############################################################################## GENERAL INFORMATION FOR THE CUSTOM EXPERIMENTAL EPHEMERIS NASA/JPL Horizons General Ephemeris Tool + Data Query Portal Built around the NASA/JPL Horizons API The program also emulates several TelNet functions. telnet://horizons.jpl.nasa.gov:6775 AUTHOR : Jay Tanner - 2025 LANGUAGE : PHP v8.2.12 LICENSE : Public Domain ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This program was intended to serve as a simplified interface to the NASA/JPL Horizons API with the possibility of adding extended functions. The following text explains the basic input elements. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ NASA/JPL Object ID#, Record #, Query or Special Directive [...] This is the main prompt where you enter the NASA/JPL target body ID or query. Generally, the target body ID or query is NOT case sensitive. In most cases, the target ID number is its record number in the JPL database. In some cases, it can be a unique name, such as Vesta or Ceres. When specifying an asteroid number, always append a semicolon (;) to it. For example, 301; with a semicolon, refers to asteroid #301 Bavaria (A890 WA) Without the semicolon, 301 refers to our moon (Luna). (Planet #3, Moon #01). Entering Juno at the prompt, returns more than one possibility. There is an asteroid named Juno, and two spacecraft with Juno in their names. For the asteroid Juno, simply attach a semicolon (Juno;) to solve the problem or use its asteroid number, 3; with the semicolon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Location Name = Any optional text label or location name. This is an optional location name or label to attach to the ephemeris output if you want to display the observer location in the ephemeris. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Base Time Scale = UT|TT By default, UT is the base time scale used for the computations. The Time Zone is applied to this base time scale. When the Time Zone equates to zero, then the local time equates to UT. When the TT scale is used, the Time Zone setting is ignored. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ START: Calendar Date and Time STOP: Calendar Date and Time This is the range of dates for which to compute an ephemeris or table. It can compute a single computation or a full ephemeris table. Date and time string format: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Time Zone = 00:00 ± 14:00 This is the local Time Zone offset from UT. It is applied only if UT is the Base Time Scale. It is ignored if the TT scale is selected. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Daylight/Summer Time = Yes|No Yes = Assume Daylight Saving Time No = Assume Standard Time ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Step Size This is the interval between the ephemeris table computations. Possible time units are: Minutes | Hours | Days | MOnths | Years ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ GPS Longitude +Pos = East GPS Latitude +Pos = North These are the geographic GPS coordinates of the observer on Earth. These coordinates can be entered as single decimal degree values or as degrees, minutes and seconds values separated by spaces. These coordinates are ignored for geocentric ephemerides. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ± Sea Level Altitude This is the observer's altitude above or below sea level in meters. This setting is ignored for geocentric ephemerides. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reference System = ICRF|B1950 There are two reference systems available. ICRF (International Celestial Reference Frame) = Default This is for apparent local or geocentric astronomical coordinates. NOTE: For ICRF RA and declination, use quantity #1. B1950/FK4 This is for astrometric (star chart coordinates). NOTE: For B1950/FK4 RA and declination, use quantity #2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Use Geocentric Coords = Yes|No (Default = Yes) Yes = Generate a geocentric ephemeris. No = Generate a local ephemeris for a given location. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Angle Output DEG or HMS = HMS|DEG HMS = Output angles in sexagesimal format (HMS|DMS) format. DEG = Output angles in decimal format. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Apply Refraction = Yes|No Yes = Apply optional refraction to computed sky coordinates. No = Return raw airless sky coordinates, without refraction. Refraction is ignored for geocentric ephemerides. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Include Object Data = Yes|No Yes = Show the basic target object physical data. No = Do not show the target object data in the ephemeris. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Include Julian Date = Yes|No Yes = Include the Julian Date in the ephemeris output. No = Suppress the Julian Date in the ephemeris output. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Include Ephem Header = Yes|No Yes = Include the ephemeris parameters header in the ephemeris. This header lists all the basic parameters used for the ephemeris. No = Do not include the ephemeris parameters header in the ephemeris. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Include Ephem Footer = Yes|No Yes = Include the ephemeris parameters footer in the ephemeris. The footer explains the meanings of the contents of the ephemeris columns. When you are not quite sure what a column means, reading this explanatory footer may help. No = Do not include the ephemeris parameters footer in the ephemeris. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Distance (Range) Units = AU|KM Distances may be output in Astronomical Units (AU) or kilometers (KM). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Suppress Range Rate = Yes|No Yes = Suppress showing the range rate output in the ephemeris. No = Show the range rate output in the ephemeris. The range rate is the radial velocity of the target body towards or away from the observer. Negative = Approaching | Positive = Receding. This value may selectively be suppressed and not displayed after the distance. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DEMO | RESET | NOW |HOME These are special experimental features mostly used for testing purposes in the background. DEMO This emulates the demo HTTP Request for Mars found on the NASA web page: https://ssd-api.jpl.nasa.gov/doc/horizons.html RESET This reset the program to all its initial defaults. NOW This resets to the current time. HOME This resets all home-based parameters. This means whatever home coordinates you decide to hard-code into the program. Initially, the author's home coordinates, for running from the desktop. This can be changed by editing the source code. ****************************************************************************** ****************************************************************************** BELOW ARE SPECIAL OPERATIONS THAT OPEN IN NEW TABS. THESE OPERATION ARE EXTERNAL TO THE INTERFACE PROGRAM BUT USE A SHARED COOKIE. THIS ALLOWS THE PROGRAM TO BE EXPANDED UPON BY EASILY ADDING EXTERNAL ATTACHMENTS WITH MINIMAL CHANGES TO THE INTERFACE CODING. IF A TAB IS ALREADY OPEN, SIMPLY REFRESH THE PAGE TO UPDATE IT FOR ANY CHANGES MADE TO THE INPUT INTERFACE SETTINGS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Moon Phase Table This displays all the lunar phases within the given date range at the given step intervals. By default, it displays mini images of moon phases from the current date to the end of the month. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Moon Phase Angle Table This computes a numerical table of moon phases within the given date range at the given step intervals. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rise/Transit/Set Times This generates a table of rise/transit/set times for the selected target body within the given date range at the given step intervals. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DDD = Not Yet Defined. For future use. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------