.help rdplan Jun99 "Slalib Package" .nf SUBROUTINE slRDPL (DATE, NP, ELONG, PHI, RA, DEC, DIAM) - - - - - - - R D P L - - - - - - - Approximate topocentric apparent RA,Dec of a planet, and its angular diameter. Given: DATE d MJD of observation (JD - 2400000.5) NP i planet: 1 = Mercury 2 = Venus 3 = Moon 4 = Mars 5 = Jupiter 6 = Saturn 7 = Uranus 8 = Neptune 9 = Pluto else = Sun ELONG,PHI d observer's east longitude and geodetic latitude (radians) Returned: RA,DEC d RA, Dec (topocentric apparent, radians) DIAM d angular diameter (equatorial, radians) Notes: 1 The date is in a dynamical timescale (TDB, formerly ET) and is in the form of a Modified Julian Date (JD-2400000.5). For all practical purposes, TT can be used instead of TDB, and for many applications UT will do (except for the Moon). 2 The longitude and latitude allow correction for geocentric parallax. This is a major effect for the Moon, but in the context of the limited accuracy of the present routine its effect on planetary positions is small (negligible for the outer planets). Geocentric positions can be generated by appropriate use of the routines slDMON and slPLNT. 3 The direction accuracy (arcsec, 1000-3000AD) is of order: Sun 5 Mercury 2 Venus 10 Moon 30 Mars 50 Jupiter 90 Saturn 90 Uranus 90 Neptune 10 Pluto 1 (1885-2099AD only) The angular diameter accuracy is about 0.4% for the Moon, and 0.01% or better for the Sun and planets. See the slPLNT routine for references. Called: slGMST, slDT, slEPJ, slDMON, slPVOB, slPRNU, slPLNT, slDMXV, slDC2S, slDA2P P.T.Wallace Starlink 26 May 1997 Copyright (C) 1997 Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Copyright (C) 1995 Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy Inc. .fi .endhelp