Date : Wed, 09 Dec 1987 11:26:22 MST
From : John Shaver Modernization Office <steep-mo-m@HUACHUCA-EM.ARPA>
Subject: Summarized responses
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.