Zitat:NEW MODULES:
Improvement of the "ATLUN" module ©:
The ATLUN module has been improved on five points:
- Modernization of the interface : Addition of buttons and sliders with more current appearance change
- Possibility to use the VMA on two separate monitors
- Possibility to move and delete the system of informative tabs
- Ability to use dark themes in Windows 10
- Improved database management
- Increased display of names
- Introduction of different translations of the VMA interface or of certain databases in German, Catalan, Czech, Spanish, Greek, Dutch, Hungarian, Italian, Lithuanian and Slovak, in addition to French and English.

NEW GENERAL TEXTURES:
We had retrieved the best digitized versions of new public domain lunar maps produced from recent probes data and then adapted them to the VMA display engine.

1) The level 6 "LRO / Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter" photographic texture:
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, currently in lunar orbit, transmits images of the lunar surface reaching a resolution of 1 m. As full coverage at a given resolution progresses, Mark Robinson of Arizona State University and his LRO team publish new global maps of the Moon. The one we are introducing today in the VMA corresponds to the highest resolution available to date. It reaches a resolution of 59 m.

2) The reconstituted texture "LOLA-Kaguya-Shaded"
Mosaic of the original images of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (USA) and Kaguya (Japan) probes assembled from USGS data. This texture has a variable resolution reaching 60 m / pixel in the best places. It is a "texture with shaded relief". It is not a photograph because it was established by computer from the altimetric data collected by the two probes to create a DEM (Digital Elevation Model).

3) The "Clementine negative" texture:
It is a black and white albedo texture, but the gray levels are reversed as in a photo negative. This particularly highlights the ejecta from recent craters.
Thank you to the teams that produced these datas.

4) The texture "USGS Unified Geological 2020"
It is a color texture showing the different natures of lunar terrains established from the most recent results of several probes and produced by Corey M. Fortezzo (USGS), Paul D. Spudis (LPI), and Shannon L. Harrel (SD Mines) for the US Geologic Survey / Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff.

Thank you to the teams that produced these datas.

NEW SCIENTIFIC LAYERS:
We have treated 5 new "scientific" layers to study the lunar surface:
- GRAIL "Bouguer gravity" (Variation in lunar gravity according to the so-called "De Bouger" method) / 2 versions
- GRAIL "Free air gravity" (Lunar gravity variation according to the so-called "Free air" method)
- GRAIL "Crustal thickness" (Variation of the thickness of the lunar crust)
- Chandrayann "Water" (Detection of surface water by the Indian Chandrayann 1 probe).
Thank you to the teams that produced these datas.

NEW "HISTORICAL TEXTURES":
We have converted new public domain historical maps to make them usable by the VMA. You can now compare the work of these other pioneers of lunar exploration with current data. These maps show of course only the visible face of the Moon and there are sometimes significant differences in the position of the formations although these are more and more reduced with the last two proposed:
- Rheita / 1645 (B & W version)
- Divini / 1649 (B & W version)
- Riccioli / 1651 (B & W version)
- Beer & Mädler / 1845 (B & W version)
- Fauth / 1936 (Color Version)

NEW DATABASES:
Three new databases have been converted to VMA format:
- Integration of the new version of the anonymous crater database LU 78487 by Gordan Salamuniccar and his team (78,000 craters described)
- Integration of the new anonymous crater database "Global lunar craters database" by Stuart Robbins of the Southwest Research Institute (1,300,000 craters identified and measured)
- Integration of the NELIOTA database produced by the National Observatory of Athens which identifies contemporary meteoritic impacts on behalf of ESA.
Thank you to these authors for their authorization to use their work in VMA.

NEW IMAGE LIBRARY:
"Best of Cathala" image library:
Luc Cathala produces gorgeous lunar pictures using a 625 mm diameter Dobsonian. With a QHYSIII178M camera, he takes pictures sometimes reaching a resolution of 300 m. He gave us permission to build a “Best of Cathala” image library with his production, which becomes the largest of the VMA amateur image libraries containing 679 formations images in different lightings. Another big thank to Luc for sharing his remarkable work.

NEW DOCUMENTATION:
The general documentation of VMA 7.0:
The illustrated documentation of VMA. has been updated with screenshots and photos in situation showing the new possibilities offered by this new version 7. We have also produced a PDF version of 200 pages which includes the manuals of the different modules and the tutorial.

NEW DISTRIBUTION:
To make this new version available for those who do not have a high-speed Internet connection to download it (More than 8 GB with modules, textures, scientific layers, image libraries), or for those who wish to support our action , we are now editing a distribution SD card installing the entire VMA version 7.0 (Command Center, ATLUN, PHOTLUN, DATLUN, WEBLUN modules, databases, “low resolution” and “high resolution” textures, dynamic shadows, scientific layers and public domain image libraries). This card is then reusable by the owner.

Zitat:New functions:

• Set the tool bar button arangement, size and text in Setup / Toolbar editor. Increase default button size.
  
• The tool bar editor allow you to edit the button bar layout. The function is available from the menu Setup / Tool bar editor.
  
• New performance options from menu File/Reset chart and options…
  
• New tool box function you can activate with the keys F1 to F8.
  
• Scripting functions and custom tool box capabilities.
  
• New representation for the Milky Way. This can be activated from the menu Setup / Display / Lines by unchecking “Milky Way - Line mode”.
  
• Updated Solar system information window with more functionallity
  
• Plot images for the main planetary satellites
  
• More color and label options
  
• Update the artificial satellites TLE files automatically.
  
• Option to add a crosshair to the chart center.
  
• Option to add the meridian line with any projection.
  
• Show comet and asteroid hourly motion in the detail window.
  
• Update download URL for asteroids and comets
  
• New observing list Tour function
  
• Add cursor or telescope position to observing list
  
• Add Tcp/Ip connection to the LX200 telescope interface.
  
• Use INDIstarter to manage the INDI server.
  
• New INDI control panel.
  

Catalog:

• OpenNGC replace NGC2000, it is now include with the base version
  
• Use official IAU star name
  
• The following catalog change require to install the new version with 4.0 in the file name from the catalog download section.
  • New version of GCVS and WDS catalog
    
  • New version of PGC/LEDA with 5 million galaxies
    
  • Add index to search planetary nebula by name
    
  • Add Sh2 and Barnard catalog
    
  • Update the pictures using better coordinates from OpenNGC
    

Zitat:"SpaceEngine - a free space simulation program that lets you explore the universe in three dimensions, from planet Earth to the most distant galaxies. Areas of the known universe are represented using actual astronomical data, while regions uncharted by astronomy are generated procedurally. Millions of galaxies, trillions of stars, countless planets - all available for exploration. You can land any planet, moon or asteroid and watch alien landscapes and celestial phenomena. You can even pilot starships and atmospheric shuttles."

Zitat:Heute erhielt ich vom Chefredakteur - Ronald Stoyan - der Zeitschrift Interstellarum eine sehr traurige Nachricht per E-Mail. Die Zeitschrift für die praktische Astronomie stellt zum Jahresende das Erscheinen ein. Das heißt das Heft für Oktober/November 2014 war vorerst das letzte Heft welches erschienen ist. Die Nr. 98 wird daher nicht mehr in den Handel kommen. Die Gründe hat mir Ronald Stoyan geschildert und ich werde dazu im Blog auch noch etwas schreiben. Ganz verschwunden wird das Projekt "Interstellarum" aber noch nicht sein. Herr Stoyan hat ein Crowdfunding-Projekt bei StartNext gestartet und dieses ist gerade in der Startphase. Für alle die ebenfalls das Heft schätzen gelernt haben, sollte es zumindest für einen kurzen Blick auf das Projekt reichen: https://www.startnext.de/interstellarum
Es wäre super wenn der ein oder andere die Zeitschrift unterstützt und für das weiterbestehen ist.

Zitat:Die bittere, aber unvermeidliche Konsequenz der sich seit Jahren zuspitzenden Situation ist deshalb die Aufgabe der Zeitschrift: Ausgabe 97 ist das letzte Heft! Der Newsletter erscheint zum letzten Mal am 21.11.2014.

Zitat:Der Astronom Paul Ahnert hatte mit der Herausgabe eines astronomischen Jahrbuchs für das Jahr 1949 die traditionsreiche Geschichte des "Kalender für Sternfreunde" begründet. Auch nach dem Tod Ahnerts wurde das Werk unter wechselndem Namen und veränderter Aufmachung weitergeführt. Jede Ausgabe des "Ahnert" informierte zuverlässig über die wichtigsten Himmelsereignisse eines jeden Kalenderjahres und lieferte ambitionierten Amateurastronomen das Hintergrundwissen für eigene Beobachtungen. Damit ergänzte das Jahrbuch in idealer Weise die monatlichen Informationen, die seit vielen Jahren in der 16-seitigen Rubrik "Aktuelles am Himmel" in der Zeitschrift "Sterne und Weltraum" erscheinen.

Der Verlag hat nun entschieden, den "Kalender für Sternfreunde" als eigenständiges Produkt nicht weiterzuführen. Doch seine Inhalte bleiben unseren Lesern erhalten: Künftig werden wir auch die exklusiven Informationen des "Kalenders für Sternfreunde" in unsere Zeitschrift übernehmen. Auf diese Weise bieten wir weiterhin eine umfassende Vorschau auf die Vorgänge am Himmel. Ab der Januarausgabe 2015 finden Sie alle astronomischen Ereignisse übersichtlich und informativ präsentiert in "Sterne und Weltraum".“