Version 5.0 - 4th October 2023
The following information is intended for existing users who are already familiar with AstroGrav and want to quickly find out about the main changes.
Version 5.0 of AstroGrav is an upgrade containing a large number of improvements, bug fixes, and performance improvements. If you already have a copy of AstroGrav, all you need to do is to download Version 5.0 and use it in place of your old version. If you have any problems with this new version, please don't hesitate to contact us so that we can help you out.
Version 5.0 of AstroGrav has the following new and improved features.
Evolution Improvements
Version 5.0 of AstroGrav includes a new evolution algorithm, which is much more accurate than any of its predecessors, and which contains several bug fixes and performance improvements. Errors have been greatly reduced when evolving solar system simulations.
Ephemeris Generation
Version 5.0 of AstroGrav includes the following improvements to the generation of ephemerides.
- Ephemeris windows have been enhanced to have multiple tabs, with the first tab showing the current ephemeris data for every object, and the other tabs showing ephemerides for individual objects.
- Ephemerides can now be generated for locations on the Sun, Moon, and planets, as well as for locations on the Earth.
- The ephemeris generation command has been moved from Tools / Generate Ephemeris... to Window / New Ephemeris.
Location Improvements
Version 5.0 of AstroGrav includes the following improvements to the handling of surface locations.
- The locations editor has been extended to allow locations on the Sun, Moon, and planets, instead of just on the Earth.
- The locations of all successful landings on the Moon, Mars, and Venus have been added.
- The View / ViewFrom... command has been enhanced to allow viewing from locations on the Sun, Moon, and planets, instead of just from locations on the Earth.
- The term altitude has been replaced with the term elevation, to avoid confusion with angular altitude.
Sample Simulations
Version 5.0 of AstroGrav includes the following improvements to the sample simulations.
- The sample simulations have been completely revised and reorganized.
- Many new sample simulations have been added, so that there are now a total of 89 of them.
- The Solar System / +Basic sample simulations have been updated from 01/07/2022 to 01/01/2024.
- Several new Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) have been added to the basic solar system sample simulations.
Other Improvements
Version 5.0 of AstroGrav also has many other minor improvements and bug fixes, including the following.
- The Mean Motion has been added to the choice of orbital elements when adding or editing objects, in order to support the use of two-line elements (TLEs).
- Date units now show the time zone where appropriate, instead of just displaying local time.
- Nutation has been added to the Earth's precession.
- Several user operations have been speeded up, particularly the opening of simulations.
- Color randomization has been greatly improved in the Edit / Split Object... command, so that it is now much easier to distinguish the individual objects that result from a split.
- A bug has been fixed that made it impossible to edit an object, except in a solar system simulation.
- A bug has been fixed that caused AstroGrav to crash in some circumstances while drawing tracks.
- A bug has been fixed that caused inaccurate data to be displayed in a background star's window when planetary aberration was switched on.
- Magnitude calculations have been made more accurate.