Introduction To Basic Astronomy With A PC

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Introduction To Basic Astronomy With A PC

Lawrence, 8.50" by 11.00", about 120 pages, softbound, includes one (1) IBM-PC, DS-DD (360K) MS-DOS diskette with programs, 1 Lb. 7 Ozs. ship wt. $19.95.

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Introductory astronomy books usually follow two broad paths: descriptive or mathematical. This book is fundamentally a mathematical approach but with a difference. Dr. Lawrence has written text and computer programs which emphasize concepts rather than derivation of formulas. You do not have to be a mathematical wiz to read and learn from this book. In order that you can begin immediately to learn the how and why of astronomy, the programs are provided on a diskette along with this book. The tedium of keying a listing and debugging are avoided and there is nothing additional to buy.

After a brief history of astronomy the reader is exposed to the English and metric measurement systems and how they pertain to astronomy. Then, because telescopes are closely associated with astronomy and beginners often think about buying one, their basic characteristics are discussed: magnification, focal ratio, focal length, resolving power and limiting magnitude.

Next, since time plays an important role in astronomy, the various methods used to measure it are discussed. Still building a foundation, attention is then directed to the concept of coordinate systems and the relationships between them. With these basic tools the reader is then shown how the rising and setting times for a star can be predicted and combined into a program that displays custom made star charts for a particular time and place.

Attention is then directed to the Sun and Moon: their rising and setting times; lunar and solar eclipses; equinoxes and solstices; age, phase, angular diameter, illuminated fraction, and distance to the Moon. Finally, these same concepts and a few more are applied to the planets where all of the following (and much more) is discussed and applied: heliocentric, geocentric, ecliptic, equatorial and horizon coordinates of a planet; distance, angular size, percent illumination, and times of perihelion and aphelion.

Throughout the book the reader is encouraged to move at his or her own pace, combine and re-write the programs and, in the process, begin to learn about both the descriptive and mathematically beautiful Universe we live in.

From the Reviewers:

The book is a pleasant surprise compared with many astronomical programming books that this reviewer has seen: This book has numerous clear diagrams, as well as photographs illustrating telescopes, celestial objects, and other subjects being discussed. The end result in an attractive, easy-to-read work…the programs fill nearly all the needs of an amateur astronomer.
The Strolling Astronomer: Journal of the A.L.P.O

Table of Contents

Preface
Chapter 1 Introduction
     1.1 A Brief History of Astronomy
     1.2 Layout of the Book
     1.3 About the Program
Chapter 2 Unit Conversions
     2.1 Distance Conversions
     2.2 Applying Crossmultiplication
     2.3 Scientific Notation
     2.4 Temperature Conversions
     2.5 Decimal Format Conversions
     2.6 Data Accuracy
     2.7 About the Program
     2.8 Sample Problems
Chapter 3 Telescopes
    3.1 Fundamental Optics
    3.2 Practical Limitations
    3.3 Image Aberrations
    3.4 Telescope Construction
    3.5 Telescope Mountings
    3.6 Eyepieces
    3.7 Selecting the "Best" Telescope
    3.8 About the Program
    3.9 Sample Problems
Chapter 4 Time Conversions
     4.1 Defining Day, Month, and Year
     4.2 Calendar Dates
     4.3 Julian Day Numbers
     4.4 Other Date Calculations
     4.5 Time of Day
     4.6 LMT to GMT (UT)
     4.7 GMT (UT) to LMT
     4.8 GMT (UT) to GST
     4.9 GST to GMT (UT)
     4.10 GST to LST
     4.11 LST to GST
     4.12 About the Program
     4.13 Sample Problems
Chapter 5 Coordinate System Conversions
     5.1 Locating Objects on a Sphere
     5.2 The Celestial Sphere
     5.3 Orbital Elements
     5.4 Coordinate System Conversions
     5.5 Equatorial Coordinate System
     5.6 Horizon Coordinate System
     5.7 Ecliptic Coordinate System
     5.8 Galactic Coordinate System
     5.9 Precession and Other Corrections
     5.10 About the Program
     5.11 Sample Problems
Chapter 6 Stars in the Night Sky
     6.1 Locating a Star
     6.2 Star Rising and Setting Times
     6.3 Star Chart
     6.4 About the Program
     6.5 Sample Problems
Chapter 7 The Sun
     7.1 Locating the Sun
     7.2 Sunrise and Sunset
     7.3 Equinoxes and Solstices
     7.4 Solar Distance and Angular Size
     7.5 Equation of Time
     7.6 About the Program
     7.7 Sample Problems
Chapter 8 The Moon
     8.1 Lunar Exploration
     8.2 Locating the Moon
     8.3 Moonrise and Moonset
     8.4 Lunar Distance and Angular Size
     8.5 Phases of the Moon
     8.6 Eclipses
     8.7 About the Program
     8.8 Sample Problems
Chapter 9 The Planets
     9.1 Mercury
     9.2 Venus
     9.3 Mars
     9.4 Asteroids
     9.5 Jupiter
     9.6 Saturn
     9.7 Uranus
     9.8 Neptune
     9.9 Pluto
     9.10 Locating the Planets
          9.10.1 Calculations for an Inner Planet
          9.10.2 Calculations for an Outer Planet
     9.11 Planet Rise and Set Times
     9.12 Planetary Distance and Angular Size
     9.13 Perihelion and Aphelion
     9.14 Planet Phases
     9.15 Miscellaneous Calculations
          9.15.1 Weight on a Planet
          9.15.2 Radio Transmission Delays
          9.15.3 Length of a Planetary Year
          9.15.4 Escape Velocity
     9.16 About the Program
     9.17 Sample Problems
Chapter 10 Usefull Astronomical Aids
   10.1 Star Maps
   10.2 Star Catalogues
   10.3 Ephemerides and Almanacs
   10.4 Astronomical Calendars
Appendix A Definition of Terms
Appendix B Definition of Mathematical Symbols
Appendix C Suggested Readings
Index

COLPACK (Celestial Object Locator PACKage)

Lawrence, one (1) IBM-PC, DS-DD (360K) MS-DOS diskette, 12 Ozs. ship wt., $29.95. This is a comprehensive software package designed to aid in locating celestial objects. It utilizes a simple menu-driven interface to make command selection quick and easy. A status line appears above each menu to show the current value of important variables such as latitude, longitude, and the date. This arrangement makes COLPACK behave much like an "astronomical spreadsheet." By changing one data item of interest (such as the Local Mean Time), dependent data items (such as Greenwich Mean Time and Local Sidereal Time) are automatically recalculated to account for the change. COLPACK also plots star charts and creates astronomical calendars.

COLPACK runs on IBM Personal Computers (PC, XT, or AT) or true compatibles with the following minimum configuration: 256K RAM (512K recommended for large star data files). A Floppy or Hard Disk Drive.. DOS 2.0 or later. Color monochrome monitor with a CGA or EGA Graphics Board. COLPACK will run on systems without a graphics board but it will not be possible to produce star charts.

Major features of COLPACK include the following: Time system conversions (LMT, GMT, LST, GST). Julian date conversions. Date to day-of-week and day number. Coordinate system conversions (ecliptic, equatorial, galactic, and horizon) Automatic calculation of coordinate corrections: Precession, Nutation, Annual Aberration, Parallax (solar system objects only) and Atmospheric Refraction. Computes location of stars, Sun, Moon, and planets. Computes rising and setting times for stars, sun (including times of dawn and twilight), Moon and planets. Phase of the Moon and planets. Distance to solar system objects. Angular diameter of solar system objects. Makes an astronomical calendar, star charts and more.