Dear ShareWare Vendor/Sysop: This file contains my distribution policy and information on the shareware version of "The Earth Centered Universe (TM)", or ECU (TM), for MS-Windows (TM). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ECU is protected under international copyright treaties and I (David Lane) retain all rights to this software. As a shareware distributor, you have permission to distribute my shareware in its original electronic form as long as you: * identify it as shareware (with an appropriate definition) * leave all intellectual property (copyright) notices in place * notify me, if you are publishing it in a catalog or CD-ROM * do not distribute the files "YBSC2.ECU", "SAC2.ECU", "SAO1.ECU", "SAO2.ECU", "PINDEX.ECU", or "PTERMS.ECU", should they inadvertantly become part of the shareware package that you have received ..and as long as I do not request that you stop. That's it. You may archive our programs, unarchive them, use your own installation routines, include them with other programs on the same diskette, and do essentially anything you want as long as you follow these simple rules. I want the widest possible distribution, and don't want to stand in your way so long as you are honest with our mutual customer. My normal distribution sequence is: 1 New versions are offered to our registered users and are automatically shipped to new registrants. 2 New versions are posted on CIS in the ASTROFORUM (Lib 7 as ECUSHA.EXE). Use IBMFF on ID 71601,247. 3 I send copies of major revisions of ECU to distributors who have notified me of their interest. If you are a catalog house, send me a copy of the catalog in which the program appears and I will send you a copy of any major updates to my software. If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact me: David J. Lane 4-26 Randall Avenue Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada B3M 1W2 Voice: (902) 443-5989 (evenings AST) CIS: 71601,247 Internet: dlane@husky1.stmarys.ca International: If you are a publisher interested in translating and supporting ECU in another language, please contact me to discuss an agreement for your language and country. If you are interested in providing registration and support services outside of North America, I am interested in working with you. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Package Name: "The Earth Centered Universe" for Windows V1.4A (commonly abbreviated ECU) Requirements: MS-Windows 3.x 386SX or higher EGA or better monitor (math processor beneficial) Distributed Name: ECUSHARE.EXE (ECUSHA.EXE on Compuserve) Major Heading: Sky Visualization Program for Windows Requirements: MS-Windows 3.x 386SX or higher 600k bytes free RAM from within Windows 1M bytes free RAM recommended EGA or better monitor Math co-processor beneficial Windows-compatible printer supported First Release: March 1992 Purchase Price: $35.00US basic $20.00US for additional database of about 250,000 stars $15.00US for upgrades Customer Support: free e-mail, telephone, or mail support Key Words: Astronomy Stars Planets Comets Constellations Planetarium Sun Moon Galaxies Nebulae Charts Short Description: ECU V1.4A 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's sky. You only need to enter your geographic location and the time and the local sky is simulated on the screen in a colourful display. This includes, but is not limited to the stars, planets, Sun, Moon, and "deep sky" objects. Constellation, coordinate grid, ecliptic, and local horizon lines are also displayed. ECU is designed as an observing tool for the observing amateur astronomer, but is equally useful to the "armchair" astronomer or other interested person interested in the night sky. Long Description: ECU V1.4A 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's sky. This includes, but is not limited to the stars, planets, Sun, Moon, Comets, 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 operates 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. - colourful display - colours of all screen elements controllable by user with scroll bars - high quality star charts can be printed on any Windows compatible printer or plotter - continuous display of LMT, UTC, latitude and longitude, 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. All objects give RA, Dec, azimulh, altitude, rise and set times, and magnitude. Planets/Sun/Moon give distance (AU or km), angular size (" or '), and phase (or age). Comets give distance to the Sun and the Earth in AU. Yale stars give Yale number, HD number, SAO number, Flamsteed/Bayer designation, Spectral type, and proper motion. SAO stars give SAO number, and spectral type. Deep sky object provide a varying amount of info but usually provide the name (an other name), Dreyer description, size, classification, etc. The coordinates can be precessed to the current date/time. - the user can display a GIF picture of the object, if one exists. None are provided with ECU. Some may become available at a small fee. - measure angular separation on the sky 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 observer's parallax, nutation, precession, light travel time, aberration, and atmospheric refraction - show sky as white on black background or black on white background, or in full colour - also supported is a "red" mode to save your night vision if used in an observatory - 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 coarse), zenith marker, constellation lines, IAU constellation boundary lines, labels for bright stars, constellations, messiers, coordinate grid, 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 in steps from 1 minute to four years or a user selected arbitrary increment - set 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 386DX recommended MS-Windows 3.x (standard or enhanced mode) EGA/VGA or better color screen min 600k free memory from within MS-Windows 80x87 (or 486DX) recommended but not required Mouse Windows compatible printer