[main] [study] [programs] [movies] [about] gradient

current version: 0.1.6a

I'm currently in a lot of stress, so this page is not updated frequently. I hope in March I'll have time enough to update this site and also to improve the library. Surely, some bugfixing is also needed!

[ Home | News | Features | Download | Contact ]

libAstronomy tries to ease the use of astronomical functions in proper programs. Its goal is to make available many functions for computing positions of planets, moons of the planets and physical ephemerides, compute moon phases and constellation names.
It also tries to deliver both high-level and low-level functions to allow to use each level for proper programs.

After a long time of idleness libAstronomy moved further on. Now rising/setting and transit times can be computed for virtually every celestial body you have a position calculation for. Updates coming soon...

A bug in comet.c was found. Please update!

Module constellation.c contains the routine int get_constellation(ra, dec, t), which returns the ordinal number of the constellation the specified point lies in. These ordinal number can be converted into names with char *get_shortname(i), char *get_fullname(i) and char *get_genitive(i).
The module sun.c contains the routine void sun(t, *l, *b, *r) which computes the position of the sun with an accuracy of 1" in ecliptical coordinates. The equinox is the given date. A sample program how to convert these coordinates into equatorial coordinates is also given a sample program in the examples-directory.
The module moon.c contains the routine void moon(t, *l, *b, *r) which computes the position of the moon with an accuracy of 1" in ecliptical coordinates. The equinox is the same as the time for the calculation.
For more information about the functions refer to the documentation in the package.
The planetary position calculations (at lower precision) are already included, but some people told me it crashes. I'll fix it when I have enough time. I'm sorry for that.

Stable Version: No stable version is available today.
Developer Version: libAstronomy 0.1.6a (from 10/23/2000)
Browse the complete list of older versions.

The Author is Alexander Roalter. Feel free to contact me and mail suggestions and errors. Interested programmers with enough skill are welcome to join the development.

Last modified: 01/30/2000