Precision Astronomy Libraries in Python
This is a quick package that aims to export various high-precision astronomy routines in the Python language. In particular it deals with precise timekeeping and astrometry, using the SOFA and NOVAS libraries.
Although it aspires to precision, it has only been used for relatively undemanding applications thus far. I am not a VLBI astrometrist so I could easily have gotten some things wrong in even the very few features I've implemented so far.
Attribution, Licensing, and Copyright
New files in this package are copyright Peter Williams and are licensed under the GPL version 3 or higher.
Quoting novas/README.txt: "NOVAS has no licensing requirements. If you use NOVAS in an application, an acknowledgement of the Astronomical Applications Department of the U.S. Naval Observatory would be appropriate."
Quoting the SOFA website: "Using SOFA software is free of charge under the terms and conditions of the SOFA licence." This is currently available at the bottom of every SOFA source file (eg sofa/src/dtdb.c) as well as http://www.iausofa.org/tandc.html. "The copyright of the SOFA Software belongs to the Standards Of Fundamental Astronomy Board of the International Astronomical Union." ... "If your use of SOFA results in a publication, presentation or product, please include a citation. Evidence of your use of the SOFA libraries is necessary to ensure continuing support of the initiative. The following is a suitable form of words: 'Software Routines from the IAU SOFA Collection were used. Copyright © International Astronomical Union Standards of Fundamental Astronomy (http://www.iausofa.org)'."
The copyright and license of this file may be found below.
Copyright Notice
Copyright 2012 Peter Williams
This file is free documentation; the copyright holder gives unlimited permission to copy, distribute, and modify it.