Anyone do astronomical or astrological research?

the_grip on 15/12/2008 at 03:13

Some background: I am trying to find charts/calendars of planetary orbits relative to the earth (i.e. when they are in "normal" orbit vs. retrograde orbit) and, secondarily, a lunar calendar. I am most particularly interested in the planets and when their orbits converge, they come into alignment, etc.

I have only just begun to research this, and I hear NASA's website has a ton of this stuff. However, I thought I'd ask in various forums I come to where the diversity is just enough that I'm sure somebody somewhere here does this kind of stuff. So I am either looking for a good calendar or, even better, some kind of device that would function as a calendar in which I could track these orbits or the like. A computer is just fine but there is a particular something I derive when I have a physical device in front of me.

In case anyone is interested as to why I am looking for this - I am planning to use them as timing devices to measure particular cycles in conjunction with Fibonacci measurements.

Thanks!!

Kolya on 15/12/2008 at 13:59

This might interest you. And it's very relaxing to watch/play around with: (http://portableapps.com/apps/education/stellarium_portable) Stellarium Portable

Muzman on 15/12/2008 at 15:02

It's probably a bit more (or perhaps less) than what you need but (http://www.shatters.net/celestia/) Celestia is an amazing amount of fun. You can find all sort of stuff on the forums where people are punching in dates and plots for setting up convergences and so on.

demagogue on 15/12/2008 at 21:33

Celestia is awesome, as far as touring the galaxy in style goes. I think you could do what you want in it, though it might be tricky to set up. But if you're interested in astronomy you should have it anyway.

The mother of these galaxy sims, though, is (http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/universe/download/) Digital Universe. It blows everything else away, as far as what it can do.

Celestia is for the eye candy; Digital Universe is more academic and is for actually learning and seeing interesting things that make you really think about the universe.

Edit: (http://universesandbox.com/) Universe Sandbox is pretty cool too; tweak the solar system, or make your own, and let gravity run to see what happens.
I know these links are getting OT, but it's hard to resist...

van HellSing on 15/12/2008 at 21:49

The words "astrological" and "research" don't mesh well.

the_grip on 15/12/2008 at 23:14

true, but the study of geocentric celestial movements that show pattern confluences with natural growth and contraction cycles (i.e. using something like Fibonacci ratios) can provide timing mechanisms for those cycles

However, since I am interested in smaller cycles that can be observed in my lifetime then planetary and lunar orbits are what I am looking for

Really something as simple as "mars goes into retrograde orbit (relative to the earth of course) on date X and returns to normal orbit on Y" is what I want

Beyond that I don't have any interest in astrology but I do enjoy astronomy

Thanks for the links all... I will take a look later, and any others are appreciated

Nicker on 16/12/2008 at 09:29

I believe an (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephemeris) ephemeris is what you might be looking for. They come in astronomical and astrological flavours.

Here's a 6,000 year astronomical ephemeris - (http://www.astro.com/swisseph/swepha_e.htm)

Here's an 3,000 year astrological one - (http://www.khaldea.com/kldaephem/2000/dec2008gmt.shtml)

the_grip on 16/12/2008 at 15:15

Nicker, that is exactly what I am looking for! Thanks!

BEAR on 16/12/2008 at 18:51

Don't know if this has anything to do with what you need but posting again because its awesome.

(http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/Home.aspx)

the_grip on 17/12/2008 at 14:59

Ok now I want to find where to buy an aspect dial. Not just an aspectarian table but the actual physical dial that you can set and measure, etc. I have searched high and low but can't seem to find a source. Anyone know of one?