Download LINUX Version 3.0 Alpha/Beta release! (NEW!)
For DOCS, get the astlinpatch13.zip file and copy to your asteroid directory.
Sorry, but I'll put the docs in the tgz file when I have time.

Allegro	Asteroid	File Name	Status	Description
	X	astlinpatch13.zip	1st November 2000 Alpha Build 13 update!	(190k) new executable and doc/manual files
	X	asteroid 3 0 9.tgz	1 August 2000 Alpha Build 9	(889k) Linux binary and catalogs
X		allegro 3 9 32.rpm	Allegro graphics Library 3.9.32	(560k) Allegro end user library in rpm format

NEW PATCH astlinpatch13tyc.zip Version 13 patch file. Adds support for Tycho2. Unzip *AFTER* the above files!
NEW SKIN update astlinskin14.zip Version 14 patch file (206k) to be installed last of all...

120,000 Tycho2 star catalog!
120,000 Hipparchos star update!
120,000 PPM star cat update!

Linux Users: Be sure to install the Allegro library version 3.9.32 first. Then copy asteroid-xxx.tgz to a convenient place such as ~/astro or /usr/local/astro and tar -zxvf . It will create a new directory called asteroid-3.0.9 with all files in it. Then unzip the patch files OVER the originals.

Run ./asteroid to start the program. You may have to use "asteroid 16" or "asteroid 24" to access hicolour or true colour modes.

Note: This is an Alpha/Beta release! Many functions are incomplete and some menu items are NOT fully working yet. I will update them as I get time. Please be patient. Feedback/wish lists requested..

Link to ALLEGRO WIP 3.9.32 and later: http://sunsite.auc.dk/allegro/wip.html

What does version 3.0 look like??

Sample screen shot and saved image showing the double star Alpha Centauri centred in the main field and also in the Telescope view (insert)

Stars to mag 9.0 from Tycho2, Hipparcos and PPM catalogues... colour coded according to spectrum. 3000 Asteroids from the Lowell observatory database. (red dots, count them...) plus Sun and Planets.

History (brief).

Alpha 01: 1st Apr 1999; Help is no help! PPM and HIP catalogs, rough menu only.
Alpha 02: 1st May 1999; Help now works, Telescope installed. Finder enabled.
Alpha 03: 9th May 1999; Find the moon, size the moon.
Alpha 04..08 June 1999; Cosmetic changes. Not posted until 08 build
Alpha 08p: 13th July 1999; patch file, 2000 asteroids, names in the telescope.
Alpha 09p: 3rd March 2000; 3000 asteroids, Stars look like stars in the telescope.
Alpha 09p: 1st August 2000; Preliminary test release for LINUX operating system.
Alpha 10: Constellation names/borders. User objects added. Access to 10,000 MPs in block mode.
Alpha 11: Ephemeris menu working. Place.txt to edit... Includes CCD list and telescope frame.
Alpha 12: Appulse/Conjunctions between Asteroids and between asteroids/stars. Neat, includes GOTO.
Alpha 13: Over 700 odd observatories, fixed embarassing ephemeris glitch. Where will the asteroids be tomorrow?
Alpha 13 patch: Add support for TYCHO2 star catalog.

With extra features, ASTEROID now requires serious horsepower to run. Try a Pentium for quick updates; a 486 is usable, but a little slow.

Contact yours truly:

For further information about my work or the items mentioned above, please email me!

Late Breaking News..

Um.. There isn't any!
Well, I've made a test release for Linux systems. Try it and send me an email with all the problems...

Who am I?
I am a Professional Electrical Engineer and sometime programmer with an interest in animation graphics, raytracing and astronomy. I do most of my programming in C and a little asm when necessary. I have also used Visual Basic and am currently trying out Linux.

Return to Top of Page

Return to Home Page