techpubs@PRC.Unisys.COM (Technical Pub. Vince Short) (07/26/90)
Archive-name: ngp/20-Jul-90 Original-posting-by: techpubs@PRC.Unisys.COM (Technical Pub. Vince Short) Original-subject: NGP Available Via FTP Archive-site: gvlv2.gvl.unisys.com [128.126.220.102] Archive-directory: /pub/astro/ngp Reposted-by: emv@math.lsa.umich.edu (Edward Vielmetti) NEW GENERAL PROGRAM FOR NONSTELLAR ASTRONOMICAL OBJECTS (NGP) AVAILABLE VIA FTP If you are familiar with the Revised New General Catalogue Of Nonstellar Astronomical Objects (RNGC) and have access to an IBM compatible PC with a hard disk, then you may well be interested in the "New General Program For Nonstellar Astronomical Objects" (NGP). This software is basically an on-line version of the famous deep-sky catalog, offering many many useful features such as: - Rapid selection of desired lists of objects from the catalog based upon selection criteria you specify. Also provides a facility for quickly selecting completely random lists of NGC objects, for convenient matching to other publications, or a nights' observations. - Instant sorting of the catalog data by all useful sequences. - Keeps your personal observing or technical notes for the NGC objects (up to 64K per object). - Provides for easy and powerful browsing and reporting of the data at various levels of detail. - Users may share their personal notes through note export and import facilities. - A great deal of amateur observing notes from various users is initially provided. - Large sets of technical notes taken from major specialized catalogs are also provided. You'll find detailed statistical data for thousands of galaxies, clusters and nebulae from the following sources: Lynds Catalogue of Bright Nebulae Lund Catalogue of Open Clusters Morphological Catalogue of Galaxies (MCG) Uppsala General Catalogue of Galaxies (UGC) - Useful data fields not found in the RNGC itself are provided, such as object sizes and constellations. - Much more, plus it's completely free. System requirements: - An IBM PC or compatible running DOS. - A hard disk drive with at least 2 megabytes of free space. As much as 5 or 6 megabytes may be required to support very large quantities of personal or technical notes. - A printer, for printing the manual and hard-copy reports from the program. - A Mouse, which is quite useful throughout the program, but by no means necessary. - A math coprocessor is automatically supported, but makes little difference. (Detail screens may page a little faster with one if precession to another epoch has been invoked). Availability: - NGP is available from two sources, either via floppies or via anonymous ftp from GVLV2.GVL.UNISYS.COM. - To order NGP via the mail, in the United States, send $5.60 to cover the expense of four 360K 5-1/4 inch floppies, mailer, and postage. For orders outside of the United States, send $4.75 US plus enough to cover 4 ounces international postage. All copies of the program will be shipped on 360K 5-1/4 inch PC floppies. Other sizes or formats can not be supported. Send all requests for the program or for information to: G. Dean Williams 4900 Jerry Drive Little Rock, Ark 72212. - To obtain NGP via anonymous ftp, do the following: %ftp gvlv2.gvl.unisys.com Name (gvlv2.gvl.unisys.com:joef): anonymous Password: (your user name, in this example joef) ftp> cd /pub/astro/ngp ftp> get download.txt ftp> bye Read the file you just downloaded (download.txt). This file explains in detail all you will need to know to download NGP and bring it up on your PC. Read this file carefully before downloading any others.