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Vic Fraenckel wrote:
> Loath as SOME users of this list are to introducing computers into celestial
> navigation, I would like to find someone that has used the "JPL Planetary
> and Lunar Ephemerides" data to actually produce a computer almanac. I would
> like to do so but am not sure how to proceed. I am NOT interested in getting
> the data via the many excellent Web based systems as accessing the web is
> NOT practical while at sea.
>
> Any enlightenment will be appreciated.

In the mid 90-ies I used the JPL tables together with Novas-C (from
http://aa.usno.navy.mil ) but an older version than the current one. With a
little help of a small program from a polish astronomer (can't remember the
name) I had good success in making the same data as the Nautical Almanac. The
project came to a halt when I needed to focus on studies, and I also had some
troubles making a good looking printout of the data (I wanted it to look like
the pages in the NA). The whole idea was to make printouts available on the web
in the form of pdf-files or something for about a month at a time. Thus letting
cruisers who wanted to use the tables download them and print them out at any
internet caf? in the world for the months they needed. I even thought of making
the tables available through fax. I haven't even looked at it for a few years. I
used C as programming language and the operating system is GNU/Linux. It is
probably not critical as all the output was text. I have also recreated tha data
in condensed Ageton tables and even tried my hand at H.O. 249 Selected Stars
with some success. I keep wondering about the copyright of the design of the NA
and such publications - none is mentioned in the paper volumes I have.

I hope this has enlightened you, or at least helped you see the light at the end
of the tunnel. I can find the code I used if you need more help.

/johan
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