VIII.3. Exerting control over the picture

To initiate orbital motion click on any of the icons in tool bar with red sign + or –, permitting also to speed or to slow planet motion by repeated clicking on them.

By clicking on the other icons user has possibility to change point of viewing with step 10 degrees in longitude and/or in latitude. Also it is possible to reverse planet motion by clicking on the extreme left icon. By repeated clicking on corresponding icons it is possible to enlarge or to reduce the scale of the picture within the limits from 1 AU to 100 AU.

To stop motion click on STOP button in the Toolbar.

Selecting Orbits item in menu bar and by subsequent choosing corresponding items in drop-down menu one can also fulfil the above actions. This is particularly true in regard to the scale change as in this way it is possible to enter necessary value instantaneously.

To enter new initial epoch or to change list of minor or major planets which are shown in the picture, select Orbits in menu bar and then select Input data in drop-down menu.

In case one need to construct more pictorial view of orbital plane of some minor planet, eliminate the other minor planets from view, if any, with the aid of option Input data and then, after clicking on Orbits, select the item Line of nodes in drop-down menu. The part of orbital plane above ecliptic which is bounded by orbit and the line of nodes will change to a blue color. As this takes place, position of orbital plane in space is clearly demonstrated.

User also has possibility to change colors used for drawing, for painting background, sky, objects, coordinate axes, and so on. In addition there is possibility to change font used for numbers and inscriptions. To do so, select Orbits and choose Options... in drop-down menu. In the Orbits: Colors and Fonts dialog box choose needed parameter and change it in accordance with available examples of color, fonts, sizes, etc. and press OK button.

User has possibility to save plot of orbits or to print it using standard means. To save the file select

File in menu bar and then Save As... in drop-down menu.

To print plot of orbits select File in menu bar and then take advantage of options Print Preview, Print Setup, Print. For more details see VII.4. Saving and printing results.