ReadMe.txt for PleiadAtlas v2.2 (2004-08-25) Installation The zip file for PleiadAtlas contains the following files: * ReadMe.txt, containing these installation instructions. * PleiadAtlas.prc, the PleiadAtlas program. * HIPDB.pdb, the main star database, drawing 26,880 stars down to magnitude 7.5 from the Hipparcos catalogue. * TYCDB.pdb, the field star database, drawing an additional 554,201 stars between magnitudes 7.5 and 10.5 from the Tycho catalogue. * EXTDB.pdb, the extended field star database, drawing another 876,583 stars between magnitudes 10.5 and 11.5 from the Tycho catalogue. * LINES.pdb, the constellation lines database. * MNGC.pdb, the deep sky database, containing the Messier catalogue and most of the NGC and IC, as well as a handful of other objects. * MathLib.prc, the math library for PalmOS. This library is covered by a separate license, and is provided here solely for your convenience. As of this writing (January 2004), the web site for MathLib is http://www.radiks.net/~rhuebner/mathlib.html PleiadAtlas will run with any or all of the databases installed, although some combinations won't make sense. For example, the field star database does *not* contain within it the main star database, so the display will not match your field of view if you install TYCDB.pdb but not HIPDB.pdb. Nor would it make sense to install HIPDB.pdb and EXTDB.pdb, but not TYCHO.pdb. PleiadAtlas, like most other astronomy programs, relies on lots of floating point calculations. It uses MathLib.prc, a mathematics library, which is covered by the GNU Public License. If you have not previously installed MathLib for another program, you will need to install it, too. PleiadAtlas requires a version of MathLib at least as recent as the one provided in the zip file (v1.1). To install PleiadAtlas, use your Desktop application to queue PleiadAtlas.prc and MathLib.prc (if needed), along with the databases you want, for synchronization onto your PDA. If you plan on running PleiadAtlas from a memory card, all the files (with the exception of MathLib.prc) should be installed onto the card. This includes the registration file. (See below.) IMPORTANT If you have an earlier version of PleiadAtlas or PalmAtlas (the original name of PleiadAtlas), you should erase that program, including any associated databases, from your system. In most cases, PleiadAtlas v2.1 will run fine even if you don't remove the old version, but because the database names have changed, the new databases won't overwrite the old ones, and those old databases will take up additional space that the new program won't be using. Erasing the program from your system will also cause any registration file you may have to be erased as well. (For more information about registration, see below.) Before you erase the program, therefore, it makes sense for you to make sure you have a copy of that registration file. If you cannot find that file, please take down the name and serial number as it appears in PleiadAtlas or PalmAtlas, *before you uninstall it*, and send that information to me by e-mail, and I'll forward you a replacement copy. (To get the name and serial number, tap the Menu silk-screen button, then tap Help, then tap About.) If you never installed it, just send me your name, and I'll see what can be done. First Light There are a few things that you'll probably want to adjust before using PleiadAtlas in earnest, but to test things out, try tapping the following sequence of buttons. First, if you haven't registered PleiadAtlas (see below), tap OK to dismiss the registration reminder. Then, in any event, tap DSO, M, 4, 5, Find, GOTO, I, I, M. You should get a map of the Pleiades at medium high power. Registration PleiadAtlas is nagware. Each time you start the program, it will pop up a request to register. To register, send a check for US $10 to Brian Tung USC Information Sciences Institute 4676 Admiralty Way Suite 1001 Marina del Rey CA 90292 U.S.A. Be sure to include your e-mail address along with your check. When I receive your payment, I'll send you an e-mail. This e-mail will have an attachment called PASerial.pdb. This is a serial number registration file, which you can install onto your PDA just like any other database file. This will eliminate the reminder screen. Also, when you access the About item in the menu, PleiadAtlas will indicate that you've registered. And once you register PleiadAtlas, it is registered for all future updates as well. For more information, see the PleiadAtlas web page at http://astro.isi.edu/PleiadAtlas/ Brian Tung