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Ephemerides is a computer program, which computes times of minima of eclipsing binary stars. The data of variable stars are read from several catalogue files. It is intended to be used off-line, it means, that it doesn't require any internet connection. Current version works only in MS Windows 98 SE or better. It is intended for visual, CCD and PE observers.
The graphical user interface is very simple and intuitive. It can be run in two operation modes: computation ephemerides for one specific night or computation ephemerides for particular variable star and season. It is possible to print the table of minima on connected printer or save it to ASCII file.
You can also create and use a catalogue of your own variables.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License, Version 2, as published by the Free Software Foundation.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
PC running MS Windows 98 SE, ME, 2000 or XP operating system. There are no special requirements on hardware. Program takes about 1.5 MB on your hard disk and a few megabytes of RAM.
Click on the following link and save the file to your disk. The packages also contains the electronic help in english and czech language.
ephemerides-1.8-win32.exe (744kB)
Current installation package contains following catalogue files:
BRKA 2005 - Brno project on eclipsing binary observing, see http://var.astro.cz/brno/, valid to 28. Feb 2005
Prosper - project, which is concerned on new or neglected eclipsing binary stars, see http://prosper.ssph-brno.org/, valid to 10. Aug 2006
You can also download updated catalogue files. Download the package, unpack it to the installation directory.
Ondrejov.zip - high priority stars from ondřejov observational program, see http://nyx.asu.cas.cz/~lenka/dbvar/ - updated 13. Jun 2005
Altan.dat - Lubo Brát's list of variable stars, see The Altan observatory
Prosper.zip - project, which is concerned on new or neglected eclipsing binary stars, see http://prosper.ssph-brno.org/
There are also tables of predefined locations. Download the package, unpack it to the installation directory.
Locations-cz.zip - list of populated places in the Czech Republic, based on the GEONet database - updated 22. Aug 2008
Locations-sk.zip - list of populated places in the Slovakia, based on the GEONet database - updated 22. Aug 2008
Download the binary installation package (see above). Save it to your disk and start. The installation package contains simple wizard, which will guide you through the rest of the installation. It doesn't require rebooting the computer.
The electronic help is included in the installation. You can open it from the 'Start' menu or in the application main window by clicking on the button with the question mark on the toolbar. When everything has failed, please contact the author.
Run 'uninstall' program in the installation directory or open the Control panel and use the 'Install or remove program' tool.
Yes, there is a package with source codes. It's been written in Borland Delphi 7.
ephemerides-1.8-src.zip (325kB)
Send bug reports, comments, suggestions to the mailbox:
Pokorný Z.: Astronomické algoritmy pro kalkulátory
Zejda, M. a kol.: Pozorování proměnných hvězd I., Brno 1994
Zejda M. a kol.: Katalog BRKA 2005, http://var.astro.cz/brno/brka.html
NASA Learning Technologies, World Wind 1.2e, http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/ - the image of the Earth
SOHO (ESA & NASA), http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/ - the image of the Sun
Yale Bright Star Catalog - star catalogue on sky chart tool
Nullsoft Scriptable Installation System, the instalation compiler, by Nullsoft, http://nsis.sf.net