Occult 4.0.9 is a continuation of incremental improvements to the Occult software. The most significant improvement introduced in v4.0.9.0 is to the method of updating both the program, and a range of data files. Other major changes introduced through the life of version 4.0.8 include:

• A tool for comparing star catalogues so that the accuracy of asteroidal occultation predictions can be better assessed;
• The incorporation of shape models into asteroidal occultation reductions;
• Retrieval of AAVSO light curves for stars, light curve data for asteroids, and star diameter measurements
• Implementation of lunar profiles derived from the Kaguya satellite altimeter measurements - effectively consigning the Watts charts to history.
• A major overhaul of double star issues. This included download capabilities for the Washington Double Star catalog, the 4th Interferometric Catalog, and the Index catalogue of variable stars maintained by the AAVSO. The double star files for lunar occultations were completely revised - with a 100% increase in the number of pairs.
• A large number of changes resulting from an invitation to users to suggest improvements.

A full list of the program changes is provided in Occult under the new menu item Program updates - List version changes

IMPORTANT! - This is the last update of Occult that will require a manual download from this site. All future updates to the Occult program, and to the data files, will be indicated at the bottom left of the main form when they become available. For details on how the new update process works, read the Help topic under the new menu item Program updates - Help with Updates

1. Download the files shown below by right clicking on the filename and doing a "save as"
2. Order the CD (all files), and have it mailed to you.

To order the CD, send $5 with your name and address to: W.Robinson, 515 W. Kump, Bonner Springs KS, 66012, USA. You can send check, money order, or cash. NOTE: Anyone outside the continental USA should send money order or some similar draft in the amount of $10. My bank will not handle Canadian or overseas personal checks due to the routing number. If you use PayPal, you can transfer funds to my account. Account name: webmaster@lunar-occultations.com

The CD you receive will contain all the necessary first time installation files in order to produce a full working program. All updates after the initial installation MUST be downloaded from the internet through the software.

The following notes are intended to provide guidance for the installation issues, and an overview of the functionality and new features.

Occult v4 has been written in the language C#, and runs in the Net framework.

Before you can run the new version, you must have the Net Framework V2 installed on your computer. You can download this from the Microsoft Download center here. Or do a Google Search for Net Framework V2 ’to get the download site from Microsoft. If you are running Vista or Windows7, Net V2 is already on your computer. If you have been running OccultWatcher, you have the Net framework installed.

The files you need to download are (use right click on your mouse and do a "save as"):

• Setup.exe - 336k - [26 Jul 2010 release] Not needed for Windows XP, Vista, or Windows7
• occult4 installer.msi - v4.0.9 - 2.34mb - [26 Mul 2010 release]

These files install a functional version of Occult 4 (limited only by the absence of certain data files, some of which are large). Either run occult4 installer.msi, or put these two files in the same directory and run Setup. The default installation path is \Occult 4. Vista and Windows7 Users should avoid installing the program in the Program Files directory - to avoid issues with the User Account Control security system in Windows.

When you first run the program, you will be taken to a page that displays a range of default settings. You can change the settings here at any time after Occult has been installed. However at this stage you should do the following:

• insert your site details in the box Site details low precision;
• insert your email address for the FTP anonymous password in the box FTP URL;
• insert the details of you email SMTP server. This is required to allow observations to me emailed from within Occult
• indicate whether GoogleEarth is installed on your computer, in the GoogleEarth box;

You will then be taken to the download page, where you can download the latest versions of a number of data files - including some large catalog files. The files that need to be downloaded will be tagged with a chevron

Finally you will be taken to the main form of Occult, where you can use its functionality.

To assist you in learning how to use the program, the Help file system includes a number of first time user topics. You are urged to work through these examples - to become familiar with how the program works, and the functions that are available.

Download 4.0.9 update [27 July 2010 release]

Unzip this file into the directory where you have previously installed Occult (usually Program Files\Occult 4), replacing the files of the same name. The files are:

• AutoAsteroidPrediction.exe
• Occult.chm
• Occult.exe
• Occult.exe.config
• OccultUpdater.exe
• OccultUtilities.dll
• OccultUtilities.dll.config

RUN THE PROGRAM

At the bottom left of the main form there will be an indicator that data updates are available. Click that indicator, and you will be taken to the download form where the files requiring downloading will be tagged. Download the tagged files.

IMPORTANT! - This is the last update of Occult that will require a manual download from this site. All future updates to the Occult program, and to the data files, will be indicated at the bottom left of the main form when they become available. For details on how the new update process works, read the Help topic under the new menu item Program updates - Help with Updates

Occult relies heavily on data that is freely available. Items such as various star catalogues and the planetary ephemerides have been developed by government funded agencies or grants. Occultation and graze observations have been contributed mainly by the efforts of amateur astronomers (or as I prefer to call them, unpaid astronomers) from around the world. This contribution needs to be recognized and acknowledged.

The philosophy behind my writing and maintaining Occult is to encourage useful observations of occultation phenomena, thereby increasing our knowledge of the world around us. Accordingly:

• Users of Occult are free to disseminate predictions or results generated by Occult in a non-commercial manner, provided it is in a context of encouraging (directly or indirectly) observations of occultation phenomena. All I ask is that wherever possible there is an acknowledgement that the data was generated by Occult.
• In circumstances where there is a desire to include Occult predictions or results in a commercial publication, you may do so provided (i) it is in a context of encouraging (directly or indirectly) observations of occultation phenomena, and (ii) it is a minor part of that publication (eg a one or two page column in a 50-page monthly magazine). The fact that the predictions or results were generated by Occult4 should be acknowledged.
• Where the success of a commercial publication is likely to be dependent upon the output from OCCULT, you do not have automatic permission to include Occult outputs in that publication. You will need to contact the author and seek written permission.
• Where the output of Occult is displayed on GoogleEarth, GoogleSky or GoogleMaps, you will also need to comply with any copyright issues associated with those products.

For the record, I reserve all rights to the Source code and any decompilation thereof - but with IOTA being able to continue to maintain/improve the program on the same basis as above, when I am no longer in a position to do so.