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Classes for storing and manipulating various fundamental types, such as coordinates, time/date in various timescales.
A set of classes for reading, writing and manipulating NASA Flexible Image Transport System (FITS) files.
The aim is ultimately to be able to read and write all of the header and data array formats that are set out in the latest FITS standard documentation. At the time of writing, this was FITS v4.0 July 2016 DRAFT.
Initially, we have concentrated on building a FitsReader class and being able to read a
Primary HDU containing a single image data array ("SIF" of Single Image FITS format). We have also implemented methods for converting the FITS image data to a Windows Bitmap for display. A demo application, the Simple FITS Viewer, can display
a FITS image and the header data.
We plan to add the ability to modify and create new files and write them out to disk
with a FitsWriter class in a furture version.
Once we can both read and write SIF files, we'll add additional data array types and the ability to work with multiple Extensions/HDUs.
Currently, this library contains an implementation of the VSOP87a algorithm for computing the position of the major planets, the Sun and the Earth-Moon barycentre.
In time, we plan to provide additional orbit engines, such as VSOP2000 and SGP4 (Standard General Perterbation model for working with minor planet and satellite orbits)
Contains routines relating to the observatory as a whole. Offers classes that descript an observatory location and geometry and telescope mechanical position. There is a scope-dome synchronization algorithm that originates from Patrick Wallace, of TPoint fame.
- How to represent the Sun and Earth?
- Download VSOP87 data directly from the web on demand instead of requiring local copies of the data.
- Create a caching strategy to avoid unnecessary downloads and so that each VSOP87 file is read in only once per session.
- Position of planets other than Earth
- Position of other planets relative to Earth (instead of Sun)
- Position of Planets in horizon-based coordinates
- Implement VSOP2000
- Implement SGP4
This project is licensed under the Tigra Astronomy MIT License. Essentially, "Anyone can do anything at all with the software without restriction, but whatever happens it's not our fault".