Table of Contents
Preface xiii
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Accuracy 4
1.2 Other Notes 6
1.3 Layout of the Book 8
1.4 Program Notes 9
2 Unit Conversions 11
2.1 Some Preliminaries 11
2.2 Measuring Large Distances 14
2.3 Decimal Format Conversions 15
2.4 Program Notes 19
2.5 Exercises 19
3 Time Conversions 21
3.1 Defining a Day 22
3.2 Defining a Month 25
3.3 Defining a Year 26
3.4 Defining Time of Day 27
3.5 Calendar Systems 38
3.6 Julian Day Numbers 40
3.7 Some Calculations with Dates 44
3.8 LCT to UT 46
3.9 UT to LCT 46
3.10 UT to GST 47
3.11 GST to UT 48
3.12 GST to LST 49
3.13 LST to GST 50
3.14 Program Notes 50
3.15 Exercises 51
4 Orbits and Coordinate Systems 53
4.1 Trigonometric Functions 54
4.2 Locating Objects on a Sphere 56
4.3 The Celestial Sphere 62
4.4 Ellipses 65
4.5 Orbital Elements 68
4.6 Equatorial Coordinate System 84
4.7 Horizon Coordinate System 88
4.8 Ecliptic Coordinate System 91
4.9 Galactic Coordinate System 96
4.10 Precession and Other Corrections 101
4.11 Program Notes 105
4.12 Exercises 106
5 Stars in the Nighttime Sky 109
5.1 Locating a Star 111
5.2 Star Rising and Setting Times 115
5.3 Creating Star Charts 119
5.4 Program Notes 123
5.5 Exercises 124
6 The Sun 125
6.1 Some Notes about the Sun 125
6.2 Locating the Sun 131
6.3 Sunrise and Sunset 138
6.4 Equinoxes and Solstices 140
6.5 Solar Distance and Angular Diameter 144
6.6 Equation of Time 147
6.7 Program Notes 149
6.8 Exercises 149
7 The Moon 151
7.1 Some Notes about the Moon 151
7.2 Lunar Exploration 158
7.3 Locating the Moon 161
7.4 Moonrise and Moonset 169
7.5 Lunar Distance and Angular Diameter 172
7.6 Phases of the Moon 173
7.7 Eclipses 181
7.8 Program Notes 184
7.9 Exercises 185
8 Our Solar System 187
8.1 The Search for Planets 189
8.2 The Inner Planets 193
8.3 The Outer Planets 203
8.4 The Dwarf Planets 219
8.5 Belts, Discs, and Clouds 225
8.6 Locating the Planets 231
8.7 Planet Rise and Set Times 244
8.8 Planetary Distance and Angular Diameter 245
8.9 Perihelion and Aphelion 247
8.10 Planet Phases 250
8.11 Planetary Magnitude 251
8.12 Miscellaneous Calculations 253
8.13 Program Notes 263
8.14 Exercises 263
9 Satellites 265
9.1 Vectors 269
9.2 Ellipses Revisited 271
9.3 Geocentric and Topocentric Coordinates 276
9.4 Satellite Orbital Elements 284
9.5 Categorizing Satellite Orbits 302
9.6 Locating a Satellite 307
9.7 Satellite Rise and Set Times 311
9.8 Satellite Distance 313
9.9 Other Flight Dynamics 315
9.10 Program Notes 326
9.11 Exercises 327
10 Astronomical Aids 331
10.1 Recommended Authors 332
10.2 Star Charts 333
10.3 Star Catalogs 336
10.4 Ephemerides and Almanacs 340
10.5 Astronomical Calendars 344
10.6 Online Resources 345
10.7 High-Accuracy Resources 348
Glossary 351
Index 365