jaffe@topaz.ARPA (Saul) (01/11/85)
I would like to know if anybody has any programs that I could use to calculate the phases of the moon for any given date. I would settle for a simple algorithm or a pointer to books that might have the info I want. Thanks very much. Saul -- Saul Jaffe Systems Programmer Rutgers University (Jaffe@Rutgers)
nachum@uiucdcs.UUCP (01/13/85)
The Naval Observatory publishes (or at least published) a computer-generated table of phases. Ergo, such a program exists.
paulh@tektronix.UUCP (Paul Hoefling) (01/15/85)
> I would like to know if anybody has any programs that I could use > to calculate the phases of the moon for any given date. I would > settle for a simple algorithm or a pointer to books that might have > the info I want. Thanks very much. I just happen to have an interesting book with me this morning: Celestial Basic Astronomy on Your Computer by Eric Burgess (c) 1982 by SYBEX, Inc. It contains a collection of astronomy-oriented software (unfortunately written in BASIC, and *bad* BASIC at that!) which should be not too difficult to port. One of your local computer stores should have this book. -- Paul Hoefling (...!tektronix!paulh) Information Pack Rat
GMS@PSUVM.BITNET (01/18/85)
I also have the 'Celestial Basic' book and think it is only really useful
if you have an Apple II and are happy to type it in. Also you have to
essentially decipher the code to figure the algorithms out. (No logic
charts or heavy commenting) Still, it is a neat book in pointing out a
number of applications.
For the programmer of any language a better book (I think) would be
"Practical Astronomy with your Calculator"
by Peter Duffett-Smith
I used the algorithms given in this book as the basics for writing a
planetarium simulation program for my TRS-80 CoCo. (displays an alt-
azmiuth plot from any point on Earth for any time within 1975-2000
(extendable) and plots sun, moon, planets, and as many stars as in
database (about 350) The calculations are rough but not as rough as
the resolution.
If anyone is interested I will give a copy to anyone crazy enough
to send a disk, disk mailer and postage to me. It requires 32k and
extended color basic as well as (natch) a disk drive. The program
is useful for predicting when the moon will rise and the
morning/evening planet configurations.
I expect to have an IBM-PC compatible version ready soon and will
likewise distribute that to anyone interested.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gerry Santoro
Microcomputer Information and Support Center GMS @ PSUVM (bitnet)
Penn State University !psuvax1!santoro (UUCP)
101 Computer Building santoro @ penn-state (CSNET)
University Park, PA 16802
(814) 863-4356