Using The AstroClock
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The AstroClock is an automatically updating chart, which can be set for your current location and timezone. The chart is updated every minute, providing you with a way of keeping track of the continually evolving planetary positions over the globe, or over any desired local map. In this manner you can watch as planetary lines pass overhead at your location, as the sun’s shadow moves over the Earth’s surface, or as stars rise and set, amongst many other uses.
The AstroClock is switched on automatically whenever Solar Maps is started up. However, when you use the program for the first time, you should ensure that the AstroClock is set for the correct default location and timezone. See Setting the Default Location for instructions on how to do this.
>> To switch the AstroClock on or off
Select the “AstroClock“ menu item from the “Chart“ menu.
This will switch the AstroClock on if it is currently off, or switch it off if it is currently on. Note that when you switch the AstroClock on, any existing chart that you were using is replaced with the chart for the current time. When you switch the AstroClock off, the chart for the current time remains in place, but it will no longer be updated.
The AstroClock remains on until you...
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Switch it off using the menu |
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Create a new chart to display |
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Open a chart to display |
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Exit from the Program |
Whilst the AstroClock is running, each time that the chart is updated your computer will need to spend several seconds calculating and redrawing the chart. If you leave the AstroClock running and start using another application, you may find that, if you have an “older” computer, it becomes unresponsive for a few seconds each minute. If you find this a problem, then you will need to switch the AstroClock off while you work on other applications.