CELESTIAL MAPS 7.0 is an astronomical software that produces accurate maps of the sky in five types of projections. It runs a small star database or/and two professional star catalogues, SAO and PPM.
The software has been designed to be user friendly, a main menu being visible at any time on the top bar under the application title. Beside the application's main form, other 15 forms set the various functions of the program.
All the forms are easily accessible using the mouse or the keyboard. This can be done in three possible ways:
>> Point and click to the main menu's items;
>> Using shortcut key combinations written nearby each menu item;
>> Using "F" hot keys (for the main functions of the program).
To optimize the various functions of the software, some of the menu items are not accessible for a given type of projection. In this case, they will appear unable in the menu.
Three projection types are the most important items to run charts with Celestial Maps. Available within Projection main menu item, these are:
>> Polar Projection
>> Zenithal Projection
>> Equatorial Projection
While the first two are intended to produce maps for general purposes, the last one is built to run professional charts using two astronomical catalogues.
Running Maps
There are three possibilities to run maps:
>> Using the keyboard, press F9;
>> Using the keyboard, press "Alt+R", then "R";
>> Using the mouse, click Run, then Run Map.
Any time using one of these options, a chart will be plotted accordingly to the actual values of the mapping parameters. Then any parameter can be modified (using the menu items or the forms), and another chart can be re-plotted with the new values.
The mapping execution can be canceled any time by pressing the Escape key or clicking Run/Cancel Map (this function is especially good when running Large Star Database on a slow computer).
Saving and Loading Maps
All the mapping parameters can be saved any time within Maps/Save As... menu item by typing a name of the chart in the File Name edit box (the automate extension is ".map").
Any saved map can be loaded later by opening the appropriate ".map" file from the main menu Maps/Open.... Then the map can be re-plotted pressing F9 or clicking Run/Run Map.
Using Help
Celestial Maps provides user with a complete documentation, being equipped with a user friendly help embedded within the software.
Any time the help is available in one of the following modes:
>> Through the main Help functions (under the Help item on the main bar menu);
>> Locally, with each (sub)menu item, pop up the mouse without clicking then press F1;
>> Locally, within each form, click the Help button or press F1.
Hardware Requirements
To run Celestial Maps 7.0, the following equipment is required:
>> PC x86 or Pentium (Pentium min 100MHz/32MB RAM recommended);
>> Display xGA (15" SVGA min 2MB video memory recommended);
>> Windows 9x, 2000 or Windows NT;
>> Mouse (strongly recommended);
>> Printer (jet/laser/color recommended);
>> Hard Space: 1.2 MB (small database) or 40 MB (both large database);
References, Patents:
* In April 1994 Celestial Maps 3.1 was pattented by "La Maison
de l'Astronomie Devaux-Chevet S.A", Paris, France - Astro News no. 37,
1994;
* Since 1996 Celestial Maps 4.5 computer aided graphics the
Astronomical Yearbook published with The Astronomical Institute
and Romanian Academy Printing House in Bucharest, Romania;
* In March 1998 Celestial Maps v.5.0 was included into the
ASDS - Astronomical Software Documentation Service published with
NASA Astrophysics Data Program.
