To all space observers and travellers:
 For all of you who always wanted to see the stars from Alpha Centauri,
 or travel to Tau Ceti personally...


Program: PcSpace v2.2
- Freeware, NO REGISTRATION.

System requirments:
- Minimum 80386, MS-DOS, Microsoft compatible mouse, VGA graphics.
  Super VGA adapters are supported.

Data source:
- PCSPACE.LST
  1200 stars. This file is an ASCII text file, and can be edited to
  include up to 4096 stars.


ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
- Run SETUP.EXE first.
  This program translates PcSpace.lst into PcSpace.dat and selects screen
  drivers and mode for your computer.

- PCSPACE.LST is a text file. Therefore, it can be easily edited to include
  up to 4096 stars. Instructions can be found in PcSpace.lst itself.

- The screen driver source code can be found in PCSP_ETC.ZIP. Feel free to
  adapt this code to new cards (TASM or MSDOS-DEBUG necessary).
  Please send me your new source code, at the e-mail address below, so I
  can use it to enhance future versions of PcSpace.

- The mouse pointer can be defined freely in POINTER.BMP.
  (Max.1024 points, the grey point no.5 is the "Hot point", color no.255 is
  transparent. In PCSP_ETC.ZIP there are some alternative pointers.)

- As in other PcSpace versions, F1 gives you the online help screen.

- Processing speed has been doubled compared to PcSpace 1.01 and increased by
  about 25% since PcSpace 2.0, by using true 32 bit integer, assembler
  algorithms for the Intel 386 processor.
  (Position Sun: 25 pictures per second on 486, 33Mhz,ET4000:1024x786x256
                 with 900 stars)

- Adjustable magnitude --
  Relative minimum magnitude, sufficient to display only the stars you
  wish to see.

- After the installation procedure PcSpace only needs these files:
  PCSPACE.EXE
  POINTER.BMP
  PCSPACE.DAT
  and the chosen .DRV file.

Notes:-The software has been thoroughly tested for errors. However it is
       possible, that it could produce errors and/or destroy hard- and/or
       software and the underlying data could be wrong. The author can never
       be hold responsible for such unforeseen behaviour, eventhough this might
       even cause severe damage to spacecrafts, which use this software for
       navigation purposes and collide with interstellar objects, which have
       not been included in the program's database.  ;-)
       The user accepts these conditions by using PcSpace.
      -Even though PcSpace only shows you the true representation of stars
       reasonably close to the sun, it still gives you a good impression
       of the 3D structure of constellations. You must remember, though,
       that our famous sun looks pretty small and unimportant when
       observed from other stars!

Hints:- For those who can't wait for Betelgeuze (Alpha ORI) to explode in
        a supernova, you can manipulate the entry in PcSpace.dat:
        2.posit. - Spectral ty.:  62 => 01
        3.posit. - abs.Mag.: -50 => -205

      - To orbit a constellation (in this case, Ursa Major):
        Look for Delta UMA "Megrez"
        Turn off constellations
        Adjust the approach step to your liking
        Click on the star with the RIGHT mouse button.


AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I'd be more than happy to hear from you regarding improvements and corrections.
Any kind of input to the database, like star names, coordinates, distances,
spectral types and magnitudes, is very appreciated, especially if it is sent
as an ASCII text file.
It's your support that leads to new and better versions of PcSpace!

Please send your e-mail to  liebel@winx06.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de
                        or  liebel@cip.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de

                                                  Peter Liebel, September 1993