Short:    Next Generation Planetarium (1.8.1)
Uploader: astegema@ix.urz.uni-heidelberg.de (Achim Stegemann)
Author:   astegema@ix.urz.uni-heidelberg.de (Achim Stegemann)
Type:     misc/sci
Version:  1.8.1
Requires: misc/sci/DAlmanac_Data.lha

********* This is Digital Almanac II *********


########## Requires ##########

* MC68020/68881
* OS 3.0
* Harddrive (20 MB space)
* 6 MB free FastRAM
* MUI 3.8
* DAlmanac_Data.lha of version 1.0

########## Additional archives ##########

These archives are add-ons. You don't need to install them, if you don't like to.

* DAlmanac_Ast.lha:   Contains the asteroid catalog.
* DAlmanac_DS.lha:    Contains the deep-sky object catalogs.
* DAlmanac_Maps.lha:  Contains the surface textures of planets.


########## Recommended ##########

* MC68040 or MC68060
* OS 3.5
* 16 MB FastRAM
* Graphic card with CyberGraphX V3


########## Supported software ##########

* CyberGraphX for true/hicolor screens.
* mpeg_encode (included) to create MPEG movies.
  Requires ixemul.library V39 or higher.
* Xpk system to store images in IFF-RGFX format.
  A datatype for this new graphic format is available at Aminet:util/dtype/rgfx-dt.lha.
* Turboprint V3 or higher.


########## Installation ##########

* Download this archive and at least DAlmanac_Data.lha.
* Unpack the exe archive.
* Read the chapter 'Installation' in the guide carefully before you proceed !!!
* Start the installer script and follow its instructions.
  The add-ons will be installed by the script too.


########## Supported languages ##########

* German
* English
* French (catalog only, no docs !!)
* Italian (catalog only, no docs !!)

Note: Some french and italian expressions are still missing in the catalog.


########## INTRODUCTION ##########

Digital Almanac is one of the best programs for hobby astronomers and professionals
available for the Amiga !

It offers:
* Star database with ca. 500,000 stars up to 16m.
* Cross-index for SAO, PPM, HD, YBS und GC catalogs.
* About 40000 deep-sky objects (Messier, NGC, IC, UGC, Abell, Zwicky and other misc objects).
* More than 56000 minor planets and asteroids as well as the
  comets Halley, Hyakutake and Hale-Bopp.
* Highly accurate calculation of Moon and planets with JPL's integration tables (DE404).
  Accuracy partly <0.1'' over a period of some thousand years !!
* Moons of Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus.
* Textures for all planets and most moons.
* Milky way structure.
* View the sky from any solar system object.
* Save animations in IFF-ANIM, QuickTime or MPEG format.
* Loading and saving of configuration files.
* Highly optimized algorithms for maximum speed, mostly written in assembler.
* Lots of configuration possibilities.
* Online and menu help with HELP-key and MUI's bubblehelp.
* Full Drag&Drop support.
* Creation and export of ephemeris tables.
* Picture galery creation.
* User editable database of orbital elements.
* Control program with ARexx scripts.

Included in the archive are two project files of a solar and a lunar eclipse ready to watch !


########## THIS PROGRAM IS SHAREWARE ##########

Following features are restricted for non registered users:

* Star output limited to the area of Orion.
* Data area limited to 01.01.1990 to 01.01.2000.
* Deep-sky catalog access limited to the Messier catalog.
* All saving and printer functions are disabled.
* No changing site to a different planet, only Earth enabled.
* No detailed course of eclipses.
* No picture galery.
* No events in the calendar.
* No GSC catalog.
* No textured planets.
* The program will terminate after 20 min and all 5 min a requester will appear.

Read the guide file for more information and how to become a registered user or
visit my homepage.

Internet: http://www.rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~astegema


########## Troubleshooting ##########

If you have installed Digital Almanac correctly and your computer crashes without
any visible reason, please check the following statements:

* I run a MC68040 and I have installed the original 68040.library from Commodore.
* I run a MC68060 and I have installed the latest 68060.library.
* I have installed the original math-libs from Commodore, i.e
  I do not use any replacement libs or patches concerning these math-libs.

If you negate any of these statements, you may find Digital Almanac not
to work on your Amiga !!
Please read the chapter "Troubleshooting" in the docs !


########## Changes since Digital Almanac II 1.8.0 ##########

Improvements:
* Program is now completely developed with StormC.
* CPU specific executables for 020/030 and 040/060 processors.
* Star database will be automatically converted to a faster format during first program start.
  This increases speed of drawing stars.

Fixed bugs:
* Fixed a little bug in calculation of solar eclipse duration. Stack was not cleaned up
  correctly and could therefore lead to wrong results.
* Output in search list of ds-objects was unreadable.
* Location altitude value was sometimes wrong translated by string input. Could cause
  wrong calculations using parallaxe option.
* Fixed a bug in documentation. ARexx commands were not displayed.
* Fixed a very stupid bug in orbital element window. The field "JD" was handled as a
  float value instead double value. So the number was handled correct but displayed wrong.
  If you have created your own database, then all entries are invalid, because it was
  stored wrong. I am sorry for that !! Send me your file via email for conversion !!