and Dynamical Time for 1984 to 3015 A.D.

A simple interactive procedure calibrates your graphics card and monitor. The results can be saved and are automatically read for all future graphics displays. This program can be used whenever you change hardware.

Graphic Displays include 1) Geometry and path of the Moon relative to the umbra and penumbra of the Earth during a lunar eclipse. The position of the Moon is displayed at times of first and last contact and the time of maximum eclipse. The screen display also includes calendar date, Julian date, Ephemeris/Dynamical and Universal times. This display can be saved in PCX file format to a disk file from which it can be printed or interactively recalled later for examination. 2) A true perspective or Mercator projection view of the Earth as seen from the Moon at times of first and last contact. Shown are the major land masses, numerous islands, latitude and longitude grids, and the sublunar point. This display can be saved in PCX file format to a disk file from which it can be printed or interactively recalled later for examination.

Graphic screens can be interactively printed from within the program using either an Epson or HP LaserJet compatible printer. Parallel printer ports LPT1 through 3 are supported. A LaserJet compatible printer may be set up to print at 75, 100, 150 or 300dpi. Printer setup is via an interactive menu.

The software includes the ability to search for eclipses which satisfy a user-defined criteria. The search options include visibility, magnitude and eclipse type. The visibility search option determines which lunar eclipses are visible (weather permitting) to an observer anywhere on the Earth. Inputs are the serial number search interval, geographic latitude and longitude of the point of interest. Calculations are performed for both the first and last contact of each eclipse-the results can be printed or saved as an ASCII data file.