steep-mo-m@HUACHUCA-EM.ARPA (John Shaver Modernization Office) (12/10/87)
Earlier, I sent out two messages. 1. Does anyone know of software for the IBM PC/PC Clones which will graphically display satellite ground tracks and which will calculate the earth observers azimuth and elevation angles? Are there astronomy programs which might relate? Would appreciate any responses. Contact me by email or AV 879/7622 or COM 602 538 =7622. Thanks John 2. Does someone have a Math Co=Processor which he would recommend as being fast and reliable? I need one for my HP Vectra, which is an AT clone. =================================== I received a number of replies. The more interesting ones have been included. Several people were kind enough to call me and spend some time on the phone with me. THanks. Messages follow: ===================================== Date: Fri, 4 Dec 87 20:32 EST From: <11SSTEIN%GALLUA.BITNET@WISCVM.WISC.EDU> Subject: Program To: steep-mo-m@huachuca-em.arpa Hi, there... Eugene, my ol' dude has requested to be of some assistance, and I have read your request, and I would suggest that you bother this user for the program... DWELLS@NRAO.BITNET - National Radio Astronomy Observatory... I guarantee that he 'll have it... - Scott 11SSTEIN@GALLUA ---------------- Date: Sun, 6 Dec 87 08:44:56 AST From: Daniel MacKay <dalcsug!mackay@uunet.UU.NET> To: steep-mo-m@huachuca-em.arpa Subject: Re: Software Request I have a prog which a friend typed in from Nibble; it reads stars names, and the two angles out of a file, asks you where you are in the world, and what time it is, and plots the stars on the screen. It's pretty slick. it slides the stars around as time goes on, and you can move a box to over a star with the mouse and it'll give you the name, or you can type the name and it'll flash the star if it's on the screen, or let you know if it's not. It's called Planetarium- can send you a copy if you're int. -- +---------+ Dalhousie University | _ | From the Halifax, Nova Scotia | (_)===| Disk of ... Canada | | Daniel mackay@dalcs.UUCP +---------+ ...{utai,uunet}!dalcs!dalcsug!mackay ---------------------------- Date: Sun 6 Dec 87 09:39:50-EST From: "Wes Williams" <GZT.EWW%OZ.AI.MIT.EDU@XX.LCS.MIT.EDU> Subject: Sat track software To: steep-mo-m@HUACHUCA-EM.ARPA This is a week direction to start but it may yield a source. Within the last couple of years I saw a TV show that described a group of 12 year olds from England that had as a class project sat. tracking. They were using computers (nothing fancy) and had punched in Russian sat. data. These kids were not only computing azimuths, but also the decaying orbits. Seems to me they also were one of the first to predict the fall of the nuclear fueled sat that the Russians lost in Canada. The coordinates they predicted were quite close to the actual fall site. Good luck, I would also like a title of this software. ----------------------------- From: harris@cel.fmc.com (George Harris) Date: 08 Dec 87 10:00:10 PST (Tue) To: steep-mo-m@huachuca-em.arpa Subject: Spacetracking software - IBM/IBM Clones There is a special interest BBS on the subject with routines that might fill your bill. When I get home this evening , I will send further details. George Harris <harris@ai.cel.fmc.com> FMC Corporation AI Center Central Engineering Laboratories Box 580 1205 Coleman Avenue Santa Clara, Ca, 95052 (408) 289-0318 ----------------------- Date: 8 Dec 87 16:49:19 PST (Tuesday) Subject: Re: Software Request From: "Leigh_Smith.XSIS"@Xerox.COM To: steep-mo-m@HUACHUCA-EM.Arpa For: John Shaver Modernization Office Ref.: Message-Id: <8712041412.aa26758@FHP2.HUACHUCA-EM.ARPA> We have developed an interactive computer graphics system which includes the items you mentioned in your message: display satellite ground tracks and which will calculate and observer's azimuth and elevation angles. This system is called TACK (named after a map tack) and is in operation at several government locations. To quote from one of our customer's Tech Notes: 'TACK is an interactive computer graphics system that integrates the following capabilities: Map Generation, Geographic data display, Symbol generation and display, Satellite trajectory simulation and display, Simulation of concurrent multiple satellite flight, Satellite sensor footprint display, A geographic data-base management and reporting system based on display-by-example, Construction and manipulation of abstractions of structures stored in data-base files or created interactively.' The system is designed to show satellite traces (and sensor footprints) on a map generated on the screen from world data bank data (resolution up to world data bank II). Satellite orbital element information is stored locally or can be input by the user. Maps are drawn on the screen for several different projections: Equirectangular, Lambert, Perspective, Mercator, Gnomonic. The area of the world displayed is determined either by the user or automatically by giving a satellite and a time of interest. The TACK system is in operation on several computer systems (IBM, & DEC) and elements are available in workstation-based systems. There is much too much other information about TACK to include in a message. From what your message said TACK can fill your need, so please contact me directly so we can discuss your requirements in more detail. Mr. Leigh Smith TACK Project Manager Xerox Special Information Systems 250 N. Halstead St. m/s 600 Pasadena, CA 91107 Phone: (818) 351-2351 Ext 5820 ---------------------------------- Date: Wed, 09 Dec 87 13:45:28 EST To: steep-mo-m@HUACHUCA-EM.ARPA From: SVAGHI%ESTEC.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU Subject: Satellite software Re your message below, Mr. Jan de Leeuw of the European Space Operation Centre in Darmstadt, W. Germany has developed a program which should meet your needs. You can contact him at his e-mail address ESC1079@ESOC.BITNET I hope this will be of some assistance. Best regards, Sergio Vaghi SVAGHI@ESTEC.BITNET cc: J.de Leeuw, ESOC ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 Dec 87 07:14:54 PST From: bobw%chem.span@VLSI.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Wood WA7MXZ, USU Chemistry) Subject: Satellite tracking program To: steep-mo-m@huachuca-em.arpa The best satellite tracking program I have ever seen for PC use was written by Dr. Bob McGwier, N4HY. His program is available from: AMSAT (Amateur Satellite Corp.) P.O. Box 27 Washington, D.C. 20044 (301)589-6062 The price is very nominal. The program can run with an 8087 coprocessor to speed up calculations. The graphics are very good, the system is easy to use and can be interfaced to an antenna tracking system. Bob Wood, WA7MXZ ---------------------------------- Date: Wed, 9 Dec 87 10:46:12 EST From: Vail_J@DUR08.CEO.DG.COM To: steep-mo-m@HUACHUCA-EM.ARPA Subject: Satellite Software If no one has gotten back to you, AMSAT (Amateur Satellite N. America) operates a software exchange providing programs for most computers at a modest charge. I use the new quiktrak on a PC and am reasonably impressed. It will even auto track your antenna rotaters for you, the say. The number is (301) 589-6062. Have fun, SHare and ENjoy Jphnathan Vail, N1DXG (603) 862-6562. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 9 Dec 87 8:37:45 EST From: Les Eastman <lreastma@CRDEC-VAX4.ARPA> To: John Shaver Modernization Office <steep-mo-m@HUACHUCA-EM.ARPA> Subject: Re: Math Co-Processor Have you tried the one HP sells for the Vectra. It is part number HP 82965A. I don't know how fast it is but I assume it is a standard 80287 chip. Mine has been going for a year with no problems. LES ------------------------------------ J. Cockney from the Washington DC area called to mention the AMSAT group, also. I got a brief description about the programs which were available and also talked about co-processors. Thank you Josh. ------------------------------------------ Leon Boberschmidt (If not spelled correctly, I may have been listening with an accent) called to memtion that Zephyr Services (412-422-6600), in Pittsburg, had several programs available. -------------------------------------------------- As mentioned by several people in the Apple area, Nibble magazine has a program which they published just prior to the arrival of Halley's Commet. I had typed the program up for my own use. This program runs on the Apple II family. -------------------------------------------------- I obtained programs from a Utah firm which would display most of the major constellations appearing in the Naval and Air Almanacs. The following information was forwarded by KOOLISH ----------------------------------------------- Subject: NASA Prediction Bulletins Keywords: Satellite, Orbital Elements, Keplerian Date: 21 Nov 87 19:25:34 GMT The most current orbital elements from the NASA Prediction Bulletins are carried on the Celestial RCP/M, (512) 892-4180, and are updated several times weekly. As a service to the amateur satellite community, the most current of these elements are uploaded weekly to rec.ham-radio. This week's elements are provided below. The Celestial RCP/M may be accessed 24 hours/day at 300 or 1200 baud using 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity. (I have deleted the list as not required. I believe that several other people mentioned this and they also mentioned Kelso at the University of Texas.) ---------------------------------------------- He also sent information about a group Subject: Amateur Satellite Observers organization Date: 18 Jun 86 18:21:45 GMT There is a new and growing organization of those interested in visually observing artificial satellites. If interested contact Jim Hale, HCR 65, Box 261 B, Kingston, Arkansas 72742. Tracking software and satellite elements are available. ================================================ I have not yet heard of programs in ADA which might do this sort of thing. I had hoped that someone had done some work in this area.
apn@nonvon.uucp (Alex P Novickis) (12/11/87)
If anyone is interested, I have a pair of Fulcrum 256k 100ns RAm cards for sale for ieee696 S100 buss, Full 16 bit or 8 bit support. $220 each. Alex P Novickis [software engineering consultant] +1 707 575 9616 UUCP: {ames,sun,lll-crg,pyramid}!ptsfa!nonvon!apn CS: [76056,601] USMAIL: 1635 Ditty Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 BITNET: EEFA02P@CALSTATE | Only those who attempt the absurd I think, I think it's in my basement| | ..will achieve the impossible. Let me go upstairs and check. -esher| -- Alex P Novickis [software engineering consultant] +1 707 575 9616 UUCP: {ames,sun,lll-crg,pyramid}!ptsfa!nonvon!apn CS: [76056,601] USMAIL: 1635 Ditty Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 BITNET: EEFA02P@CALSTATE | Only those who attempt the absurd I think, I think it's in my basement|