MARS24

INTRODUCTION

  Mars24 is a cross-platform Java application which displays a Mars "sunclock",
  a graphical representation of Mars showing the current sun- and nightsides
  of Mars, along with a numerical readout of the time in a 24-hour format.
  Other displays include a plot showing the relative orbital positions of Mars
  and Earth and a diagram tracing the path of the Sun during the day.

  Mars24 _requires_ that the Java 1.4.1 JRE or later be installed on your
  computer.

  Windows users, please note: It is possible that you have a Java plugin
  enabled in your web browser but do not have a Java Runtime Engine installed
  which allows you to run Java applications. See http://www.java.com/ for
  information on how to make sure you have a JRE installed or to update your
  JRE.


DOWNLOADING

  The current version of Mars24 may be found at:
  
  http://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/mars24/


INSTALLING AND RUNNING THE MAC OS X PACKAGE

  The Mars24 package for Mac OS X comes as a TGZ archive which can be
  uncompressed by doubleclicking on the Mars24OSX.tgz desktop icon. It contains
  a folder holding the following items:

  - Mars24 application.
  - Equirectangular map file "marsmap.jpg".
  - Martian landmarks file "marslandmarks.xml".
  - Sample settings files with filename extension ".m24".
  - This README file.
  - A subdirectory called "help" which includes user documentation.
  
  To run Mars24, just double-click on the Mars24 application.
  
  Note: Mars24 is not compatible with the "classic" Mac OS.


INSTALLING AND RUNNING THE STANDARD JAVA PACKAGE

  The "standard" Mars24 package comes as either a (a) zipped archive or (b)
  tarred and gzipped archive, either of which can be uncompressed by many
  freeware uncompression utilities. It contains a directory, "Mars24J" which
  holds the following items:
  
  - Java application in a jar file called "Mars24.jar".
  - Equirectangular map file "marsmap.jpg".
  - Martian landmarks file "marslandmarks.xml".
  - Sample settings files with filename extension ".m24".
  - This README file.
  - A subdirectory called "help" which includes user documentation.
  
  On many platforms, you should be able to launch Mars24 from the desktop
  by double-clicking the Mars24.jar file.
  
  From a command line interface, you can start Mars24 by cd-ing to the
  directory where the Mars24.jar file is located. Then type:
  
  java -jar Mars24.jar

  Windows users: If nothing happens when you doubleclick on the jar file, you
  may not have a complete Java Runtime Engine installed on your computer.
  Please see http://www.java.com/ and follow the free download links.


HELP AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION

  More details about Mars24, including a user's guide and information about
  the meaning of Mars time units, are available at:
  
  http://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/mars24/


CONTACT

  Mars24 was written by Dr. Robert B. Schmunk. If you wish to be notified
  when new versions of Mars24 are released or if you would like to report
  a bug, please contact:
  
  Robert B. Schmunk
  rschmunk@giss.nasa.gov
  NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
  2880 Broadway, New York, NY 10025 USA


  Technical questions related to the definition of Mars Solar Time and the
  mathematical algorithms adopted for its calculation by Mars24 may be
  directed to:
  
  Michael D. Allison
  mallison@giss.nasa.gov
  NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
  2880 Broadway
  New York, NY 10025 USA


REFERENCE

  Mars24 is primarily based on equations which appeared in:

  + Allison and McEwen 2000. A post-Pathfinder evaluation of aerocentric solar
    coordinates with improved timing recipes for Mars seasonal/diurnal climate
    studies. Planet. Space Sci. 48, 215-235.

  See "Technical Notes about Mars Time" in the help documents for additional
  references and for discussion of corrections and updates to the algorithm
  explained in the above paper.
  

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Thanks to members of the Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Exploration Rover
  Projects at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for their encouragement over
  many years in developing the solar timing algorithms used by Mars24.

  The base map image used by Mars24 in its sunclock is derived from an image
  created by the Mars Global Surveyor MOLA and MOC teams for the National
  Geographic Society. See http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/tharsis/ngs.html

  Mars24 includes software developed by the JDOM Project For more information
  about JDOM, including source code and conditions of use, please see
  http://www.jdom.org/
   
  Mars24 includes software developed as part of the GNU JAXP project,
  including the AElfred2 parser. For more information about GNU JAXP,
  including source code and conditions of use, please see
  http://www.gnu.org/software/classpathx/jaxp

  Mars24 uses QuantizeFilter by Jerry Huxtable. For more information,
  please see http://www.jhlabs.com/ip/


LICENSE

  Scope of License. Subject to all the terms and conditions of this
  license, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies grants USER the
  royalty-free, nonexclusive, nontransferable, and worldwide rights
  to reproduce, modify, reverse engineer, and distribute the Mars24
  software package, herein referred to as the Product.

  Conditions and Limitations of Use Warranties. Neither the U.S.
  Government, nor any agency or employee thereof, makes any warranties,
  expressed or implied, with respect to the Product provided under this
  License, including but not limited to the implied warranties or
  merchantability and fitness for any particular purpose. Liability.
  In no event shall the U.S.  Government, nor any agency or employee
  thereof, be liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages
  flowing from the use of the Product provided under this License.
  Non-Assignment. Neither this License nor any rights granted hereunder
  are transferable or assignable without the explicit prior written
  consent of NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Names and Logos.
  USER shall not substitute its name or logo in identification of the
  Product. Export of technology. USER shall comply with all U.S. laws
  and regulations restricting the export of the Product to other countries.
  Governing Law. This License shall be governed by the laws of United
  States as interpreted and applied by the Federal courts in the District
  of Columbia.

  Term of License. This License shall remain in effect as long as USER
  uses the Product in accordance with Paragraphs 1 and 2.


