SOLUN Version 4

© Copyright 1993, 1998, David Rushall

Introduction

Solun is your "Pocket Planetarium": a convenient tool for the amateur astronomer, providing both almanac and planetarium functions.

Features include:

Solun runs on the Psion Series 3 range of machines, including the Solun 3a, Series 3c, Sienna and the Acorn Pocketbook II. A minimum of 256K is recommended, although it may be possible to run a partial installation on unexpanded 128K machines. A full installation takes around 130K disk space, although this demo version and partial installations may take less. Visit the Solun home-page, at http://www.piecafe.demon.co.uk/, for latest news and screen shots.

One line package description:

"S3a/Sienna advanced planetarium and almanac."

Registered users of Solun version 3 should read the note towards the end of the document for details of how to get their free upgrade.

Note:This demo does not support Series 3 "Classic" machines, but contact me at the address below if you are interested.

Shareware

This version of Solun is Shareware.

This distribution is an unregistered demo version with some features disabled. A notice is displayed when these features are accessed, but the rest of the demo behaves in the same way as the full application. See below for a list of the disabled features.

If you like this software and wish to make regular use of it after a period of 14 days, you are asked to register for the full version. Please see below for registration details.

New Features

The following lists some of the new features to be found in the most recent versions of Solun.
Version 4
New "Quick observation" views; New "Report" mode, including eclipse prediction; Point-and-click pan and zoom; Greater accuracy for Sun and Moon calculations; Multi-size labels; Full support for Psion Sienna.
Version 3.5
Configurable grey-level on star chart displays; Left and right flushed as well as centered labels; User interface improvements.
Version 3
High-resolution graphics for the Series 3a; Basic lunar month and rise and set reports; Point-and-click chart object information; Primitive animation.

Conditions of Use

  1. Solun is Shareware and copyright; it is not public domain. The rights to this package remain the property of the author.
  2. The registered version of this software may be used on the registered user's machine, only. Further distribution is forbidden.
  3. Distribution of the unregistered trial (demo) version of this software is permitted provided the distribution contains all, and only, the unaltered files of the original *.zip archive. Distributors may apply a nominal handling charge, if they wish, provided Solun's shareware status and additional registration fee are clearly indicated before the transaction takes place.
  4. Use of Solun is entirely at the user's own risk. The user must accept responsibility for any direct or indirect loss or damage arising from the use (or misuse) of the package. Solun is supplied "as-is".
  5. Warning: Both the plotted positions of "fixed" objects and the calculation of the objects of the solar system are not intended to be highly accurate. Whilst these may be sufficient for most amateur astronomical purposes, Solun should not be used for navigation.
  6. Some of the files provided along with the Solun application are derived from the Yale Bright Star Catalogue and as such are not covered by this declaration of copyright and conditions. These files are identified by their *.str and *.sol suffixes, and are provided for your convenience.

Using This Demo

The following sections outline how to install and use this demonstration version of Solun 4. Please follow these instructions carefully, then see below for details of how to get more information.

Note: If you are a registered user of Solun version 3, I recommend that you contact me for you free upgrade to Solun 4 (see below for details), rather than install this demo. If you wish to try the demo anyway, then please make sure you have made a backup of the full version of Solun 3 before you proceed.

Installation and removal

To install this demo version of Solun 4, simply use the following steps:
  1. From the System screen, make sure the directories M:\APP\ and M:\OPD\ exist on your Psion, and create them if necessary.
  2. Next, create the Solun resource directory, M:\APP\SOLUN\.
  3. Using you normal link software, copy the application file, Solun40u.opa, to the M:\APP\ directory on your Psion.
  4. Next, use copy the remaining files in the distribution (with the exception of this Read-me file) to the M:\APP\SOLUN\ directory you just created.
  5. Finally, add the Solun4 icon to the System screen by using the "Installing" the Solun40u.opa application file.
Please consult you Psion manuals for more details of these operations.

After you have finished with this demonstration software you can remove the application as follows:

  1. Uninstall the Solun4 icon from the System screen.
  2. Delete the M:\APP\SOLUN\ directory, including its contents.
  3. Delete the M:\APP\Solun40u.opa application file.
  4. Delete the following files from the M:\OPD\ directory, if present: Solun.ini, Solun.dat.

A Quick Tour

Once you have installed the Solun 4 demonstration application, you are ready to take a quick tour...
Starting Solun
To start the tour, just highlight the "Solun4" application icon on the System screen and press the Enter key. After a few seconds you will be presented with the welcome screen, including a small display representing the current moon phase.
Display a star chart
After Solun has finished initialising and the welcome screen has been displayed, press the Space key to display a star chart.
The first time you display a star chart, Solun calculates a trigonometry table, which can take a minute or two. When the table is complete, you are given the option to save the table to disk for next time (as M:\OPD\Solun.dat). Press Y and Solun will continue to draw the chart.
When the chart is complete, you will see a representation of the current sky as seen from your home city, facing South. By default, Solun displays the planets and the outlines of the constellation shapes against a coordinate grid on the sky.
Changing the star chart display
From the menu, press Psion-D to display the Chart Details dialog. Enter '500' into the number of stars field and set all other fields to 'Black'. Now, press Menu to choose which lines to plot. Set all the lines to 'Grey' and press Enter twice (once to return to the Chart Details dialog, and a second time to return to the main menu mode).
From the menu, again, press Psion-C to display the Fast Planetarium menu, and then select West from this menu by pressing Psion-W.
Solun will begin to redraw the chart with your new settings.
The day/night world map
To display the day/night map, press the 1 (number one) key, or select the "World map" option from the "View" sub menu. An outline map of the world will be displayed, with a curved line representing the areas where the moon is rising or setting, and a shaded area representing the areas in darkness.
The quick visibility display
To quickly see which planets are currently above the horizon from your home city, press the 5 (number five) key. A grid is displayed representing your horizon along the bottom, and showing the symbols for the planets.
To view the meanings of the planet symbols in an inset window, press the L key.
The moon information panel
To display a panel of information about the moon, press Psion-M from the main menu. The displayed panel includes the rise and set times for the moon, as seen from your location today, and the current moon phase.
A report display
From the main menu, press Psion-R to enter the Report mode. Pressing the Menu key here displays the Report menu. Press Psion-M to display the Moon Phase report.
Solun will calculate the date and times for the quarter moon phases for the next few weeks. In addition, an indication is displayed of the likelihood of an eclipse at each new and full moon.
When the report is complete, press Esc to return to the main menu.
That was, of course, a very quick tour and Solun has many more features, as you'll find if you explore the application menus and read the online help. Registered users will receive a full user manual.

For more information, including screen shots and hopefully a full online manual in the near future, please visit my home-page, at the address below.

Disabled Features

As mentioned above, this is a demo version of Solun 4 which has a number of disabled features. The following features are reserved for the use of registered users:
Choose the observer location
Choose any city from the World database (this demo offers your "Home" city only).
Set the time
Enter a time and date in the future or in the past (this demo offers the current time only).
Point-and-click mode
Once a star chart has been drawn, move a cursor to zoom in on an area of the display for when you redraw the chart, or get more information about the objects shown.
Multi-page reports
Continue reports after the first screen is complete (this demo offers the first page, from the current date, only).
Chart object labels
Plot you own text labels on star charts to name constellations or individual objects, or even mark the paths of comets, etc. Samples are included.
Insert objects
Insert additional objects onto a previously plotted chart without redrawing.
Tracer plots
Plot the moving positions of the solar system objects over a period of time.
Saved settings
Save the current settings, into one of two slots, for the next time you use Solun.
The menu options for these features have been replaced with a simple message in this demo version. To access the additional features, see below for details of registration.

Registration

As stated above, Solun 4 is shareware and is copyright. You may use and distribute this application according to the conditions detailed above but you ask asked to register you copy if you make regular use of it after a period of 14 days.

Registered users will receive:

Registration is still only £15 (UK Pounds) or an equivalent amount in another currency, such as Euros or US Dollars. Please note, though, that if you send cash through the post you do so at your own risk.

If you wish to register, please contact me using the addresses in the following section and please quote your email address if you have one.

Your registered version will normally be sent by post on an MSDOS formatted HD floppy disk. However, I can send it by uuencoded email attachment, if you prefer. Of course, sending a printed manual by email is a little difficult, so email deliveries will include a "soft copy" version, only.

Free upgrade for Solun 3 users!

If you are a registered user of Solun 3, then send me an email (for email delivery) or stamped addressed envelope and floppy disk (for postal delivery) to claim your free upgrade to Solun 4.

Getting In Touch

If you wish to register or have any comments or suggestions about this application then I can be contacted at the following locations:
Email:
dave@piecafe.demon.co.uk
Post:
David Rushall,
Marker's End, Mounts Lane,
Newnham, Northants. NN11 3ES
United Kingdom
World Wide Web:
http://www.piecafe.demon.co.uk/
For the latest information about Solun, please visit my home-page on the World Wide Web, or send me an email. I hope to have an online version of the full user manual for Solun 4 available on my home-page soon.

I hope to hear from you, and in the meantime I hope you enjoy using Solun as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

David Rushall, April 1998