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Software projects:
ASTEROID!
ASTEROID is an MSDOS and 32bit Windows program to help locate asteroids in the night sky.
Version 3.0 is here in MSDOS and Win9x versions! Build 14 - October 1 2001
Download MSDOS Version 3.0 Alpha
release! (NEW!) Win 3.1 users, please use DOS version.
For DOS and Win9x, the files
to get are as follows:
| DOS | WIN | File Name | Status | Description |
| X | X | astdos3.zip | 1 October 2001 Alpha Build 14 | (610k) MSDOS program and doc files |
| X | X | astsup3.zip | 1 October 2000 Alpha Build 14 | (896k) Support files and catalogs |
| X | astwin3.zip | 1 October 2001 Alpha Build 14 | (585k) Windows 95/98 version and DLLs |
astskin.zip (118k) NEW! Telescope SKIN files & docs.
tycstar.zip (1600k) Tycho 2 stars, adds
nearly 120,000 stars to mag 9.0 from TYCHO2!
hipstar.zip (1500k) Complete Hipparchos Stars, adds nearly 120,000 stars to the display!
ppmstar.zip (1360k) adds 120,00 stars from the PPM catalogue!
Linux Files (Now! Try this experimental build - Feedback requested)
Unzip all files in the same directory and run astdos.exe (MSDOS mode) or astwin.exe (Win 9x).
Note: This is an Alpha release! Many functions are incomplete and some menu items are not fully working yet. I will update them as I get time. Please be patient. Feedback/wish lists requested..
What does version 3.0 look like??
Sample part of a screen shot and saved image showing Orion's belt and a really faint asteroid. (see Telescope view (insert))
Stars to mag 9.0 from Tycho2, Hipparcos
and PPM catalogues... colour coded according to spectrum.
3000 Asteroids from the Lowell
observatory database plus Sun and Planets.
An Alpha trial version should be available for evaluation at the end of April 1999.
Alpha 01: 1st Apr 1999; Help is no help! PPM and HIP catalogs, rough
menu only.
Alpha 02: 1st May 1999; Help now works, Telescope installed. Finder
enabled.
Alpha 03: 9th May 1999; Find the moon, size the moon.
Alpha 04..08 June 1999; Cosmetic changes. Not posted until 08 build
Alpha 08p: 13th July 1999; patch file, 2000 asteroids, names in the
telescope.
Alpha 09p: 3rd March 2000; 3000 asteroids, Stars look like stars in
the telescope.
Alpha 09p: update. 3rd August 2000 Preliminary Linux version and minor bugfixes.
Alpha 10 update. 3rd September 2000; Constellation bounds and
names. Allowed user to input their own data. Access 10k MPs with block mode.
Alpha 11 update. Added CCD selection. Ephemeris menu works.
Added access to complete Hipparchos star catalog OR 120,000 PPM stars.
Alpha 12 update. 1st October 2000; Appulses/Conjunctions between planets and planet/stars added, includes GOTO.
Alpha 13 update. 1st November 2000; Squashed ephemeris bug. Added over 700 odd observatories (and a few even ones...) OK, so where are the asteroids *tomorrow*?
Alpha 13 patch update. 9 Feb 2001; Added Tycho2 star catalogue support
Alpha 14 update. 1st October 2001; Added skin file support.
With extra features, ASTEROID now requires serious horsepower to run. Try a Pentium for quick updates; a 486 is usable, but a little slow.
Why not use it to generate a nifty image for your web page?
Contact yours truly:
For further information about my work or the items mentioned above, please email me!
Late Breaking News..
Um.. There isn't any!
The last update of SPACE FX (version 3.0 spfxdos3.zip)
was uploaded here in June 1999. I am currently working on Asteroid 3.0 but, hey, you know that already, right?
Who am
I?
I am a Professional Electrical Engineer and sometime
programmer with an interest in animation graphics, raytracing and astronomy.
I do most of my programming in C and a little asm when necessary. I have
also used Visual Basic and am currently trying out C++.
Visiting Asteroid hunters since July 1999
The Fine Print !
This HTML page and all contents, text, graphics etc,
is the sole property of Anthony M. Hugo MIEAust CPeng, copyright 1997,
1998. Permission is hereby granted to copy this material for personal use
or educational use if the teacher isn't looking. Commercial use by corporate
entities, colourful sporting identities and all you rich folks requires
specific permission from me. So there!
Credits
This HTML page contains images directly or indirectly
derived from NASA/JPL/Hubble/Telescope/voyager/spacecraft data suitably
modified for use by SPACE FX. If you use such material in your own creations,
please credit their use in the absence of specific permission.
Warbird.gif and xwing.gif derived from scene files at
the POVRay web site. Rock.gif Torus.jpg Asteroid.gif and ship.gif are my
fault.
Copyright symbols, logos and abbreviations are owned
by copyright owners. Whatever happens, happens. But only sometimes!
I always wondered whether anybody ever reads the fine
print at the bottom of documents like this. My advise is to use an electron
microscope. Cheers!
