Virtual Moon Atlas
(V. M. A.)
Now downloaded by more than 300 000 astronomers worldwide
and used in several books, magazines, observatories and Web sites
and recommanded by the European Space Agency (ESA).
Sponsors Astrosurf
Free software for Moon observation or survey
For Windows 95/98/NT//ME/2000/XP/Vista
November
6 2006
DISCOVER NEW "PRO" VERSION 3.5
WITH
A NEW INCLUDED DATABASE MANAGER "DATLUN"(c)
AN IMPROVED INTERFACE WITH NEW BUTTONS
1 000 NEW PICTURES "APOLLO MAPPING" AND "BEST OF AMATEURS"
AND
THE VMA "PRO" VERSION 3.5 CD-ROM
More powerful : the database manager allows you to localize on the map, the formations that you selected in it. In the exemple above, you choosed and vsualised the "domes" present in the databases.
Ju
More beautiful : pictures from "Apollo Mapping" and
"Best of Amateurs" libraries will amaze you.
Left : Theophilus by Apollo 16. Right : Plato by Wes Higgins.
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From left to right :
Near side with libration
Eyepiece view simulation of Cleomedes
Farside altitude showing South Pole - Atkin basin
Orbiting above Copernicus
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February 10, 2007 You are using Windows Vista? Please look at the page Installation on Windows Vista
November 6, 2006 Version 3.5 We are happy to present you the new "Pro" version 3.5, last evolution of the Virtual Moon Atlas : Warning! this new version is ressource intensive and require a powerful computer to use all the function. (a 2GHz processor, 512MB RAM , a graphic card with 64MB RAM and OpenGL support) SOFTWARE NEW FEATURES: The database manager "DATLUN"
: DATABASE
UPDATE : NEW PICTURES LIBRARIES
: The new "Best of Amateurs"
pictures library : Adding these two new libraries permit to VMA users to look at more than 6 000 lunar formations pictures. HELP NEW FEATURES
: NEW DISTRIBUTION MODE :
On this basis, Patrick Chevalley has conceived a CD-Rom with an install device for the complete VMA "Pro" version 3.5 (VMA, DATLUN, databases, textures, overlays, LOPAM, Apollo, Probes, "Apollo Mapping" and LAC/LM pictures libraries). Calculate between your needed download time and a backup CD price to see if the CD-Rom purchase is valuable for you or not. The CD-Rom visuals have been improved compared to the precedent one. This CD-Rom is available with an E-Mail request and payment by PAYPAL. Its price is 20 € taking account of realization costs and air mail charges. Go to the "How to order the CD-Rom" page for more details. How to support our action ? : We had generous offers from some VMA users that asked us how they could help us for the software improvement. This one is sure a free action of ourselves and we don't ask any financial help for this product which is only the reflect of our astronomical passions : Moon survey for Christian Legrand and astronomical programming for Patrick Chevalley.. We were a little embarassed by these proposals, but we estimated that we can't refuse voluntary donations and finally decided to accept them. If you want to help us, go to the page "How to support our action ?" for more details. So that the benefits of your support come back to you, these funds will be affected, as far as we can do it, to the purchase of astronomical equipment or books usable for the improvement of VMA or for other astronomical new products or actions. We thank you very much in advance for the voluntary help that you would decide to bring us. Christian Legrand et Patrick Chevalley |
This software, realized by Patrick Chevalley and Christian Legrand can
visualize the Moon aspect for every date and hour and pilot
computerized telescopes on the Moon surface. It permits also to study
lunar formations with unique database and pictures library compiled by
Christian Legrand.
It's conceived to be easily usable "in the field" according to an observing session needs, but also to study "at home" the Moon and its relief. It's interfaced with "Sky charts" Patrick Chevalley's freeware. This set is certainly now one of the most complete released
Rather than a long description, we invite you to read the complete manual or the quick user's guide or to look at the screens copies to see what are the possibilities.
The authors are decided to upgrade periodically the software, database and pictures library in the following monthes and years. If you think that a function would be useful for all Moon observers, don't hesitate to indicate it us. It could be possible to include it.
It's possible to choose the language used by the software and database. presently English and French version are available with the basic package. You can download more translation here .
The authors wish that others passioned amateur astronomers will propose their own translation in their language to make this software available to world wide Moon observers.
Why is it free ?
This software is the result of a collaboration between Christian Legrand, a passioned lunar observer, co-author of the guide "Discover the Moon" published in English by Cambridge University Press and also published in French, German and Spanish, and Patrick Chevalley, author of the worlwide known freeware "Cartes du Ciel / Sky Charts".
The authors make him free for amateur astronomers, lunar observers and students who wish to practice selenography. They hope to promote Moon observation and knowledge because our satellite will become one of the next human spatial exploration step.
Using conditions
The "Virtual Moon Atlas" is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License. This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.
Database information and picture are copyrighted and cannot be used outside of the software without the author's permission.
Programing
Source code is available from CVS at http://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualmoon
This program is entirely written in DELPHI 6.
Calculations of the ephemerides of the Moon are based on " Lunar Solution ELP 2000-82B Chapront-Touze, Bureau des Longitudes 1988". The program elp82b.f was rewritten in Pascal and include in a DLL.
Many calculations are based on the essential "Astronomical Algorithms by Jean Meeus".
OpenGL display use GLScene .
Visitor from June 2002