"The Earth Centered Universe" (ECU) V1.3B (Released in June 1992) Sky Visualization Software for Microsoft Windows 3.X Written by: David Lane 4-26 Randall Avenue Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada B3M 1E2 Phone: (902) 443-5989 Internet E-Mail: ECU@AC.DAL.CA or 71601.247@COMPUSERVE.COM Compuserve ID: 71601,247 ECU is a Sky Visualization Program for Microsoft Windows 3.x called "The Earth Centered Universe". It is capable of simulating many of the features of the earth based sky. This includes, but is not limited to the stars, planets, sun, moon, and "deep sky" objects. ECU is designed as an observing tool for the observing amateur astronomer, but is equally useful to the "armchair" astronomer or other interested person. ECU is designed to operate on a PC from within the Microsoft Windows 3.x environment. Some of the features of ECU are listed below: - fast compared to many commercial packages - mostly integer math so math processor is not needed, but is supported to improve speed of solar system calculations, etc. - low and high accuracy solar system calculations supported - colorful display - continuous display of LMT, UTC, lat/long, RA/DEC, AZ/ALT, field size, and star mag limit - databases: Yale star catalogue to 6.5 magnitude SAO star catalogue to 9.5 magnitude (optional) SAC deep sky database (over 10,000 objects) planets, sun, moon, and comets - very easy to use - zoom box, center image, zoom in/out, etc. all done with the mouse. Scroll bars for RA and DEC or Alt/Az. Hot keys and buttons for common functions - click on an object and an information box pops up - measure angular separation with the mouse - load and save all settings to named configuration files - undo last operation - time set as LMT, UTC, or system clock (daylight savings flag, too.) - time format as 24 hour or am/pm - observer's location entered by lat/long or pick list of preprogrammed cities (add your own, too) - control the effects of parallax, nutation, precession, light travel time, and aberration - white or black sky background - set magnitude limits of deep sky and stars (with scroll bars) - select type of deep sky objects displayed (with check boxes) - displays horizon line, ecliptic line, ra/dec grid (fine and course), zenith marker, constellation lines, labels for bright stars, constellations, messiers, etc. - center on - RA/DEC - Azim/Alt - bright stars - constellations - messiers - points on horizon (north, south, etc.) - solar system objects - search the database and center on the object found - animation mode - time increments from 1 minute to four years - direction either forward or reverse - lock to sun, moon, planet, alt/az or ra/dec - trails of objects supported - and much, much more! - system requirements: 286/386/486 100% PC compatible MS-Windows 3.x (standard or enhanced mode) EGA/VGA or better color screen min 700k free memory from within MS-Windows 80x87 supported but not required Mouse ECU is SHAREWARE. The SHAREWARE VERSION is distributed as the file ECUSHA.EXE (a self-extracting archive), and I assure you that is is not the "crippled" software. It only lacks some of the advanced features which required several databases which are too large to distribute by normal SHAREWARE methods. If you try ECU and like it, I ask that you register it. Registering ECU costs only $35 US and brings an enhanced version of the program (to fully meet features described above). An optional SAO star catalogue is available for $20 US. If you cannot obtain the shareware version ECU, a copy can be obtained for your review from the author for $10 US. ECU is currently available on the Compuserve ASTROFORUM, several Internet FTP sites (consult the author), or directly from the author. *****************