Gourt > Science > Astronomy > Software (7)
Computer software (or simply software) is the programs and procedures that enable a computer to perform a specific task, as opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware). This includes application software such as a word processor, which enables a user to perform a task, and system software such as an operating system, which enables other software to run properly, by interfacing with hardware and with other software.
The term "software" was first used in this sense by John W. Tukey in 1957. In computer science and software engineering, computer software is all information processed by computer systems, programs and data. The concept of reading different sequences of instructions into the memory of a device to control computations was invented by Charles Babbage as part of his difference engine. The theory that is the basis for most modern software was first proposed by Alan Turing in his 1935 essay Computable numbers with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem. Hally, Mike (2005:79). Electronic brains/Stories from the dawn of the computer age. British Broadcasting Corporation and Granta Books, London. ISBN 1-86-207663-4.
Relationship to hardware
Computer software is so called in contrast to computer hardware, which encompasses the physical interconnections and devices required to store and execute (or run) the software. In computers, software is loaded into RAM and executed in the central processing unit. At the lowest level, software consists of a machine language specific to an individual processor. A machine language consists of groups of binary values signifying processor instructions (object code), which change the state of the computer from its preceding state. Software is an ordered sequence of instructions for changing the state of the computer hardware in a particular sequence. It is generally written in high-level programming languages that are easier and more efficient for humans to use (closer to natural language) than machine language. High-level languages are compiled or interpreted into machine language object code. Software may also be written in an assembly language, essentially, a mnemonic representation of a machine language using a natural language alphabet. Assembly language must be assembled into object code via an assembler. More on [ Computer software ]
Astronomy :: Scientific
Astronomy :: Mac OS
Software :: Optics
Software :: Physics
Software :: Science
Millionaire Follows Dad's Footsteps — Into Space
Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:41:00 -0400
Richard Garriott, a famous video game developer, is paying millions of dollars for a ride on a Russian rocket to the International Space Station. He has wanted to go to space since he was a kid. His father and all of his neighbors were NASA astronauts. It's the first time the child of an American astronaut will blast off into space.
Young Galaxy's Magnetic Field Is Surprisingly Strong
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:53:00 -0400
Current models indicate that the magnetic fields that enclose galaxies grow slowly over billions of years. But scientists have used a telescope to peer back millions of years in time and discovered a distant galaxy with a magnetic field at least 10 times the average strength.
SpaceX Celebrates First Successful Rocket Launch
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:53:00 -0400
SpaceX's flagship Falcon1 rocket has successfully launched from an island in the central Pacific, becoming the first privately-developed rocket to orbit the planet. NASA has already contracted SpaceX to begin private space flight missions to the International Space Station beginning in 2010.
Computer Malfunction Delays Hubble Mission
Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:31:00 -0400
NASA has postponed a planned repair mission to the Hubble Space Telescope after a new problem developed with the orbiting observatory. Ed Weiler, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA, explains why repairs won't take place until Feb. 2009 — at the earliest.
For Young Chinese, Spacewalk An Indicator Of Might
Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:05:00 -0400
China on Saturday will become only the third nation — after Russia and the United States — to carry out a spacewalk. The event will be broadcast live nationwide. This milestone underscores China's technological achievements and is boosting national pride.
Solar Winds, Crucial To Life On Earth, Decreasing
Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:45:00 -0400
Solar winds — invisible gas plasma emitted by the Sun — protect the solar system from cosmic rays that are hostile to terrestrial life. But new data from the Ulysses NASA probe indicate solar wind output is lower than has ever been previously documented.
AstroMB - Advanced software for astrometry, photometry, robotic observations. Huge database of images and catalogs. Works with MaximDL and ASCOM. Free downloads.
Meta Description: [ The powerful program to handle astronomical images, sky maps, catalogs and for robotic observations ]
Astronomy Common Object Model (ASCOM) - Promoting the use of open scriptable tools for amateur and educational astronomy.
Meta Description: [ Common object models for scripted and programmable astronomy automation ]
Astronomy Formulas - Lunar and solar periodicity formulas, definitions, time formulas, notation, astronomical constants with computer code for a programmable HP 48 by James Q. Jacobs.
Meta Description: [ Lunar and solar periodicity formulas,definitions, time formulas, notation. Page one of two. ]
Astronomy Software Resources - Discover links and resources for astronomy software for amateur and professional astronomers and for people interested in astronomy, stargazing and space.
Meta Description: [ From Skymaps to Spaceships, Telescopes to Robots, find information on all the equipment and tools needed for astronomy and space exploration. Learn about the hardware and software and Tools and equipment used by astronomers and astronauts. Tools and equipment for the space age. ]
AstroTips - Astronomy Software and Amateur Observation Resources - News, reviews, articles, forums and downloads of astronomy related programs for various platforms.
Meta Description: [ Astronomy Freeware, Shareware and Commercial. News, Downloads, Reviews, Photos, Classifieds, Forums. ]
Cartes du Ciel / Sky Charts - Freeware allowing one to draw charts according to the data of 15 catalogs of stars and nebulae, as well as the position of planets, asteroids, and comets. Available in English and is translated in 8 other languages.
Meta Description: [ This program enables you to draw sky charts according to the data of 15 catalogs of stars and nebulae, as well as plot the positions of planets, asteroids and comets. ]
Deepsky 2000 - [commercial - Windows] Observation planning software for astronomers. Includes telescope control, logging, and charting.
Meta Description: [ Deepsky Astronomy Software. Star charts, observing log, planning, database, telescope control, imaging, spreadsheet and incredible DVD space images. Control your meade telescope with Deepsky! ]
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Engineering, Science and Math Applications on Linux - A large indexed collection of pointers to Linux applications.
EVCODE - A stellar evolution simulator designed for astronomy education.
GeoClock - [shareware MS-W] Sunlight clock with world times and sun and moon positions and coverage.
Meta Description: [ NEW GeoClock Home Page with download and ordering ]
Hubble Space Telescope -- Wallpaper - [commercial - Win95/98/NT] Thirty full-screen Hubble photos for use as wallpaper and screen saver.
Kairos General Calendar Conversion Program - [commercial, demo available -- Win95/98/NT] Includes calendars required by historians of astronomy and general historians. Many details are provided for Indian and Jewish calendars and much besides. There is also a display of positions of the Sun, Moon and planets, effectively replacing Tuckerman's tables. A horoscope display, and details of lunar visibility, are calculated from modern parameters.
Ksetiwatch - Ksetiwatch monitors multiple SETI@home clients and automatically logs and manages completed work units.
Meta Description: [ Ksetiwatch is a status monitoring tool for the SETI@home project. It is developed for the K Desktop Environment running under Linux. ]
Linux for Astronomy cdrom - [commercial - Linux] The new release of Linux for Astronomy includes over 3Gb of Astronomical software precompiled for the Linux (x86) operating system. Applications include a wealth of general purpose image and signal processing tools, as well as the state-of-the-art algorithms in use at observatories and universities worldwide. Facilities for processing the data products of the major space-based instruments (Hubble Space Telescope, EUV, Einstein, ROSAT, and IUE) are also included.
LinuxAstro - Astronomical software on Linux.
Lunar Calendars and Eclipse Finder - Windows software for converting dates in various lunar and other calendars and for finding lunar phases and eclipses of various kinds.
Meta Description: [ A Windows program to calculate the phase of the Moon at any given date and time, to search for eclipses (lunar, solar, total, annual and umbral) and to convert between dates in the Gregorian and Julian calendars and dates in various lunar calendars. ]
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Nightfall - [open source - Linux/Unix] Interactive program for computing synthetic lightcurves and generating animated views and best-fit models of eclipsing binary stars.
Meta Description: [ Interactive, user-friendly
binary star
program for
lightcurve synthesis, animated views, data fitting and more.
Can handle eccentric orbits, surface spots and
asynchroneous rotation. ]
Orrery - Review of the solar system simulator (by Spacetech) for RISC OS workstations.
Meta Description: [ A review of Photodesk's Orrery, solar system simulation software. By Andrew Harmsworth. ]
RISC OS astronomy software links - [commercial freeware - RISC OS] Direct links to astronomy software available for RISC OS.
Meta Description: [ Resources for classroom and home, from ORRERY: the Solar System in action. ]
Sky and Telescope -- Astronomical Software - Links to the BASIC programs that appeared in Sky Telescope, to shareware/freeware astronomy related software and to vendors of astronomy software.
Meta Description: [ Sky & Telescope, the Essential Magazine of Astronomy. News, observing tips, how-to advice, and more! ]
The Salopian Web - Software links for astronomers professional, education and amateur. Planetaria, sky charts, and databases for PC, MAC and UNIX/LINUX platforms.
Meta Description: [ Software links for astronomers professional, education and amateur. PC, MAC and UNIX / LINUX platforms. ]
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