MICA Version 2.2.2 ReadMe January 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION This CD-ROM contains the MICA 2.2.2 application. Compared to MICA 2.2.1, it includes several program corrections and revisions, an updated Delta T file, and revised help information. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Windows edition: * 200 MHz Pentium or higher processor * Microsoft Windows 98, Millennium Edition, NT 4.0 (with Service Pack 4 or later), 2000, XP, Vista, or Windows 7 operating system * Internet Explorer version 5.0 or later * 64 MB of RAM (128 MB recommended) * 135 MB of hard disk space (848 KB on the C: drive) * CD-ROM drive for installation * VGA or higher-resolution monitor (with screen area set to at least 640 x 480 pixels and 256 colors) Macintosh edition: * Macintosh computer running Mac OS X 10.3.9 or higher. * 250 MB of hard disk space. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- INSTALLATION AND STARTUP The MICA 2.2.2 CD-ROM is a hybrid CD containing both the Windows and Macintosh editions of the product. To install MICA 2.2.2 on Windows Systems: Insert the MICA 2.2.2 CD-ROM into the CD drive. From the Start menu, select My Computer and then the CD or DVD drive (typically D:). Double- click on the setup.exe file. Follow the instructions given by the wizard. To run MICA 2.2.2 on Windows Systems: From the Start menu, select Programs and then MICA. Alternatively, double click on the MICA desktop icon, if installed. To install MICA 2.2.2 on Macintosh Systems: Double click on the MICA package to start the installation process. The MICA application will be installed in the Applications folder by default, but an alternate location can be selected by the user. To run MICA 2.2.2 on Macintosh Systems: To start the application, double click on the MICA application icon. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN MICA 2.2.2: 1. The DeltaT.val file has been updated with new data. The date with the first predicted value for this file is 2455745.0 (2011 July 2 12:00). 2. Updated help information has been included with this release. 3. Lunar distance has been added to the "Phases of the Moon" output table. 4. Physical ephemeris algorithms have been updated to account for the aberration of the Sun due to the planet's motion. 5. Physical ephemeris calculations have been updated with data from the IAU/IAG Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements 2006 Report. 6. The 'Planet' column header in the solar conjunctions calculations has been renamed to 'Object' to cover both planets and asteroids. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CORRECTIONS IN MICA 2.2.2: 1. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: August 13, 2010]: For transits of Mercury and Venus, the calculation of least angular distance has been corrected. 2. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: September 27, 2010]: The equation of time calculation has been corrected. 3. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: October 7, 2010]: Astrometric asteroid position calculations have been corrected. 4. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: October 15, 2010]: Position coordinates were labeled with respect to mean equator and equinox of J2000.0 when they were actually with respect to the ICRS. The appropriate transformation from the ICRS to the dynamical J2000.0 frame has now been applied. 5. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: July 13, 2011]: The apparent positions of the Sun were being calculated incorrectly when multiple repetitions were selected. Single calculations were not affected. 6. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: November 7, 2011]: A missing Julian date time scale label has been added to the apsides output table header. 7. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: December 15, 2011]: An error in the display of the RA differences and position angles for the Galilean Moons has been corrected. 8. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: December 16, 2011]: Output table headers and user interface options for astrometric position calculations have been corrected. 9. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: December 29, 2011]: A precision error in the display of planetary conjunctions has been corrected. 10. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: January 19, 2012]: An error in the angular separation for the Galilean Moons has been corrected. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN MICA 2.2.1: 1. The DeltaT.val file has been updated with new data. The long-term predictions for 2010-2050 have been smoothed. The date with the first predicted value for this file is 2454863.5 (February 1, 2009). 2. Updated help information is included with this release. 3. Planetary and asteroid magnitudes have been added to the positions output table. 4. The 2000K nutation model, described in "Nutation Series Evaluation in NOVAS 3.0," USNO Circular 181, replaces the IAU 2000B model. USNO Circular 181 is available at: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/publications/docs/Circular_181.php --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CORRECTIONS IN MICA 2.2.1: 1. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: January 29, 2010]: The local sidereal time adjustment for longitude was being subtracted instead of added. 2. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: February 18, 2010]: Star position calculations were being incorrectly adjusted for proper motion in right ascension. 3. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: March 28, 2010]: Lunar Eclipse of June 4, 2012 at Latitude 114 degrees 10 minutes East and 22 degrees 18 minutes North was not being calculated due to the Moonrise time being close to the time of Maximum Eclipse. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN MICA 2.2: 1. The DeltaT.val file has been updated with new data. The date with the first predicted value for this file is 2454863.5 (February 1, 2009). 2. Updated help information is included with this release. 3. The Earth Rotation Angle, including the Equation of the Origins, has been added to the Date & Time calculations. 4. Apside times (perigee/apogee of the Moon, perihelion/aphelion of Earth) have been added as a stand-alone computation and within the Phenomena Search function. 5. The option for a user-specified Delta T value has been added to the Eclipse and Transit calculations. This option is only enabled for dates with predicted values of Delta T. 6. A zone-time option has been added to Lunar Eclipse and Phenomena calculations. 7. MICA uses the IAU 2000B nutation model, described in McCarthy, D. & Luzum, B. (2003) Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, v. 85, Issue 1, pp. 37-49, and the 2006 Precession model, as discussed in Capitaine, N. et al. (2003), Astronomy and Astrophysics 412, pp. 567-586, and Hilton et al. (2006, Celest. Mech., 94, 351-367). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- CORRECTIONS IN MICA 2.2: 1. [Systems affected: Windows. Reported: January 22, 2007]: Output that was being buffered at 50 lines for catalog calculations is now being displayed properly. 2. [Systems affected: Windows and Macintosh. Reported: May 14, 2008]: A bug where Greatest Elongation computations of both Venus and Mercury produce erroneous results for a Venus Greatest Elongation when it is near a Mercury Greatest Elongation has been corrected. Greatest Elongations computed for Venus alone did not have this error. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- TECHNICAL SUPPORT Have a question about MICA? Before contacting us, please check the MICA help system and check the MICA Web site at the address given below. If you still need help, contact us by e-mail at aa-help@usno.navy.mil. Comments and suggestions regarding MICA are also welcome. Send all written correspondence to: U.S. Naval Observatory Code: N3AA/MICA 3450 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20392-5420 We regret that we cannot reply to telephone inquiries. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MORE INFORMATION For additional MICA information and announcements, visit: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/software/mica/micainfo.php --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The mention of any product, corporation, manufacturer, or service in MICA or its documentation does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the U.S. Government. Software Products Division Astronomical Applications Department U.S. Naval Observatory January 2012