Europe Considers Joining Space-Faring Nations Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:35:00 -0400 Europe's space agency reached two milestones earlier this year. A European-built lab was installed at the International Space Station, and Europe launched a robotic cargo vehicle that successfully docked with the station. The European Space Agency is thinking about converting the vehicle so it could take astronauts into orbit. Tensions With Russia May Hurt NASA Program Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:18:00 -0400 The conflict with Russia over Georgia might affect NASA's ability to get astronauts to the international space station after the space shuttle gets retired in 2010. Congress must pass a special waiver by Sept. 30 so NASA can buy Soyuz capsule flights. What Makes Our Solar System Special? Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:02:00 -0400 Researchers say that if the conditions had been slightly different for our solar system, planets could have careened into the sun or been expelled into deep space. Also: A volunteer astronomer spots a strange gaseous object some are calling a "cosmic ghost." Phoenix Finds A Salt Compound On Mars Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:07:00 -0400 NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has detected a salt found on Earth on the surface of Mars. The salt, called perchlorate, is used in fireworks and rocket fuel. The news follows the recent confirmation of the presence of water on the Red Planet. Space Company Hopes To Cut Cost Of Launches Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:44:00 -0400 A private company called SpaceX has failed three times to reach orbit with one of its rockets. But the company says it's learning from its failures and still hopes to radically decrease the cost of putting objects in space. Mars Lander Finds Perchlorate On Mars Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:22:00 -0400 NASA's Phoenix spacecraft has detected the presence of perchlorate, a chemically reactive salt in the Martian soil. Though the finding could mean Mars is less friendly to potential life than previously believed, scientists are optimistic.
AstroMB - Advanced software for astrometry, photometry, robotic observations. Huge database of images and catalogs. Works with MaximDL and ASCOM. Free downloads.
Meta Description: [ The powerful program to handle astronomical images, sky maps, catalogs and for robotic observations ]
Astronomy Common Object Model (ASCOM) - Promoting the use of open scriptable tools for amateur and educational astronomy.
Meta Description: [ Common object models for scripted and programmable astronomy automation ]
Astronomy Formulas - Lunar and solar periodicity formulas, definitions, time formulas, notation, astronomical constants with computer code for a programmable HP 48 by James Q. Jacobs.
Meta Description: [ Lunar and solar periodicity formulas,definitions, time formulas, notation. Page one of two. ]
Astronomy Software Resources - Discover links and resources for astronomy software for amateur and professional astronomers and for people interested in astronomy, stargazing and space.
Meta Description: [ From Skymaps to Spaceships, Telescopes to Robots, find information on all the equipment and tools needed for astronomy and space exploration. Learn about the hardware and software and Tools and equipment used by astronomers and astronauts. Tools and equipment for the space age. ]
AstroTips - Astronomy Software and Amateur Observation Resources - News, reviews, articles, forums and downloads of astronomy related programs for various platforms.
Meta Description: [ Astronomy Freeware, Shareware and Commercial. News, Downloads, Reviews, Photos, Classifieds, Forums. ]
Cartes du Ciel / Sky Charts - Freeware allowing one to draw charts according to the data of 15 catalogs of stars and nebulae, as well as the position of planets, asteroids, and comets. Available in English and is translated in 8 other languages.
Meta Description: [ This program enables you to draw sky charts according to the data of 15 catalogs of stars and nebulae, as well as plot the positions of planets, asteroids and comets. ]
Deepsky 2000 - [commercial - Windows] Observation planning software for astronomers. Includes telescope control, logging, and charting.
Meta Description: [ Deepsky Astronomy Software. Star charts, observing log, planning, database, telescope control, imaging, spreadsheet and incredible DVD space images. Control your meade telescope with Deepsky! ]
EVCODE - A stellar evolution simulator designed for astronomy education.
GeoClock - [shareware MS-W] Sunlight clock with world times and sun and moon positions and coverage.
Meta Description: [ NEW GeoClock Home Page with download and ordering ]
Kairos General Calendar Conversion Program - [commercial, demo available -- Win95/98/NT] Includes calendars required by historians of astronomy and general historians. Many details are provided for Indian and Jewish calendars and much besides. There is also a display of positions of the Sun, Moon and planets, effectively replacing Tuckerman's tables. A horoscope display, and details of lunar visibility, are calculated from modern parameters.
Ksetiwatch - Ksetiwatch monitors multiple SETI@home clients and automatically logs and manages completed work units.
Meta Description: [ Ksetiwatch is a status monitoring tool for the SETI@home project. It is developed for the K Desktop Environment running under Linux. ]
Linux for Astronomy cdrom - [commercial - Linux] The new release of Linux for Astronomy includes over 3Gb of Astronomical software precompiled for the Linux (x86) operating system. Applications include a wealth of general purpose image and signal processing tools, as well as the state-of-the-art algorithms in use at observatories and universities worldwide. Facilities for processing the data products of the major space-based instruments (Hubble Space Telescope, EUV, Einstein, ROSAT, and IUE) are also included.
Lunar Calendars and Eclipse Finder - Windows software for converting dates in various lunar and other calendars and for finding lunar phases and eclipses of various kinds.
Meta Description: [ A Windows program to calculate the phase of the Moon at any given date and time, to search for eclipses (lunar, solar, total, annual and umbral) and to convert between dates in the Gregorian and Julian calendars and dates in various lunar calendars. ]
404Nightfall - [open source - Linux/Unix] Interactive program for computing synthetic lightcurves and generating animated views and best-fit models of eclipsing binary stars.
Meta Description: [ Interactive, user-friendly
binary star
program for
lightcurve synthesis, animated views, data fitting and more.
Can handle eccentric orbits, surface spots and
asynchroneous rotation. ]
Orrery - Review of the solar system simulator (by Spacetech) for RISC OS workstations.
Meta Description: [ A review of Photodesk's Orrery, solar system simulation software. By Andrew Harmsworth. ]
RISC OS astronomy software links - [commercial freeware - RISC OS] Direct links to astronomy software available for RISC OS.
Meta Description: [ Resources for classroom and home, from ORRERY: the Solar System in action. ]
Sky and Telescope -- Astronomical Software - Links to the BASIC programs that appeared in Sky Telescope, to shareware/freeware astronomy related software and to vendors of astronomy software.
Meta Description: [ Sky & Telescope, the Essential Magazine of Astronomy. News, observing tips, how-to advice, and more! ]
The Salopian Web - Software links for astronomers professional, education and amateur. Planetaria, sky charts, and databases for PC, MAC and UNIX/LINUX platforms.
Meta Description: [ Software links for astronomers professional, education and amateur. PC, MAC and UNIX / LINUX platforms. ]
