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Old 11-09-2008, 07:59 AM
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bojan
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Mt Waverley, VIC
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Jean Meeus books are the standard reference for this kind of work...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Meeus

Another source for algorithms might be S&T software library, there you can find routines (written in BASIC) for various transformations, necessary to convert XYZ coordinates into celestial (altitude-azimuth).
I am not sure the Moon's orbit can be approximated with stable ellipse for, say, 1min accuracy over period of couple of years, though.. but it will be an interesting exercise :-)..

EDIT:
Mel Bartel's software is open source (C).. it contains the same routines, and it uses precompiled module (with Meeus algorithms) which deals with planet (and Moon) orbits.
Try here:
http://www.bbastrodesigns.com/BBAstr....html#DOWNLOAD

And, finally, of course.. Mike may tell you how he does it on this website :-)

Last edited by bojan; 11-09-2008 at 08:19 AM.
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