Astronomy WebApps and Tools

This page has applications and tools I've developed for use within a web-browser or for download. For browser apps you'll need a browser that supports VBScript and/or JavaScript to use these applications. If you don't have such a browser you can get Microsoft Internet Explorer by following the link at the bottom of the menu frame to the left. The list below describes the type of app/tool it is and what you need to download or run it.

Menu of what's available here (the section is getting big):

Astrophotography Exposure Calculator

This is an self-extracting .exe that contains an Exposure Calculation application for short-term astrophotography - lunar, solar, and the planets.   The algorithms are based on those given in Michael Covington's book, "Astrophotography for the Amateur: Revised Edition".    I'm posting this as Donation-ware, if you like it and find it useful please make a small donation to one of the DharmaWorks service providers by following this link.

Click below to download the self-extracting .exe, save it to your hard-drive when prompted.  

Soon to come, a WinCE version for the PalmPC.  

CCD Field of View/Resolution Worksheet

This is a Microsoft Excel 5.0/95/97 spreadsheet that lets you see what field of view and resolution you are going to get for various CCD cameras on your computer setup. You can select your aperture and up to 4 different f-Ratios for you setup and then the table will update showing you field in arc-minutes and resolution in arc-seconds for each camera type. The default setting is for my C5+, just change aperture for your scope. Popular focal-reducers are already set, I've got it set up for f10, f6.3 and f3.3 plus put f1.95 in for seeing what the new Celestron Fastar really can do. I'm trying to use this to help me figure out the best camera for my setup now and my dream setup of the future.

If you are using IE 3.X then you may end up with this embedded in your window, to actually download it right-click on the hot-link and use the "Save Target As..." item in the pop-up menu. I may try to turn this into a JavaScript app soon so it can be more easily run in the browser.

Astrophotography Log

 This is a Microsoft Word 5.0/95 document that contains the log sheet I use for astrophotography. If you are using IE 3.X then you may end up with this embedded in your window, to actually download it right-click on the hot-link and use the "Save Target As..." item in the pop-up menu.

Telescope Profile App

 This is an HTML form and JavaScript application that gathers the basic information on your telescope and eyepiece collection and generates a table that tells you the magnification and real field of view for each of your eyepieces. It's pretty basic stuff astronomically speaking but is a pretty good example of JavaScript programming.

JavaScript Astronomical Routine Library

 This is a growing library of astronomical functions in JavaScript that I'm putting together that can be used for Web-sites. There is a test form to let you play around with the routines and I'm hoping to start incorporating these routines into my main page soon. Right now the routines include: These are decent examples of JavaScript programming and deal with some of the things I've found to be quirky with JavaScript, like its implicit casting and how to work around it at times.

Links to Other Cool Astronomy Tools

Here are some other useful tools I've managed to find on the internet. If you have a cool application or tool you want listed email me and I'll get it on the list.