This is a beta version of CAOS/2 V 0.19

Unzip the directory wherever you want.
Start CAOS2.EXE and fill in all information needed.

No documentation right now, but most things should
be familiar from 0.15.

CAOS2 needs 800x600x256 and HPFS, 8MB+ RAM highly 
recommended.


This is the update information I posted to the
netastrocatalog-announce-mailinglist:

News on CAOS/2


The next beta release of CAOS/2 is gaining shape. I started from the scratch
to add new features as well as to improve the user interface. A lot of
thoughts went into the task, and I am convinced that you will like what
you will see. :-)

There will be a closed version only for betatesters (V 0.19). Shortly
after that, i will put the next open beta (V 0.20)  on hobbes and
nautilus for download.

What you can expect from V 0.19 beta and the following versions:

- CAOS/2 is now bilingual. Because OS/2 is extremely popular in Austria
and Germany (it has about 20% market share on desktop computers), one
can specify which language to use at the first start of the program.

- new, improved setup. You now can specify as many observing sites as you
like. You will enter longitude and latitude as degrees and minutes for
improved accuracy. Selection of West or East, North or South is made by
a spin button (thanks to a suggestion of one of the beta testers).

- You will be able to change the site for which everything will be
calculated on the fly from a list.

- CAOS/2 now lets you not only specify a list of your instruments, but
all your eyepieces and filters, too. (This will be used for calculation in
later versions, now its for convenience when adding to the logbook).

- the main windows has been redesigned. Time, JD, sideral time etc. are
now shown in a seperate window. When it is closed, time is updated only
once a minute, so CAOS/2 will take virtually no processor time when you
do not need it.

-  in the main window, there is now a small picture showing you the
quality of the skies for astronomical observing. When the sun is up, you'll
see a sunlit landscape. At sunset or sunrise, you'll see exactly that :-).
After sunset, there is a landscape that will fade into black as the sun
goes down more and more. When astronomical twilight is there, stars
will show up in that picture. (In later versions, the effect of moonlight
will be included,too). A text will tell you how far up or down the sun is.

- There is a new window that shows data for the sun: distance from earth,
RA/DE and altitude above local horizon - still geocentric, but this
will change. (In later versions, everything you'll need for observing the
sun will be included).

- You'll find a complete logbook for the recording of your observations
in CAOS/2. (In 0.19, you can only enter deep sky objects).This logbook is
highly automated.
For example: You enter the date and time of observation and the name of
the object you observed. CAOS/2 now will search a database to fill in
coordinates, constellation, size, magnitude and type of the object.
It then will calculate the altitude of the sun (for example: 22 degrees
below the horizon), calculate if the moon was up (not in V 0.19, but later
on), if so, it will calculate the phase and how far away from the object
the moon was.  It will calculate the altitude for the object when it
was observed. You'll only have to choose the instrument, the eyepieces
and filters, the seeing and transparency from dropdown lists and enter
your description. You can add the observation to your logbook AND prepare
it for submitting to the IAAC with a single click (the latter function
will come up later).

-The logbook can be browsed by a combination of criterias: Constellation,
Object type and rating.Every combination is possible, from "show all entries
in the logbook" to "show all open clusters observed in Ophiuchus that I
have rated interesting". In later versions you will be able to print your
entries. After you made your selsction, you'll see a list of those
objects that match the criterias. Click of any of them, and in a second
list you'll find the dates of your observations. Chose one, and you'll
see the report.

-Logbook entries will be stored as simple text files, so you can use them
with word processors and other programs. You can add multiple entries for
a single object.



And here information on how to submit observations:

This is the latest information for submissions to IAAC - the Internet
Amateur Astronomer's Catalog.


You can subscribe to our mailing list to receive all observations in your
mail:

to: majordomo@latrade.com
subject: as you like
body: subscribe netastrocatalog

If you just want some info about the project:
body: info netastrocatalog

The latest compilation of observations (currently over 25)
can be ftp'd at:

ftp://nautilus.fis.uc.pt/pub/astro/catalogs/IAACxx.ZIP
where xx is a number (choose the highest).

There is a program called CAOS/2 (for OS/2) that can convert the IAAC.TXT
to a database that can be browsed and searched.The program allows you to
create the submission forms of your observations very fast and
standardized. CAOS/2 is currently in beta cycle. If you wish to get it,
write a mail to: bgrems@daheim.ping.at


Instructions how to report your observation:
============================================

1) Cut out the standad entry form below.
2) Fill in everything that is needed.
3) Send it to: netastrocatalog@latrade.com, subject: IAAC submission

We would like you to let us know about deep sky objects and double stars
you observed.

These are the facts we ask you to state:

Observer: (Your name goes in here)
your skills: (choose: beginner, intermediate, expert)
Date and UT of observation: (20th May, 1996, 23:55 UT)
Location: (for example: Vienna, Austria 48N)
Site classification: (choose: city, suburbian, rural)
Limiting magnitude (visual): (very important!)
Seeing (from 1 to 5): (1 is best - 5 is like looking over a chimmney)
moon up/phase: (yes/no, age of the moon if yes)
Instrument: (for example: 8" SCT f/10, naked eye, 7x50, etc.)
Magnification: (for example: 35x, none - for naked eye)
Filters used: (for example: UHC)
Object: (what you saw)
Category: (for example: Open cluster, Double star, Galaxy)
Constellation: (For example: Leo)
Data: (if appropriate): (Diameter ' or ", mags and sep./PA for double stars)
RA/DE: (position - please use 2000.0)
Description: (tell us what you have seen, as many lines as you want)


IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!

Date format: YYYY-MM-DD, HH:MM UT
Object: only name, no other informations. M57=ok, M57 (Ring Nebula)<>OK
when object is Double star: Constellation name is always an abbrev. (Lyr)
Category: always starts with a capital letter
Constellation: Use the official abbrevations (Lyr, Sge etc.)
Data: you can put common names of objects here, too.
RA/DE Format: xxhxxm (-)xxoxx'
Description: Do not use blank lines within the description!

We ask you to stick to these formats - it makes automated processing of
your entries easier. Earlier entries have been modified to meet those
standards.

And here is the standard entry form you should use:

----cut here----

Observer:
your skills:
Date and UT of observation:
Location:
Site classification:
Limiting magnitude (visual):
Seeing (from 1 to 5):
moon up/phase:
Instrument:
Magnification:
Filters used:
Object:
Category:
Constellation:
Data:
RA/DE:
Description:

----cut here----

So take out your scopes, your binos, use your eyes and let us know what you have
observed. We will keep you updated - so let the reports roll in.



