Linux Astronomy Program ?

Is it possible to start any of the linux planetarium programs so that when
it starts it is pointing at a specific object? Lets say m57, if I can
give it its coodinates.

Terry A Haimann wrote:

Is it possible to start any of the linux planetarium programs so that when
it starts it is pointing at a specific object? Lets say m57, if I can
give it its coodinates.

Just looked at Kstars which restarts at whatever you were looking at last at
shutdown including M57. If your object is below the horizon you'll
probably get a message to alternatively select the Kstars default view.

Terry A Haimann wrote in
news
Is it possible to start any of the linux planetarium programs so that when
it starts it is pointing at a specific object? Lets say m57, if I can
give it its coodinates.

Check out the Linux version of Cartes Du Ciel version 3. It is still in beta
but pretty good none the less.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/skychart/

Kalzmon

On Wed, 01 Nov 2006 17:09:39 +0000, Terry A Haimann wrote:

Is it possible to start any of the linux planetarium programs so that when
it starts it is pointing at a specific object? Lets say m57, if I can
give it its coodinates.

Let me be more specific. I want to programmatically start the program
from a database app and have it pointing at the object that the database
was referencing.

Terry A Haimann wrote in
news
On Wed, 01 Nov 2006 17:09:39 +0000, Terry A Haimann wrote:

Is it possible to start any of the linux planetarium programs so that
when it starts it is pointing at a specific object? Lets say m57, if I
can give it its coodinates.

Let me be more specific. I want to programmatically start the program
from a database app and have it pointing at the object that the database
was referencing.



Download the source code for the Cartes to Ciel Beta and modify it to
suit. It has a saved config which it restores when you start it to return
to the previous display. It shouldn't be hard to add some code to obtain
the starting RA/DEC and date/time (and even lat/long if you want) from an
external database. If uncertain then ask a question on the Skycharts forum
linked of the sourceforge link I gave you.


Klazmon

Terry A Haimann wrote:
On Wed, 01 Nov 2006 17:09:39 +0000, Terry A Haimann wrote:

Is it possible to start any of the linux planetarium programs so that when
it starts it is pointing at a specific object? Lets say m57, if I can
give it its coodinates.

Let me be more specific. I want to programmatically start the program
from a database app and have it pointing at the object that the database
was referencing.



Kstars has a built in scripting language. You can launch the app with

kstars --script my-script

Maybe you can use this feature for what your trying to do.





--
Never trust anyone over 10*[int(my_age/10)+1]