v1.2.0-rc2

[attipaci]

Added

• Redshifted motion handling #57: New novas_make_redshifted_object() to simplify the creation of distant catalog sources that are characterized with a redshift measure rather than a radial velocity value.

• Redshifted motion handling #57: New generic redshift-handling functions novas_v2z(), novas_z2v(),

• Redshift utilities #58: New functions to calculate and apply additional gravitational redshift corrections for light that originates near massive gravitating bodies (other than major planets, or Sun or Moon), or for observers located near massive gravitating bodies (other than the Sun and Earth). The added functions are grav_redshift(), redhift_vrad(), unredshift_vrad(), novas_z_add(), and novas_z_inv().

• Add support for CALCEPH #83: CALCEPH integration: novas_use_calceph() and/or novas_use_calceph_planets() to specify and use ephemeris data via CALCEPH for Solar-system sources in general, and for major planets specifically; and novas_calceph_use_ids() to specify whether object.number in NOVAS_EPHEM_OBJECT type objects is a NAIF ID (default) or else a CALCEPH ID number of the Solar-system body. These functions are provided by the libsolsys-calceph.so[.1] and/or .a plugin libraries, which are built contingent on the CALCEPH_SUPPORT variable being set to 1 prior to the build. The build of the plugin module requires an accessible installation of the CALCEPH development files (C headers and unversioned static or shared libraries depending on the needs of the build).

• Add support for NAIF CSPICE #86: NAIF CSPICE integration: novas_use_cspice(), novas_use_cspice_planets(), novas_use_cspice_ephem() to use the NAIF CSPICE library for all Solar-system sources, major planets only, or for other bodies only. NOVAS_EPHEM_OBJECTS should use NAIF IDs with CSPICE (or else -1 for name-based lookup). Also provides cspice_add_kernel() and cspice_remove_kernel() functions for convenience to manage the set of active kernels (Further CSPICE support, improved error handling #89). These functions are provided by the libsolsys-cspice.so[.1] and/or .a plugin libraries, which are built contingent on the CSPICE_SUPPORT variable being set to 1 prior to the build. The build of the plugin module requires an accessible installation of the CSPICE development files (C headers and unversioned static or shared libraries depending on the needs of the build).

• Add novas_planet_for_name() #87: Added novas_planet_for_name() function to return the NOVAS planet ID for a given (case insensitive) name.

• NOVAS-NAIF conversions for major planets (and Sun, Moon, SSB): novas_to_naif_planet() (planet centers), novas_to_dexxx_planet() (mixed planet center/barycenter for DExxx ephemeris files), and the inverse naif_to_novas_planet().

• Added get_planet_provider() and get_planet_provider_hp() functions for convenience to return the solarsystem() / solarsystem_hp() type custom planet ephemeris provider functions currently configured, so they may be used directly, outside of ephemeris() calls.

• Add make install target #93: Now supporting make install with prefix support (e.g. make prefix=/opt install to install under /opt). You can also set other standard directory variables, as prescribed in the GNU standard to further customize the install locations.

• Add orbital elements processing #95, Orbitals continued #98: Added support for using orbital elements. object.type can now be set to NOVAS_ORBITAL_OBJECT, whose orbit can be defined by the set of novas_orbital_elements, relative to a novas_orbital_system. You can initialize an object with a set of orbital elements using make_orbital_object(), and for planetary satellite orbits you might use novas_set_orbsys_pole(). For orbital objects, ephemeris() will call on the new novas_orbit_posvel() to calculate positions. While orbital elements do not always yield precise positions, they can for shorter periods, provided that the orbital elements are up-to-date. For example, the Minor Planer Center (MPC) publishes accurate orbital elements for all known asteroids and comets regularly. For newly discovered objects, this may be the only and/or most accurate information available anywhere.

• EMB and Pluto Barycenter #97: Added NOVAS_EMB (Earth-Moon Barycenter) and NOVAS_PLUTO_BARYCENTER to enum novas_planets to distinguish from the planet center in calculations.

• Orbitals continued #98: Added gcrs_to_tod() / tod_to_gcrs() and gcrs_to_mod() / mod_to_gcrs() vector conversion functions for convenience.

• SuperNOVAS headers now include each other as system-headers, not local headers. This is unlikely to affect anything really but it is more proper for an installation of the library, and works with our own Makefile too.

Changed

• Orbital elements based calculations #96: Changed object structure to include novas_orbital_elements for NOVAS_ORBITAL_OBJECT types.

• EMB and Pluto Barycenter #97: Updated NOVAS_PLANETS, NOVAS_PLANET_NAMES_INIT, and NOVAS_RMASS_INIT macros to include the added planet constants.

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This discussion was created from the release v1.2.0-rc2.