DANCE OF THE PLANETS SOLAR SYSTEM and SKY DISPLAY
(MSDOS CD-ROM)
Wherever your out-of this-world interests may lie- exploring our dynamic solar system, simulating historical circumstances, or checking out tonight's sky, you will find this new version of DANCE OF THE PLANETS a fascinating window upon space and time. What happens on the screen, past, present, or future, mirrors reality- the remarkable result of combining orbital simulation with good graphical representation- a capability unique to DANCE OF THE PLANETS. DANCE OF THE PLANETS is an MSDOS application that operates very nicely in Windows 3.1, and even better in Windows 95. It has long been the most comprehensive working model of the solar system and sky ever created. We have had over 25 great reviews in past years, and an earlier version was selected as a finalist in Discover magazine's Innovations Awards - a rare distinction for special interest software. New releases in the following years allow DANCE OF THE PLANETS to encompass ever more of the dynamic sky and solar system. DANCE OF THE PLANETS is offered in two configurations - a standard edition which includes diurnal simulations and "scripts" with over 100 annotated simulations for a thoroughly interesting and enjoyable introduction to the astronomy and operation of the program. The standard edition is now only $89.95. The Q.E.D. edition offers even more application enhancements including the Observer's Companion, our powerful on-line calculation almanac. Stars 8.0+, with 52,000 stars to the 8th magnitude, and Stars 10+ with an additional 328,000 stars, are available as extensions for either edition. See the descriptions. Get On-Board the Shoemaker-Levy 9 Train! Thousands of DANCE OF THE PLANETS users had a great deal of fun simulating the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet fragments, which impacted Jupiter in July of 1994. You can still enjoy this historical event with DANCE OF THE PLANETS, and a great many other less rare but very interesting new and historical simulations - and be ready for the next Big One. DANCE OF THE PLANETS has the simulation power which no other planetarium program matches. There has never been a better time to start enjoying you personal space odyssey - and DANCE OF THE PLANETS has never been a better value. Feature Overview: o High astronomical accuracy and true gravitational simulation w/interactions among all bodies. o Simulation viewpoints from space and anywhere on earth. o Detailed rotating planets with all known satellites in orbit. o Detailed moon with changing phases, solar and lunar eclipse simulations. o View the full celestial sphere or diurnal skies with horizons and atmospheric refraction from any location on earth. o Over 7,500 asteroids and comets. View the asteroid "belt" from either earth or space. o The most realistic starry skies on a computer screen. 9,200 stars to magnitude 6.5, plus optional star extensions. o Over 1,300 deep sky objects including the Messier objects, galaxies, star clusters, nebulae, pulsars, quasars, radio and x-ray sources. o Find/locate all objects on the screen or click on objects for more detailed information. o Enter orbital parameters for new comets, asteroids, or hypothetical objects into the simulator. o Optional object paths, grids, and constellation lines and boundaries aid sky orientation. o Simulate from true time to accelerated time where years pass in seconds. o Simulate forward or backward in time from 4,680 BC to AD 10,000. o Includes scripts with over one hundred interesting simulations. You can also save and resume your own simulations. o Context-sensitive menus, on-screen operation guide- lines, and on-line help and references. o High quality star charts are printed to the full resolution of any printer, up to 300 dpi. o Positional accuracy (one second of arc, typical): planets <2, asteroids/comets <10, stars <1.2. o Includes interactive tutorial and guided tour of the sky and solar system. The manual (on disk) is appreciated by users for the astronomy and many simulation examples and suggestions. Additional Q.E.D. Edition Extensions. DANCE OF THE PLANETS, Q.E.D. (Qnery, Explore, and Demonstrate) provides additional simulation information, capability, and control beyond the standard edition for serious observers, researchers, and educators. o The Observer's Commpanion, a calculating almanac, finds events and circumstances including eclipses, solar, lunar, and planetary conjunctions, occultations, risings, settings, transit times, and meteor showers. Includes a Julian Day calculator. Print and/or save search and path reports. Move easily between reports and simulations. A powerful astronomical companion unique to DANCE OF THE PLANETS. o Close spacecraft or comet-planet encounters and collisions are provided with additional detail and information. An event recorder allows logging encounter events, useful for long, unattended exploratory simulations. o Both vectors and orbital elements of sun-orbiting objects (e.g., asteroids, comets, spacecraft) can be viewed and saved. User-defined satellites may be input as vectors, and sun-orbiters as either vectors or orbital elements. o Stars can be shown as symbols indicating luminosity and temperature, providing a revealing new way to view the heavens. o Simulations saved as resume files can be chained, a considerable convenience for demonstrations that can operate much as DANCE OF THE PLANETS's script files. Optional Star Extensions for Standard or Q.E.D. Editions: o Stars 8.0, 2nd ed., adds stars to 8th magnitude for rich "binocular" views with over 52,000 stars. A wealth of catalog information appears in click-on Infoboxes, including common names, constellation, SAO, and variable designations which can also be used to locate stars. More stars for occultations, for guide stars or just dim the lights and enjoy. PPM accuracy (see below). Highly recommended for all DANCE OF THE PLANETS users. o Stars 10+ goes beyond the lOth magnitude for a total of some 380,000 stars. Stars 10+ is based upon the new PPM (Position and Proper Motion) catalog which is larger and far more accurate than the SAO catalog. Includes cross index for identification and lookup by PPM, SAO, Henry Draper (HD), and the Durchmusterung catalogs. The most accurate deep sky guide stars available. New DANCE OF THE PLANETS Features: o Diurnal Simulations. The daily motion of the sky with horizons, risings and settings, atmospheric refraction, star tracks, transient illumination effects, and 24 hour patterns. o Object Infoboxes. Point and click on any star, planet, satellite, asteroid, or comet to get detailed information. Full catalog information on stars, basic description and circumstances for orbital bodies. o High Quality Star Charts. All printers, all ports, conveniently supported and selected. Printout to the full resolution of the printer. Attractive, highly legible printouts include legend, full magnitude range, object type symbols, orbital tracks, time-tic marks, object and user-writtcn labels. o In addition to opened-ended exploration of time and space, DANCE OF THE PLANETS will also operate from Simulation Scripts. Scripts are very effective as tutorials and for exploring topics in depth with the benefit of experienced guidance. Scripts with over 100 interesting and helpful simulations included. WHAT REVIEWERS SAY: "No other PC program gives you a better sense of the utterly graceful chaos of our solar system than DANCE OF THE PLANETS of the Planets... More important, though, is how it helps you make sense of the night sky." - Gregg Kelser, COMPUTE "It's an order of magnitude better than any other solar system simulator on the market. It's a must have." -John Mosley, SKY & TELESCOPE USER COMMENTS: "Not only is it useful as an observing session-planner, but it's sheer entertainment on some of the historical reconstructions. I recently ran the discovery of Pallas by accident in 1802 scenario. It was enjoyable imagining how Olbers felt, when looking for Ceres and chancing to discover Pallas." - Richard T. Coolick, Bonita Springs, FL "I have to tell you that I've learned more useful astronomy from your product in a few months than I did in all my time in the classroom. Thank you for enriching my life." -Leslie Kinton, Guelph, Ontario QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: o What is orbital simulation, and why would I want it? All astronomy programs calculate where objects (planets, moon, etc.) are at a given time. Orbital (or gravitational) simulation additionally models time and gravity to create a computer solar system that is in continuous motion. Although harder to develop, there are many advantages to this sort of program. Smooth animations, which are both entertaining and wonderfully informative in understanding the sky, are a natural. Even more important, there are a great many things that simply can't be shown or otherwise known by any other method. The collision of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter in July of 1994 is a strong case in point. Orbital simulation was how researchers came to know in 1993 that the comet would collide, and it is how they predicted the time and circumstances of the collisions. Orbital simulation with DANCE OF THE PLANETS will give you the ability to recreate hundreds of interesting past events as well as to discover (perhaps before anyone else) interesting events and circumstances in the future. Orbital simulation is not just for researchers; it provides a new dimension to astronomy software. o I'm new to astronomy and have a lot to learn. Is this a good program for me? There is no other software from which you can leam as much solar system astronomy, including the why and where of the sky as most of us are able to observe it. You will find both the "scripts" (included annotated simulations) as well as the manual very helpful learning resources. If your interest is driven by a desire to learn, understand, and explore, as well as to be entertained and know where to find what is in the sky tonight, this program is for you. o The skies wbere I Iive are lousy. Will this program let me see what I am missing? No software can match the real thing - enjoy the glorious sky as opportunity permits. When it doesn't, DANCE OF THE PLANETS is the most realistic star sky on a computer screen. Dim the lights and it is easy to get lost in space. Furthermore, the animations like eclipses and seasonal movement of the planets provide a graceful God's-eye vantage point enjoyed by all. o I am a deep sky observer. Is DANCE OF THE PLANETS good for faint fuzzies? It is not the best software for extended deep sky objects such as galaxies and nebulae, although it does include those of most common interest such as the Messier objects. But if you like fuzzies, have you considered widening your realm to include comets? (see below) o I have been a serious comet observer for 20 years. Would this really be a useful tool? You bet - and no other planetarium program comes close. Good for asteroids too. Orbital simulation is a must for these objects. And you can enter orbital parameters of the newest discovery hot off the "wire" and know where to look every night. Print finder star charts with the object's path and advancing position. o My 12 year-old is nuts about astronomy. Would this be appropriate for him/her? If your child is driven by true and sustained curiosity, they will probably love it. Some of our most enthusiastic users are such kids, enjoying DANCE OF THE PLANETS on their own or as students. Many of these people will probably enjoy astronomy all of their lives. o I hate software that trivializes a serious subject. Am I going to like this program? Probably a lot. DANCE OF THE PLANETS is used and enjoyed by scientists as well as amateurs and enthusiasts of all ages. One of our biggest installation sites is NASA/JPL. The program was used by a number of researchers to visualize the Shoemaker-Levy 9 episode, which in turn used JPL data for the simulations. o Is this good software for a classroom ? It is definitely the preferred PC astronomy software at the college level, and it is used very effectively at the junior and senior high level where there are students and/or teachers with some knowledge and enthusiasm for astronomy. DANCE OF THE PLANETS doesn't "dumb-down" the subject material, but it can be a powerful learning tool for the naive student with the teacher or more knowledgeable peers to help get them into the subject. Price: $199.95 Standard Edition Price: $249.95 Standard Edition w/Stars 8.0 Price: $299.95 Q.E.D. Edition Price: $349.95 Q.E.D. Edition w/Stars 8.0 Price: $79.95 Stars 8+ Add-on Price: $129.95 Stars 10+ Add-on