Algorithms, Ephemerides and Parameters

Algorithms for the eclipse predictions were developed by Espenak primarily from the Explanatory Supplement [1974] with additional algorithms from Meeus, Grosjean and Vanderleen [1966] and Meeus [1982]. The solar and lunar ephemerides were generated from the JPL DE200 and LE200, respectively. All eclipse calculations were made using a value for the Moon's radius of k=0.2722810 for umbral contacts, and k=0.2725076 (adopted IAU value) for penumbral contacts. Center of mass coordinates were used except where noted. An extrapolated value for Delta_T of 61.0 seconds was used to convert the predictions from Terrestrial Dynamical Time to Universal Time.

The primary source for geographic coordinates used in the local circumstances tables is The New International Atlas (Rand McNally, 1991). Elevations for major cities were taken from Climates of the World (U. S. Dept. of Commerce, 1972).

All eclipse predictions presented in this publication were generated on a Macintosh computer. As such, it represents the culmination of a two year project to migrate a great deal of eclipse software from mainframe (DEC VAX 11/785) to personal computer (Macintosh IIfx) and from one programming language (FORTRAN IV) to another (THINK Pascal). Word processing and page layout for the publication were done using Microsoft Word 5.1. Figure annotation was done with Claris MacDraw Pro 1.5. All meteorological diagrams were prepared using Windows Draw 3.0 and converted to Macintosh format.

The names and spellings of countries, cities and other geopolitical regions are not authoritative, nor do they imply any official recognition in status. Corrections to names, geographic coordinates and elevations are actively solicited in order to update the data base for future eclipses. All calculations, diagrams and opinions presented in this publication are those of the authors and they assume full responsibility for their accuracy.

Conversion of the text to html format was accomplished using Rich Text Format files generated by Microsoft Word 5.1a that were then passed through Chris Hector's freeware rtftohtml. The PICT versions of the Figures were converted to CompuServe GIF format using Adobe Photoshop 2.5.1 and GIFconverter 2.3.7, and the GNC maps were scanned with a Microtek Scanmaker IIxe scanner and saved in JPEG with Adobe Photoshop 2.5.1. Conversion of the manuscript and figures, aside from some editing directly on the server, was carried out on an Apple Power Macintosh 8100/80.

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