Phaeton for iPad app for iPhone and iPad
Developer: Tau Ceti Systems
First release : 28 Feb 2012
App size: 45.94 Mb
The Phaeton brings 18th-century astronomy to the iPad through a modern interpretation of five astronomical instruments of antiquity: the Tellurion, the Grand Orrery, the Astrolabe, the Lunarium and the Jovilabe.
The Tellurion depicts various phenomena of day, night and the seasons due to the rotation of the earth on its axis, the tilt of its axis and its revolution around the sun. It also displays the moons position in its orbit, its apparent phase and can be used to predict eclipses.
The Grand Orrery shows the positions of the major planets and the position of the sun in the zodiac.
The Astrolabe simultaneously provides the local apparent solar time, local sidereal time, the suns altitude above the horizon, its azimuthal direction, its declination from the equator and its zodiacal position. (Currently, altitude and azimuth for northern hemisphere users only.)
The Lunarium depicts a realistic view of the moon as seen from the observers position including phase, position angles and lunar librations.
The Jovilable shows the configuration of Jupiters Galilean satellites and allow predictions of transits, occultations and eclipses.
The app support web site provides contact information for inquiries and comments.