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CelestialCalculations / CelestialCalculations.github.io

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Bare minimum math? #2

Open ghost opened 3 years ago

ghost commented 3 years ago

I don't remember much of the math I learnt at high school beyond everyday arithmetic (since I don't get to use the rest anymore). Would I be able to work through your book using just arithmetic, rudimentary algebra and basic trigonometry (understanding of sin, cos and tan)?

mkrauskopf commented 3 years ago

Hi Mayuresh. The author claims in the preface that high school algebra and trigonometry should be enough to understand the book. I'm only in chapter four and just skimmed some other parts of the book in advance out of curiosity. So far I can just confirm the author's statements. So I think with a bit of curiosity and a will to learn math on the way (mainly trigonometry) you will enjoy the book (as I do).

The only downside might be that sometimes the book spits out some equation and you rather have to believe it works. Since the proper derivation of the formula would require more advanced math.

ghost commented 3 years ago

Hi Martin (@mkrauskopf), thanks for sharing the details as I wasn't privy to that information prior to purchasing the book and going through it. Along the same lines as the book, is there any book or study material which would show me how to map/chart celestial objects at any point in time (past, present and/or the future) given a particular geographic location on planet Earth? I am now heading over to refresh high school math including algebra, trigonometry and calculus along with a healthy dose of statistics.

Hi Mayuresh. The author claims in the preface that high school algebra and trigonometry should be enough to understand the book. I'm only in chapter four and just skimmed some other parts of the book in advance out of curiosity. So far I can just confirm the author's statements. So I think with a bit of curiosity and a will to learn math on the way (mainly trigonometry) you will enjoy the book (as I do).

The only downside might be that sometimes the book spits out some equation and you rather have to believe it works. Since the proper derivation of the formula would require more advanced math.

mkrauskopf commented 3 years ago

Hello Mayuresh. I believe this book will provide you with such information. But as I said, I'm also a beginner, and I'm at chapter four. So can't comment on this.

ghost commented 3 years ago

Hello Martin (@mkrauskopf), thank you for the details. And, if you are also interested in Chrononomy, do take a look at "Calendrical Calculations - The Ultimate Edition". Kind regards.

CelestialCalculations commented 1 year ago

I am the author. I wasn't aware that comments were being left on this github site. But in answer to the question posed above about star charts, Chapter 8 pulls all the material together to allow one to create a start chart (including the planets) for an observer at any location on the Earth and for any stated time. Keep in mind that low accuracy calculations are performed, so don't expect the results to be as accurate as when done by professional astronomers using calculus-based algorithms. Hope this helps!