KStars gravitational lensing

[Akarsh Simha]

I implemented this feature, but I did not verify it, nor is it maintained
properly at present. The main source of computational errors isn't so much
calculating the lensing itself (the formula is fairly straightforward), but
in ensuring we have the correct position of the sun, if I recall correctly.
I wouldn't have the time to look into it, but I would assume that it is
unmaintained and therefore not functioning as intended.

This correction is explained in the Explanatory Supplement to the
Astronomical Almanac, and one could take up re-implementing it according to
that book.

Regards
Akarsh


On Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 8:39 PM Jasem Mutlaq <mutlaqja at ikarustech.com>
wrote:

> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm forwarding an email I received from Dr. Lorenzo regarding
> the "Gravitational lensing effects around the Sun" feature in KStars. I
> actually never used this at all, anyone has any ideas?
> --
> Best Regards,
> Jasem Mutlaq
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Lorenzo <bzzlnz at unife.it>
> Date: Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 12:24 AM
> Subject: KStars gravitational lensing
> To: <mutlaqja at ikarustech.com>
>
>
> Dear Jasem,
>
> I am Lorenzo, a post-doc in astrophysics at University of Ferrara,
> Italy. I'm preparing a lecture for high school students on gravitational
> lensing, and I just found out KStars. In particular, the website
> mentions: "Switch on and switch off gravitational lensing effects around
> the sun to understand Eddington’s experiment". I am trying to visualise
> the deflection of starlight caused by the Sun on May 29, 1919, from
> Principe Island (i.e., Eddington’s experiment), however, I am unable to
> observe the expected deflection of nearby stars. Could you please
> clarify if this feature is functioning as intended, or if there are
> specific settings I need to adjust? I've already downloaded some extra
> stars catalogues. Do you confirm that I just have to press the "R" key
> to activate the lensing effects?
>
> Thank you for your time and assistance.
>
> Best,
>
> Lorenzo
>
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