Running the program: an example
Starting
The easiest way to learn how proas works is to follow this example (the distribution includes the file sample.dat used in this example).
$ proas
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
Proas: planning of astronomical observations
Version 18-December-1997, Nicolás Cardiel
Departamento de Astrofisica, U.C.M.
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
Observer location
===============================================================================
ENTER OBSERVATORY
(0) Observatory data through keyboard (Longitude,Latitude,Height)
(1) CALAR ALTO
(2) EL TEIDE
(3) MADRID
(4) LA PALMA
(5) SAN PEDRO
(6) LICK
(7) LA SILLA
(8) UKIRT
(9) McDonald
Observatory number [4] ? 4
If your observatory is not included in this list, you must select option (0), and enter the new observatory name, latitude (format DD.MMSS), longitude (format DD.MMSS), and height (metres).
Observatory name (max. 15 characters)? Mount Everest
Latitude (+DD.MMSS)? 27.5917
Longitude (+DD.MMSS, +E, -W)? 86.5531
Height (metres)? 8848
Coordinates of the objects to be observed
===============================================================================
COORDINATES OF THE TARGET LIST:
(1) enter object data through keyboard
(2) enter object data from file
The coordinates of the objects to be observed can be entered into the program either through the keyboard or from an external file.
option (1,...,2) [2] ? 1
Object name (<end> to exit, max. 30 characters) [end] ? M 3
Right ascension (HH.MMSS)? 12.2000
Declination (+GG.MMSS)? +28.2300
Object name (<end> to exit, max. 30 characters) [end] ? end
Do you want to create an output file with current object list (y/n) [n] ? n
Total number of objects: 1
option (1,...,2) [2] ? 2
Object data file name? sample.dat
Coma 12.2200 25.0000
M 3 13.4212 28.2300
M 5 15.1836 2.0500
NGC 6171 (M107) 16.3230 -13.0300
M 13 16.4142 36.2800
M 10 16.5706 -4.0600
M 92 17.1706 43.0800
M 71 19.5348 18.4700
NGC 7789 23.5700 56.4400
Total number of objects: 9
This fi le could have been generated in an earlier proas session (by entering the data through the keyboard and saving them into an output file), or by using any text editor. In this last case, remember that the format of the file must be the following: a single line per object (maximum 80 characters), containing a text string (maximum 30 characters), right ascension (format HH.MMSS) and declination (+DD.MMSS). These three items must be separated by commas (obviously, the text string cannot contain any comma). Valid examples are:
NGC 1123, 12.3417, -30.4509
ABELL 2325 , 7.0323 ,12.4812
M 101,9.0132,60.0159
Blank spaces can be left around the commas.
Equinox
===============================================================================
Equinox (for all the objects) [1950.0] ? 1950.000
This equinox will be employed for all the objects (the program does not currently allow to use different values for each object).
Observing date
===============================================================================
ENTER OBSERVING DATE:
YEAR ? 1997
MONTH (number)? 6
DAY ? 13
In order to avoid confusions, when an observing night expands over two different days, the computed sunset corresponds to the entered date.
Graphic output
===============================================================================
(1) plot composite chart
(2) plot only altitude vs UT from option (1)
(3) plot altitude vs UT (draft)
(4) change observing date
(0) STOP
Option (0,...,4) [3] ? 4
Three different graphic options are currently available. An extra option (number 4), allows the user to change the observing date without exiting from the program (but with the same target list).
===============================================================================
(1) plot composite chart
(2) plot only altitude vs UT from option (1)
(3) plot altitude vs UT (draft)
(4) change observing date
(0) STOP
Option (0,...,4) [3] ? 1
No. of objects/plot (1,...,10) [10] ? 10
===============================================================================
GRAPHIC OUTPUT:
(1) /xserve (terminal)
(2) /ps (PostScript)
(3) show list with available graphic output devices
Option (1,...,3) [1] ? 1
It is important to note that if you select the ps (PostScript) option, the graphic output is sent to a file called pgplot.ps. Every time you choose this option, a new pgplot.ps fi le is created (and the previous one overwritten). So, if you need to create different PostScript files in a single proas session, choose option (3) in the last menu to indicate an output PostScript fi le with a different name, e.g.
===============================================================================
GRAPHIC OUTPUT:
(1) /xserve (terminal)
(2) /ps (PostScript)
(3) show list with available graphic output devices
Option (1,...,3) [3] ? 3
Graphics device/type (? to see list, default /XSERVE): myfile.ps/ps
===============================================================================
(1) plot composite chart
(2) plot only altitude vs UT from option (1)
(3) plot altitude vs UT (draft)
(4) change observing date
(0) STOP
Option (0,...,4) [3] ? 2
No. of objects/plot ? 10
===============================================================================
GRAPHIC OUTPUT:
(1) /xserve (terminal)
(2) /ps (PostScript)
(3) show list with available graphic output devices
Option (1,...,3) [1] ? 1
===============================================================================
(1) plot composite chart
(2) plot only altitude vs UT from option (1)
(3) plot altitude vs UT (draft)
(4) change observing date
(0) STOP
Option (0,...,4) [3] ? 3
No. of objects/plot (1,...,40) [40] ? 10
===============================================================================
GRAPHIC OUTPUT:
(1) /xserve (terminal)
(2) /ps (PostScript)
(3) show list with available graphic output devices
Option (1,...,3) [1] ? 1
Exiting from proas
===============================================================================
(1) plot composite chart
(2) plot only altitude vs UT from option (1)
(3) plot altitude vs UT (draft)
(4) change observing date
(0) STOP
Option (0,...,4) [3] ? 0