310 E. 6th St.
Rolla, MO 65401

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  • Dr. Richard L. Elgin, LS, PE
  • Dr. David R. Knowles, LS, PE
  • Dr. Joeseph H. Senne, PE
• Previous Software Products
  • ASTRO*ROM
  • ASTRO*CARD
  • ASTRO*DISK27
  • ASTRO*DISK83
  • ASTRO*DISK34
  • UTM
  • SPC83*CARD
• The "2008 SOKKIA Celestial Observation Handbook and Ephemeris"
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This description/specification is reprinted from our product description made at the time the software was being sold. It is provided as a historical reference. This software is NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM US.

GENERAL: ASTRO*CARD is a ROM module for the HP-48GX/SX containing extremely accurate internal ephemeris generation for sun and Polaris observations through the year 2010 with no updates required. Designed primarily for use with internal clock and calculation of azimuth while occupying the field station, the module can be conveniently used for office calculations as well. Programs can be run with or without a printer. Comes with complete, explicit user instructions; however, routines and options are easily learned. Module developed by authors of the Celestial Observation Handbook and Ephemeris (Sokkia Corporation).

INPUT: Depends on selected options. Minimum required input is latitude and longitude.

CALCULATOR CONFIGURATION: HP-48GX or HP-48SX with 2K of free memory.

ACCURACY SPECIFICATIONS: (design period 1965 through 2020 with no updates):

SUN:

Maximum GHA error: 2.2" (90% of time <1.0"). Maximum declination error: 1.4" (90% of time <1.0").

The above errors result in a maximum error in azimuth of 3.3 arc-seconds (90% of the time less than 1.5 arc-seconds) when the sun's altitude is at 40 degrees. Error decreases as altitude decreases.

POLARIS:

Maximum error in azimuth is 0.6 arc-seconds for observations made at 60dN latitude. Maximum error is 0.4 arc-seconds at 40dN latitude.

PROGRAM FEATURES:

• Sun/Polaris/other stars.
• Observe trailing edge, center, or leading edge of sun (program computes semidiameter correction).
• Can calculate a single observation.
• Single foresight for each backsight.
• Multiple foresights for each backsight.
• Manual input of time and date or direct input using internal clock.
• Manual input of horizontal circle readings.
• Field entry correction for retaking unsatisfactory pointings.
• Averaging of selected azimuths.
• Conversion to state plane grid azimuth.
• Field data output with provision for storage of input data in memory or on RAM cards.
• Routine for observation on other stars.
• The coordinates of 63 stars can be accessed and called by number.
• Generate ephemeris data (GHA, declination, semidiameter, sidereal time) for the years 1965 through 2020.
• Polaris and star coordinates are based on the new fundamental (FK5) reference system.
• Computation time for six pointings is 30 seconds.