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The Use Of Freeware To Teach Astronomy

The Use Of Freeware To Teach Astronomy. Dr H F Chau Associate Professor Department of Physics, HKU. A few freewares are available on the web. In view of time, I shall only introduce one of them: Stellarium. Stellarium. Download from: http://www.stellarium.org Installation.

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The Use Of Freeware To Teach Astronomy

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  1. The Use Of FreewareTo Teach Astronomy Dr H F Chau Associate Professor Department of Physics, HKU p. 1

  2. A few freewares are available on the web. • In view of time, I shall only introduce one of them: Stellarium p. 2

  3. Stellarium • Download from: http://www.stellarium.org • Installation p. 3

  4. For Windows version • Install to the default directory: • For 32 bits Windows: C:\Program Files\Stellarium • For 64 bits Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Stellarium p. 4

  5. In this talk, I shall assume that you are using the 32 bits version of Windows. • Current stable version: 0.9.1 • Beta version: 0.10.0 • Here I will focus on the 0.9.1 stable version. p. 5

  6. Optional Download • Userguide • pdf format • From: www.stellarium.org p. 6

  7. Optional Download • Additional stellar data files (Huge files) • To view dimmer stars • From: www.stellarium.org (Under the banner sourceforge) • Put the files in: C:\Program Files\Stellarium\stars\default p. 7

  8. Starting Stellarium • Start via Window’s own start manual • Get help by • left clicking the '?' sign • type 'h' p. 8

  9. 1st thing to do • Set • default location • time • Save the configuration as default p. 9

  10. You may easily change… • Observing location • Field of view • Direction of viewing • Presence/absence of atmosphere and ground • Rate of time flow p. 10

  11. You may also track an astronomical object by a few clicks. • The • Date • Time • field of view (FOV) • current frame rate (FPS) • properties of the tracked astronomical object are displayed on the screen. p. 11

  12. This program can be used to: • Prepare an observing session • by previewing the actual event beforehand • Aid setting questions • by obtaining astronomical data • the magnitude • angle of parallax • distance from the Sun • spectral type • the right ascension and declination • the current altitude and azimuth of a star p. 12

  13. Help schoolroom teaching • by simulating the apparent motion of the sky • In this presentation, I will focus on the third point. p. 13

  14. Writing your own script files • Script files must be named <filename>.sts • Placed either in • C:\Program Files\Stellarium\scripts • Or the user's own Application Data\Stellarium\scripts p. 14

  15. A sample script(from stellarium's example) clear date utc 2006:03:14T21:21:32 select planet Moon pointer off wait duration 2 zoom auto in wait duration 2 timerate rate 500 script action end p. 15

  16. To activate a script • Press 'm' • Press '↑' twice • press '→' twice • Select the script file • Press 'Enter' • Press 'm' to run the script p. 16

  17. Basic operation • Stop • press 'Ctrl-C' • Pause • press '6' • Resume • press 'K' p. 17

  18. I have written a few scripts to simulate the daily motion of stars, the annual motion of the Sun, and the apparent motion of planets. Please enjoy! p. 18

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