The Earth Centered Universe (tm)
                           for MS-Windows 3.x

                   Shareware Sky Visualization Program

                               Version 1.4
                           Released April 1993

                              David J. Lane
                           4-26 Randall Avenue
                           Halifax, Nova Scotia
                             Canada  B3M 1W2

                   Voice: (902) 443-5989 (evenings AST)
                              CIS: 71601,247
                    Internet: dlane@husky1.stmarys.ca


	ECU V1.4 is a shareware Sky Visualization Program for Microsoft 
 Windows 3.x called "The Earth Centered Universe".  It is capable of 
 simulating many of the features of the Earth's sky.  You only need to 
 enter your geographic location and the time and the local sky is
 simulated on the screen in a colourful display.  This includes, but 
 is not  limited to the stars, planets, Sun, Moon, and "deep sky" objects. 
 Constellation, coordinate grid, ecliptic, and local horizon lines are 
 also displayed.  ECU is designed as an observing tool for the observing 
 amateur astronomer, but is equally useful to the "armchair" astronomer 
 or other interested person interested in the night sky.

	Some of the features of ECU are listed below:

       - fast compared to many commercial packages - mostly integer math
         so math processor is not needed, but is supported to improve
         speed of solar system calculations, etc.
       - colourful display - colours of all screen elements controllable
	 by user with scroll bars
       - high quality star charts can be printed on any Windows compatible
	 printer or plotter
       - continuous display of LMT, UTC, latitude and longitude, RA/DEC, 
	 AZ/ALT, field size, and star mag limit
       - databases: Yale star catalogue to 6.5 magnitude
		    SAO star catalogue to 9.5 magnitude (optional)
                    SAC deep sky database (over 10,000 objects)
                    planets, Sun, Moon, and Comets
       - very easy to use - zoom box, center image, zoom in/out, etc. all
         done with the mouse.  Scroll bars for RA and DEC or Alt/Az.  Hot
	 keys and buttons for common functions
       - click on an object and an information box pops up.  All objects 
	 give RA, Dec, azimulh, altitude, rise and set times, and magnitude.
 	 Planets/Sun/Moon give distance (AU or km), angular size (" or '), 
	 and phase (or age).  Comets give distance to the Sun and the Earth 
	 in AU.  Yale stars give Yale number, HD number, SAO number, 
	 Flamsteed/Bayer designation, Spectral type, and proper motion.  SAO 
	 stars give SAO number, and spectral type.  Deep sky object provide 
	 a varying amount of info but usually provide the name (an other name), 
	 Dreyer description, size, classification, etc.  The coordinates
	 can be precessed to the current date/time.
       - the user can display a GIF picture of the object, if one exists.
	 None are provided with ECU.  Some may become available at a small
	 fee.
       - measure angular separation on the sky with the mouse
       - load and save all settings to named configuration files
       - undo last operation
       - time set as LMT, UTC, or system clock (daylight savings flag, too.)
       - time format as 24 hour or am/pm
       - observer's location entered by lat/long or pick list of preprogrammed
         cities (add your own, too)
       - control the effects of observer's parallax, nutation, precession, light travel
         time, aberration, and atmospheric refraction
       - show sky as white on black background or black on white background, 
         or in full colour 
       - also supported is a "red" mode to save your night vision if used in an
	 observatory
       - set magnitude limits of deep sky and stars (with scroll bars)
       - select type of deep sky objects displayed (with check boxes)
       - displays horizon line, ecliptic line, ra/dec grid (fine and coarse),
         zenith marker, constellation lines, IAU constellation boundary lines,
	 labels for bright stars, constellations, messiers, coordinate grid, etc.
       - center on - RA/DEC
		   - Azim/Alt
		   - bright stars
                   - constellations
                   - messiers
                   - points on horizon (north, south, etc.)
                   - solar system objects
                   - search the database and center on the object found
       - animation mode - time increments in steps from 1 minute to four years or a 
			  user selected arbitrary increment
                        - set direction either forward or reverse
                        - lock to Sun, Moon, Planet, alt/az or ra/dec
                        - trails of objects supported
       - and much, much more!

       - system requirements:  286/386/486 100% PC compatible
			       386DX recommended	
                               Math co-processor beneficial
                               MS-Windows 3.x (standard or enhanced mode)
                               EGA/VGA or better color screen
                               min 600kbytes free memory (1 meg recommended) from 
                                 within MS-Windows
                               80x87 (or 486DX) recommended but not required
                               Mouse
			       Windows compatible printer supported

       - Distributed Name: ECUSHARE.EXE (ECUSHA.EXE on Compuserve)
       - Shareware fee - $35.00US basic
                       - $20.00US for additional database of about
                         250,000 stars
		       - $15.00US for upgrades		
       - Customer Support is provided by free e-mail, telephone, or mail support