Standards of Fundamental Astronomy explained

Standards of Fundamental Astronomy
Latest Release Version:	2018-01-30
Latest Release Date:	2018-01-30
Programming Language:	C and Fortran
Operating System:	Cross-platform
Genre:	Numerical library
License:	SOFA Software License
Website:	http://www.iausofa.org/

The Standards of Fundamental Astronomy (SOFA) software libraries are a collection of subroutines that implement official International Astronomical Union (IAU) algorithms for astronomical computations.

As of February 2009 they are available in both Fortran and C source code format.

Capabilities

The subroutines in the libraries cover the following areas:

• Calendars
• Time scales
• Earth's rotation and sidereal time
• Ephemerides (limited precision)
• Precession, nutation, polar motion
• Proper motion
• Star catalog conversions
• Astrometric transformations
• Galactic Coordinates

Licensing

As of the February 2009 release, SOFA licensing changed to allow use for any purpose, provided certain requirements are met.^[1] Previously, commercial usage was specifically excluded and required written agreement of the SOFA board.^[2]

See also

• Naval Observatory Vector Astrometry Subroutines

External links

• SOFA Home Page
• Scholarpedia overview of SOFA
• International Astronomical Union and Working group "Standards of Fundamental Astronomy

Notes and References

1. .
2. .