Sky6 Pro update

[PeterM]

Those using the Sky6 Pro may not be aware that a recent upgrade has just been made available (6.0.0.65) that allows you to load updates of the minorplanet database beyond 500,000 objects. Seems like the previous update would freeze when it got to 499,000.

http://www.bisque.com/sc/media/p/28096.aspx

The current minor planet database can be downloaded from the site below.

http://www.minorplanetcenter.org/iau/MPCORB.html


Also appears that the next major release of the Sky software - SkyX Professional is hoped to be officially released on April 17th at NEAF (USA).

PeterM.

[AlexN]

Thanks for the update Peter...

SkyX is released on my birthday ay??!... Seems like a good birthday present to me :)

[Bolts_Tweed]

Are you letting us know because Minor Planet 7527 Marples is available in the new upgrade?

Now dont be shy Pete

Seriously but - is it there?

M

[PeterM]

It's there
PeterM.

[Dennis]

Thanks for the details Peter and once again, congratulations on having one of these dynamic bodies named in honour of your search efforts.

In TheSky 6 Pro I find them by name but in SkyTools I use astorb.dat. So, does anyone know the difference(s) between these two, namely:

MPCORB.DAT at http://www.minorplanetcenter.org/iau/MPCORB.html

and…

astorb.dat at ftp://ftp.lowell.edu/pub/elgb/astorb.html

Thanks!

Dennis

[PeterM]

Hi Dennis,
Thanks for the congrats, surprised me a year ago.
Don't know if this helps found it on the Software Bisque link below, Sky6 allows use of both.

http://www.bisque.com/tom/minorplanets/occult.asp

"there is only a difference of 0.18 arc seconds comparing the IOTA updated elements to the elements found in the MPCORB.DAT file from the Minor Planet Center or 0.17 arc seconds comparing the Lowell Observatory ASTORB.DAT elements to the IOTA provided."


PeterM.