I looked around the links but unfortunately there wasn't any stellar constellation software. Could anyone recommend an open source software which is able to compute constellations (visible from earth) of arbitrary history which absolute accuracy?
http://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/toolkit.html
It is used for general astrometry (coordinate frame transfer and time references). It also can help you point your camera in the right spot as it can model relativity. AGI's STK is basically a wrapper around this JPL product.
http://www.openchannelsoftware.com/cosmic/
This is not workable because it wasn't possible for non-NASA developers to contribute back.
This one-way system resulted in other software being released piecemeal, outside the above process, e.g.
Doing even this took a lot of work.
I'm always on the lookout for science-related Python projects from name-brand places, as well as projects that use Enthought's Traits library. (I would prefer to do my work in Python most of the time, but the powers-that-be insist on Matlab, so I'm trying to compile use examples as ammunition..).
It really needs a better UI but the possibilites are endless - you can design your own space missions, flybys, moonshots, anything really.
- free maps
- crossplatform
It can calculate Terrain conforming shapes, volumes anad airspaces and line of sight
The projects are fairly esoteric and span a broad range of fields:
* Conflict Prevention Bands
* General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT) version 2011A
* Goddard Satellite Data Simulation Unit
