roving observer; data entry function?

Glen Deen Aug 20, 2013

Apparently in 2004 I knew how to handle a roving observer. Now when I
search find_orb.htm the browser can't find "roving". I remember

reading it somewhere. Can anybody say where it is?



I know you use observatory code 247. I know that the next record
duplicates columns 1-32, and I recognize the observer's longitude in
columns 35-42, his latitude in columns 43-53, and his altitude in
meters in columns 57-61, but I also see a "1" in column 33. Can

someone please tell me what that code means? I can guess it means we

are using latitude and altitude instead of rho cos phi and rho sin

phi. Is that right?



Also, does find_orb know about our 3-year-old observatory code for our

observatory in Cany, Oklahoma?

H19 263.86259 0.828144 +0.558685 <http://www.lonestarobservatory.org/> Lone
Star Observatory, Caney



I guess I'll find out when I try it. But that will be a while. I'll be

using other observations in the foreseeable future.



Also I'm thinking there must be a better way to input 80 columns of

data other than typing into Notepad from a Fortran coding form.



I am thinking about writing an Excel user defined function to take

alpha strings, integers and double precision numbers from an argument

list and concatenating the text conversions into one 80-column record.

If you omit an argument cell reference, it will duplicate the last

value that you used for that argument. So for the second record of a

roving observation, you could just enter a string of commas to

indicate the omitted arguments which would be duplicated.



Has anybody written anything like that? If not, would anybody have a

use for it? If I get such a function working I will gladly share the

source code with anybody who wants it. I would also appreciate

suggestions for design features.



-Glen



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