Occult v4.0.8


Occultation Prediction Software
by David Herald

Must Read Release and Installation notes for version 4.0.8.6 written by David Herald


  1. What's New in Occult v4.0.8.6
  2. How to Obtain Occult v4.0.8.6
  3. First Time Installation Instructions and Notes
  4. Updating Occult 4.0.x to Occult 4.0.8.6
  5. Becoming Familiar with the Program
  6. Copyright Issues

WHAT'S NEW IN OCCULT v4.0.8.6

Compared to version 4.0.6.x, Occult 4.0.8.6 involves some major changes in data access and retrieval, and supporting program changes.

Version 4.08 involved implementation of lunar profiles derived from the Kaguya satellite altimeter measurements.V.4.0.8.6 implements the Kaguya data at the limit of resolution of the satellite data. v.4.0.8.0 implemented the Kaguya data at a resolution equivalent to the Watts charts. [The Kaguya data effectively consigns the Watts charts to history.]

Version 4.0.7 involved a major overhaul with respect to 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. If these are downloaded users can have direct access to these catalogues for any event of interest. In addition the double star files for lunar occultations have been completely revised - with a 100% increase in the number of pairs. The major functional changes are:

  1. for asteroid occultation predictions, an alert if the star is a double star, and the ability to view the detailed double star details
  2. for lunar occultations, alert messages encouraging observations of close double stars. A report form for reporting double star observations. And functionality to determine double star parameters from several occultation observations.

Additionally functionality is provided to support the preparation of papers for publication in relevant double star Journals.

HOW TO OBTAIN OCCULT v4.0.8.6

  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

FIRST TIME INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND NOTES

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, 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"):

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:

You will then be taken to the download page, where you can download the latest versions of a number of data files, and some large catalog files. The three large files that you should seriously consider downloading are: