convergatron2.frink

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// This program is a simplified version of the full convergatron.frink program
// intended to debunk the myth that I've seen copied by lots of journalists
// today that the upcoming Moon-Jupiter convergence is the closest until 2026,
// like:  http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/19/sky-show-jupiter-and-moon-closest-until-2026/
use planets.frink

df = ### yyyy-MM-dd-HH:mm ###

d = beginningOfYear[now[]]
e = beginningOfYearPlus[now[], 2]
while d < e
{
   [mra, mdecl] = moonApparentRADecl[d]
   p1 = Planet.Jupiter

   // Check for moon convergences
   [ra1, decl1] = p1.geocentricCoordinates[d]
   dist = angularSeparation[mra, mdecl, ra1, decl1]
   print[(d->df) + "\tMoon\t" + p1.getName[] + "\t" + format[dist,degrees,5]]

   // Use adaptive step when we get close; the moon moves about 12 degrees/day
   // so we want to take smaller steps.
   if dist < 1 degree
   {
      d = d + 10 min
      print["\t*"]
   } else
      if dist < 20 degrees
         d = d + 1 hour
      else
         d = d + 1 day

   println[]
}


Download or view convergatron2.frink in plain text format


This is a program written in the programming language Frink.
For more information, view the Frink Documentation or see More Sample Frink Programs.

Alan Eliasen was born 19944 days, 16 hours, 13 minutes ago.