NEWS


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v13
* Support for "new" Sugar toolbars
* Fixed initialize bug with lmag

115 (v12)
Stable 1.2 release 2010/04/21
* Improved stars1.py catalog.
* Changed the algorithm of the "Identify" feature so that an extended object is favored
  over point objects that it hides in the plot.  (Example: M42 is found whereas some of
  the stars embedded in it used to be found instead.)  Unfortunately, for large extended
  objects an invisible point object may still be indentified if the user clicks
  sufficiently far from the center of the extended object.
* Added dso2.py which is a catalog of the larger, brighter Bennett objects (analagous to
  the Messier objects but in the southern skies) and the NGC objects not otherwise
  catalogged which have common names.
* Added the ability to display a magnified view corresponding to what would be seen
  through typical 7-power binoculars.  In order to show the sky as it would appear with
  binoculars, I also added a supplemental star catalog that adds about 2500 stars which
  are too dim to see without an instrument (stars2.py).  These stars are taken from the
  SAO catalog.
* Removed the radio button for magnitude 0 -- there are too few stars brighter than
  magnitude 1 for it to be useful to distinguish the mag 1 stars from the mag 0 stars.
* Re-arranged controls on the "What" and "Where" toolbars so that the controls still
  fit if Spanish localization is applied.
These additions bring the feature set up to what I have planned; the program is now
finished (unless I get bug reports or compelling requests for additional capabilities).
093
Stable 1.1 release 2010/03/14
Fixed bug #15.
Provided Spanish translation.
089
Stable 1 release 2010/02/27
Added "About" to better identify version
Added "Identify" to tell user what object he has selecteed on the map.
Added "Locate" to show user where the object she chose is in the sky.
Improved input error handling and reporting (no more Alerts).
Added constellation ID to star catalog.
All text is internationalized (including object names in catalogs).
054
Beta 5 release 2008/09/24
Fixed color scheme bug.
Added license metadata.
Added activity name in Spanish.
040
Beta 4 release 2008/07/15
Plotting of large, bright Messier catalog objects.
Code reorganization: StarChart.py = algorithms;
stars1.py, dso1.py and constellations.py = catalogs.
Optional observatory.py = set default latitude & longitude.
Optional travel.py = override default location and XO's timezone.
033
Beta 3 release 2008/03/21
Labels are now provided for the cardinal directions.
Error checking (and reporting) for coordinates and time.
Update of invarient chart is avoided.
027
Beta 2 release 2008/03/04
Can now save and restore display preferences, position and time.
Menu bars are now like in other Activities.
Latitude and Longitude can be specified in float degrees as well as dms.
Program icon no longer a place-holder.
011
Initial (beta 1) release.  2008/02/20