Naval Observatory Vector Astrometry Software (NOVAS) Version 3.0
Abstract
The Naval Observatory Vector Astrometry Software (NOVAS) is a source-code library in Fortran and C that provides common astrometric quantities and transformations. NOVAS calculations are accurate at the sub-milliarcsecond level. It can supply, in one or two subroutine or function calls, the instantaneous celestial position of any star or planet in a variety of coordinate systems. NOVAS also provides access to all of the "building blocks” that go into such computations: single-purpose subroutines for common astrometric algorithms, such as those for precession, nutation, aberration, parallax, etc. The NOVAS package is an easy-to-use facility that can be incorporated into data reduction programs, telescope control systems, and simulations. Production of the U.S. parts of The Astronomical Almanac uses NOVAS.
NOVAS Version 3.0 was recently released with extensive revisions to the code in response to recent IAU resolutions on astronomical reference systems, time scales, and Earth rotation models. (USNO Circular 179 describes these IAU resolutions in detail.) NOVAS now incorporates a coherent set of foundational standards for the treatment of astrometric data and the modeling of dynamics in the solar system. This version of NOVAS also improves the accuracy of its star and planet position calculations by including several small effects not previously implemented in the code. In addition, new convenience functions have been added.
NOVAS algorithms are based on a rigorous vector and matrix formulation that does not use spherical trigonometry at any point. It treats objects inside and outside the solar system similarly. NOVAS fully supports all ICRS-compatible data, e.g., the Hipparcos, Tycho-2, UCAC, 2MASS and VCS catalogs, the JPL planetary and lunar ephemerides, and IERS Earth orientation measurements.
NOVAS, including its User's Guide (USNO Circular 180), is available from the USNO website (http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/software-products/novas). In addition, USNO Circular 181 provides greater detail on the handling of nutation calculations in NOVAS.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #215
- Pub Date:
- January 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AAS...21547504K