Miscellaneous Stuff

The Scope that'll Never be Built

I recently abandoned a long-time project. This page outlines my trials and tribulations, and offers the design up for anyone who wants to actually build it.

Mosby Test Software

I recently wrote software for generating Mosby gratings, based on the Mosby basic program by Bob May and Anthony Stillman. It is a work in progress - use at your own risk. You can download the Windows version or the Linux version. For more information about this test, see Bob May's page on the subject.

Foucault Test Software

• I wrote a simple little Foucault test "simulator", available for Windows 95/NT and Linux. Here's a screenshot. NOTE: if you have a very slow machine or graphics card, the windows version can take a while to start up. Please give it a few seconds.

• Foucault test data reduction software. This is the official home of ``Tex''.
• On-line instructions for using Tex, with screen shots!

  If you would like me to e-mail you with announcements of new releases/bugs/features, drop me a line at mikel@att.net, and let me know what platform (i.e. DOS, Solaris) you are interested in.

• Note to UNIX users: since the files are uncompressed, they have no suffix on the file name. Some browsers will attempt to display the file rather than downloading it. If that happens, try clicking on the link with the right mouse button, and you should get a menu with Save Link As.... Alternately, you can try holding down the SHIFT key while you click on the link with the left mouse button.

• If you need ghostscript or ghostview to print or view PostScript files, they are here.

• Here's how to download ``Tex'':

  DOS/Windows

  You will need the READ ME file and the EXE file (also runs in DOS mode under Windows 3.X and Windows 95)

  You may also want to look at the source code

  Linux (x86 and compatibles only)

  You will need the READ ME file and the Linux ELF executable

  You may also want to look at the source code

  Macintosh

  You will need the READ ME file and the executable (courtesy of Robert Beer)

You may also want to look at the source code

Solaris (SPARC only)

You will need the READ ME file and Solaris 2.4 executable

You may also want to look at the source code

HP-UX (PARISC only)

You will need the READ ME file and the HP-UX 9.0 executable

You may also want to look at the source code

• Here's the latest version of foucault.zip by Jim Burrows. Although the interface is more spartan than Tex, Foucault has some very nice features, and uses a different algorithm than Tex. If you're making a mirror, I suggest you use both programs (never hurts to have a second opinion :^)
• Ken Carter sent me this EXCEL '97 spreadsheet and sample data, originally by Bill A. of the Sunset Astronomical Soc.

• Problems? Bugs? Comments? Email me at mikel@att.net.

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weaselly disclaimer: I don't claim that any of the software or information available for download from this site is accurate, although I try my best. Software is offered without warrantee.