Constellations DS

	Constellations DS
	File:Constellationsds.png
General
Author(s)	Nameless
Type	Education
Version	0.8
Licence	Mixed
Links
	[Media:ConstellationsDS0.8.rar Download]
	Website
	Source

Features

Constellations DS is about a intéractif planetarium including/understanding all stars of the sky (until magnitude 5), as well as the objects of Messier (with their images). It is possible for you to post the lines of the constellations as well as a grid, and to personalize posting. It also includes a system of star search per constellation.

It offers the ability to:

View the sky and move around / zoom,

Select one star to get his name, address and its magnitude,

Display the image of a Messier object, and find a constellation or a specific star.

Objectives

To enable learning and pattern recognition and the names of constellations
Provide a source of scoring simple, fast and portable for comments amateurs.

User Guide

Main Mode

The display information is located on the top screen of the DS, and screen representing the sky on the lower screen.

This mode allows you to move, zoom and select a star or a Messier object.

Information Display

The information screen provides information about viewing the sky and the star / Messier object selected.

In each frame, from top to bottom:

Name of the constellation / Number of Messier object
Name of Star / Object Name Messier
Position (right ascension in hours: minutes, declination in degrees: minutes)
Apparent magnitude in the visible
Image of Messier object selected

In the bar at the bottom of the screen from left to right:

Zoom Level
Right ascension of the center of the screen in hours: minutes
Declination of the center of the screen in degrees: minutes
Size of field of view in degrees x depth (width x height)

Important note about the positions:

The positions are purely illustrative and should not be used as source for telescopes pointing accuracy. They are nevertheless sufficient for most amateur and instruments for observing with the naked eye.

Because of the limited technical capabilities of the Nintendo DS for calculations trigonometric precision of the position is the order of one minute of arc.

Important note about the magnitudes:

The magnitude of the objects are given for information. Their accuracy is about hundredth of magnitude.

The magnitude of 5.00 is shown a magnitude limit intrinsic to the application; So if a star is displayed with a magnitude of 5.00, one must understand magnitude ≥ 5. This does not apply to the Messier objects.

All-Star Constellations DS should be visible to the naked eye, a beautiful night without excessive light pollution.

Screen sky

Sky on the screen are displayed the stars and Messier objects, and the constellation lines and a grid if enabled in options. Each star is represented by a filled circle whose size depends on the magnitude of the star (the star is more brilliant, more the circle is large). Messier objects are represented by circles No formalism for existing lines of the constellations, they are given for information to better recognize and memorize the constellations by their form. The grid step is 1 hour in right ascension and declination of 15 degrees.

Control

Constellations DS uses the stylus and pad, and is configured for both handers than left-handed. Follows a list of possible actions in the main mode.

Commandes

Displacement:

Moving on the screen sky is full pen, by acceleration, ie relatively initially received at the location. It is therefore unnecessary to take up the pen until the move is complete. The speed depends on the zoom level and the deviation from the affected area initially.

Selection:

Just touch a star or a Messier object to select it. The star or object, then signaled by red vertical markers, then focuses on the screen celestial vault, and its data are displayed on the top screen. Note: sometimes the selection can be difficult ... In this case, a slight effecutez moving and try to select again the star or object.

Zoom: You can zoom in with high / X in and out with low / B. If the mode "rapid movement" is not enabled, a long press allows (un) zoom in continuous. The zoom can take values ranging from 256 to 3584, the latter corresponding to a maximum zoom, in increments of 256. The present value of the zoom is displayed at the bottom left of the screen information. Note: depending on the values of the zoom, and for the sake of clarity, not all stars are not displayed. To zoom of 256/512, only stars brighter than 3rd/4th magnitude are displayed. For all other values, all the stars appear on the screen sky.

A review: Constellations DS offers the ability to quickly move from one constellation to another, or Messier object to another, with left / right and Y / A. The order for the constellations is alphabetic, numeric Messier objects. The choice between constellations and Messier objects depends on the final selection, but can be switched with the select button.

Mode Menu

In Menu mode, the screens are reversed in order to use the stylus for different selections. The Movement and review are therefore more possible, but the zoom remains operational. This mode allows you to change options, look for constellations and stars, and enlighten you in the dark night, dark, dark, dark.

Access to this mode is via the sears (R / L). You can return to the principal at any time by pressing again on one of the triggers.

Changelog

28/07/07, Version 0.8

Added 47 constellations Cetus, Eridanus, Orion, Unicorn, Little Dog, Hydra, Sextant, Cup, Raven, Hare, Canis Major, Puppis, compass, tire machine, Burin, Dove, Furnace, Sculptor, Southern Fish, Microscope, crane, Phoenix, Sails, Altar, Rule, Wolf, Centaur, Compass, Southern Triangle, Telescope, Southern Crown, Peacock, Southern Cross, Indian, Toucan, Hydra Male, Clock, Reticle, bream, Table, Painter, Hull, Fish wheel, Chameleon, Fly, Bird of Paradise, Octant.
Added full documentation in French
Supervision of the name of the star selected in the search and display its magnitude on the upper screen.
Fixed some graphical bugs (constellations that were displayed more) and code cleaning.