Computer Simulations of Astronomical Phenomena

The basic idea of this project is to introduce a senior student to an astronomical phenomenon that he analyses carefully and simulates on the graphic screen of a personal computer. In a second step, this simulation serves as a demonstration for junior students.Three examples are presented here: the retrograde motion of the planets, the Earth’s rotation, and the precession and the equilibrium figure of the Earth due to tides. Programs have been written on an IBM PC/AT.It would be highly desirable to start an exchange program of material of didatic interest among the international astronomical community