CRATER TIMING PREDICTION & REDUCTION SOFTWARE (CTR Version 2)

by Byron Soulsby

Isabella Plains Lunar Observatory Australia

Introduction

Software is available for download and for execution on Windows XP computers. This software runs under DOS for a survey of many lunar eclipses, prediction of circumstances and crater timing immersions and emersions, as well as the reduction of observations made of crater contacts during any listed lunar eclipse.

All compiled software and necessary data files are included in the compressed file CTR2.zip which must be downloaded on to your root directory as folder CTR2. (Do not create a new folder just unzip to your drive so that folder CTR2 is seen - the software will not work if you have C:/CTR2/CTR2/ ).

The the user may nominate evaluation of a chosen eclipse through the main menu (MENU3.EXE) using the program ECLIPSE.EXE which provides a survey of all of the lunar eclipses analysed from 1842. The MENU also provides options for the prediction of lunar eclipses as well as a full range of other analytical software.

The software has introductions to each unit with data input and output options. At present, any graphical output has a coarse representation on Windows machines due to the limitations of the DOS graphics. The software has been prepared under a licensed copy of QuickBasic Version 4.5.

Details

The file ECLIPSE.EXE gives a listing of selectable lunar eclipse dates (in numeric format) showing those available for viewing of the circumstances and predicted times of primary contacts using the author's improved umbral oblateness value. The lunar eclipses available date back to the nineteenth century commencing in 1842 observed by Julius Schmidt in Germany and in Greece.

Once selected, the file MENU3.EXE provides eight options for prediction and analysis. These include the survey of all lunar eclipses, prediction of circumstances, the altitude and azimuth of the moon from any known observing location, production of data for eclipses not already considered, prediction of times of crater contacts with the umbra (including a graphical output option), reduction of crater timings made by contributing observers, output menus for a summary table of analytical data and tabulation of observed oblateness values. A further option is an example program for determining the possible change in the size of the umbra during a lunar eclipse for one nominated observer and location, allowing for topocentric effects.

Output options are included for a summary of the enlargement of the umbra from each observer, the computed observed and theoretical radii of the umbra made from crater timings as well as the observed oblateness of the umbra. These outputs can be processed for printing using a word processor such as Word, and for charts or graphics using software such as Excel.

Finally, the menu allows the user to exit from the CTR Version 2 software suite.

Q & A

The author is always available to answer any questions concerning use of the software and production of data files; I can be contacted  by email  at minnah@netspeed.com.au.

Produced by the Isabella Plains Lunar Observatory Australia 2008 May 16.