Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ncrlnk!ncr-sd!hp-sdd!ucsdhub!sdcsvax!ucsd!rutgers!netsys!lamc!well!pokey
From: pokey@well.UUCP (Jef Poskanzer)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.d
Subject: Re: v16i090:  Smithsonian Astronomical Observatory, Part01/49
Message-ID: <7885@well.UUCP>
Date: 10 Dec 88 08:41:27 GMT
References: <130@richsun.UUCP>
Reply-To: Jef Poskanzer <jef@rtsg.ee.lbl.gov>
Organization: Paratheo-Anametamystikhood Of Eris Esoteric, Ada Lovelace Cabal
Lines: 18

In the referenced message, kjohn@richp1.UUCP (John K. Counsultant) wrote:
}	I disagree, Rich, PLEASE POST THE REST OF THE SAO DATASET.  It
}*does* have uses for more people than you would think.  I personally :-),
}have two uses: 1) I am planning a grand version of a StarTrek/SpaceWar type
}game and would like to use the dataset to add some realism to it.  2) I
}also would like to create an animation on my system showing interselllar
}travel.

Unfortunately, there is no way to use this data set for things like this,
where you need the third coordinate.  It looks to me like you need either
absolute mag or spectral type in addition to the apparent mag supplied with
the data.  Please correct me if I'm wrong about this, since I would also
like to use this data for such a simulation.
---
Jef

             Jef Poskanzer   jef@rtsg.ee.lbl.gov   ...well!pokey
                             Revised and Enlarged