
                      S K Y M A P 
                    ---------------

                      Version 3.1
                    ---------------

          V E N D O R    I N F O R M A T I O N
        ----------------------------------------


This file provides information for Shareware Distributors,
Disk Vendors, BBS Sysops and Computer Clubs who wish to
distribute the SKYMAP package.

Note:

The SkyMap 3.1 package contains two versions of SkyMap;
version 2.2 for Windows 3.1 and version 3.1 for Windows 95 and
Windows NT. SkyMap 3.1 is greatly enhanced over v2.2 and runs
more than 3x faster. The installation program will detect which
operating system is running on your computer and will install
the correct version of the program automatically.

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                  Part 1:  Program Information:
-----------------------------------------------------------


Program Name, Category:
-----------------------

   SkyMap, Windows, Astronomy Application (Disk)


Preferred File Name For BBSs Etc:
_________________________________

SkyMap is a large package, and is normally distributed as
a ZIP archive. This should be called "SKYMAP31.ZIP".
Of course, other file name extensions are perfectly acceptable
when compression programs other than PKZIP are used.

The package must be distributed "as is". You may add your
own short promotional files to the package, but no files
must be removed from it.


Short Description:
------------------

SkyMap is a highly accurate "planetarium" for Windows 3.1,
Windows 95 or Windows NT. It can draw a map of the sky, as seen
from any place on Earth, for any date between 4000BC and 8000AD,
displaying stars, planets, comets, deep-sky objects,
constellation names and figures, and a whole lot more.  Detailed
information about any object on a map can be obtained simply
by clicking on it with the mouse, and high quality charts can be
printed on any printer supported by Windows.  Pictures of
objects, in several formats, can be associated with objects
and displayed, either manually or automatically.


Long Description:
-----------------

SkyMap is a shareware "Planetarium" program for Microsoft
Windows 3.1 or later. It will display a map of the sky as seen
from any point on Earth for any date between 4000BC and 8000AD.
Two different types of map can be drawn: a "Horizon" map showing
the observer's local horizon, and a "Sky Area" map showing a
detailed view of a small area of the sky.  You can "zoom in" on
a map to a practically unlimited extent, and rapidly scroll
around it.

There are many planetarium programs available today.  Unlike
some of these, SkyMap makes no claims of blinding calculation
speeds. Instead, what SkyMap concentrates on is accuracy.
SkyMap uses the most accurate methods available to the author
for all the calculations.  This accuracy makes SkyMap equally
suited for both the novice astronomer who just wants to know
"what's that bright object up there?" and the serious amateur
or professional astronomer who wants a detailed "finder chart"
for a faint galaxy.

Examples of this accuracy are:

 -  Planetary positions have a mean error of less than half a
    second of arc.
 -  Star positions are rigorously corrected for the effects of
    proper motion, precession, aberration, and refraction.
    Planetary positions are corrected for aberration and
    diurnal parallax.

SkyMap carries out its calculations in as efficient as manner as
possible, but it never compromises accuracy for the sake of speed.
An increase in speed can always be achieved by using a faster
computer.

The following information can be displayed on a map:

Stars:    SkyMap uses the SAO star catalog as the source of star
          data. The shareware version of the program comes with a
          database of 15,925 stars down to magnitude 7; the registered
          registered version of the program is supplied with the
          complete SAO catalog of 259,000 stars, and also has the
          ability to display stars to below magnitude 15 from the
          Hubble Guide Star Catalog (GSC), available separately as
          a set of two CD-ROMs. Stars can be labelled with proper
          names, Bayer letters, or Flamsteed numbers.

Constellations: Constellation names, figures, and official IAU
          boundaries can all be displayed.

Planets:  The Sun, Moon, and planets can be displayed, labelled
          with their standard astronomical symbols or names.
          The Moon is displayed with the correct phase and
          orientation.

Comets:   The program maintains a catalog of comets, in which the
          user may add, remove, and edit entries. Comets from the
          catalog can be selected for display on the map.

Asteroids: The program maintains a catalog of asteroids, which
          operates in an identical way to the comet catalog.

Deep Sky Objects:  The complete Saguaro Astronomy Club (SAC) database
          of 11,000 deep sky objects is available. This contains
          the complete Messier, NGC, and IC catalogs, and the
          brightest objects from more than 70 other catalogs. 
          Detailed selection criteria can be used to select
          objects for display. Objects are shown on the map with their
          correct size and (for galaxies) orientation.

Telescopes and eyepieces: The program maintains a catalog of telescopes
          and eyepieces (both of which can be edited by the user).
          Any eyepiece may be selected with any telescope, and the
          resulting magnification and field of view displayed. A circle
          showing the field of view can be displayed on the map.

Circles representing the view through a Telrad (TM) finder can be
          displayed on the map.

The "track" of any moving object (planets, comets and asteroids) can be
          displayed, showing where the object will be over a specified
          period of time. Points on the track can be labelled with date
          and the object's magnitude.

All types of object can be switched on or off with the click of
the mouse, making it easy to see exactly the information you want,
without being flooded with unwanted information.
          
Detailed information about any object can be obtained simply by
clicking the mouse on it.  In the case of planets, the displayed
information includes both positional (RA, Dec, Distance) and
physical (Magnitude, phase, light time, elongation, phase angle
etc) information.

When you have a map as you want it, it can be printed on any type
of printer supported by Windows.  The printed map is not simply a
copy of the screen; it is printed at the full resolution of the
printer.  Maps printed on a laser printer compare favourably with
high-quality star atlases such as "Uranometria 2000".  Maps can be
printed in either black and white or colour.  If you have a colour 
printer you can select the colour of each component of the map.

SkyMap can also display photographic images, supplied in the
form of GIF, BMP or PDS files.   Thousands of such images are
freely available on bulletin boards and commercial information
systems such as CompuServe. This allows you to build up your own
personal library of astronomical photographs which, coupled with
the map displays, really helps to bring the sky to life.  Images
can either be displayed manually, or can be linked with specific
objects and displayed by simply clicking on the object on the map.


System Requirements
-------------------

SkyMap 2.2 runs on any 386 or better computer supporting Windows 3.1.
SkyMap 3.1 requires Windows 95 or Windows NT 4, and will run well
on any computer on which either of these operating systems will run.
A maths co-processor is not essential, but is strongly recommended;
SkyMap does a huge amount of trigonometry, and use of a co-processor
can speed the program up by a factor of 10 or more!

For the display of photographic images, a video card capable of
displaying 256 or more colours (simultaneously) is recommended.
Images CAN be displayed on a standard 16-colour VGA display,
but will generally look pretty terrible!

Maps can be printed on any printer supported by Windows.  Good
quality maps can be obtained even from a 9-pin dot matrix printer.

SkyMap's files require a total of 2MB of disk space.


Registration Information:
-------------------------

For full information about registering SkyMap, please refer to
the separate registration files.


Author/Publisher Information:
-----------------------------

SkyMap is written by:

    SkyMap Software
    9, Severn Road
    Culcheth
    Cheshire WA3 5ED
    UK

    E-mail addresses:

    Internet:    chris@skymap.com
    CompuServe:  100113,1140


-----------------------------------------------------------------
                Part 2:  Distribution Requirements
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Shareware Distributors and Disk Vendors who wish to distribute
SkyMap must comply with the following restrictions:

If the version of the program that you have is more than 12
months old, please contact the author before distributing the
package, since it is likely that a more recent version will
be available.

You may not list any of our products in advertisements, catalogs,
or other literature which describes our products as "FREE
SOFTWARE".  Shareware is "Try-Before-You-Buy" software, it is
not free.



CD-ROM Distribution
--------------------

SkyMap may be incorporated in CD-ROM collections provided that
the complete package is included, and it is made clear that it
is NOT "Free Software". If the version of the program that you
have is more than 12 months old, please contact the author before
distributing the package, since it is likely that a more recent
version of the program will be available.



Please Help Us Serve You Better:
--------------------------------

We would appreciate copies of anything you print regarding
SkyMap.  Please send us a copy of any reviews, articles,
catalog descriptions, or other information you print or
distribute regarding the SkyMap package.  Thank you for
your time and assistance and for supporting the shareware
marketing concept.

