This release of Distro Astro centers around software used by expert astronomers

Distro Astro

Linux Distribution for Astronomy

RELEASES

Release Notes – 2.0 Pallas

Introduction

Distro Astro 2.0 is released, codenamed Pallas.

Astronomy pc software is categorized into approximately two broad categories those for amateur astronomers and astronomers that are professional. While the amateur astronomy software that is best are currently written for Microsoft Windows, the opposite holds true for expert software which are mostly written for Unix/Linux.

While Distro Astro aims to deliver the experience that is best for both expert and amateur astronomers, it may need us longer to achieve this goal for amateur astronomers.

It therefore is sensible for us in 2.0 Pallas to pay attention to enhancing the circulation for expert use, also to focus on amateur astronomy in 3.0 Juno. This may additionally offer needed pc software more time to mature.

For the detail by detail set of what’s new, begin to see the complete Change Log.

Download It Now

Distro Astro 2.0 Pallas is available for down load as a LiveDVD ISO. This is often the ISO that is same file on November 20, 2013 at the SEAYAC meeting in Bandung, Indonesia.

If you want to install now, you may go to the Download Section and proceed with the directions provided in that web page.

Features of Pallas

Listed below are the features in Distro Astro 2.0 Pallas

Updated Kernel from 3.2.0 to 3.8.0We know it’s not the newest kernel, but we have tested this for stability and compatibility utilizing the astronomy software we provide. Linux 3.8.0 could be the kernel that is same in Ubuntu Raring Ringtail and Linux Mint 15 Olivia.

The kernel change is supplied via the Ubuntu LTS Hardware Enablement Stack (HES). Being based on Ubuntu LTS repositories (currently Precise), Distro Astro utilizes the HES to supply kernel updates. Capacity to Dual B t with Windows 8.Distro Astro 1.0.2 cannot dual b t with Windows 8. It could be installed by allowing Legacy B t on Windows 8 machines, however you shall need certainly to eliminate Windows 8.

Distro Astro 2.0 now enables you to b t that is dual Distro Astro and Windows 8. You nonetheless still need to enable Legacy B t, and install it the then way you’ll ordinarily dual-b t Linux and Windows either by partitioning it beforehand or utilising the Ubiquity installer to create partitioning.
Support for Touch-Screen MonitorsWell, this really isn’t a big deal for some astronomers it’s nice to know that the newer X drivers that comes with Pallas now supports touch screen like us, but. All things considered, it may function as the input device into the future.

Even though older Distro Astro 1.0.2 Ceres didn’t support touch screen, you can connect in a mouse.
Our very APT that is own!Ok, this really isn’t totally new. Prerelease versions of Distro Astro (versions 0.1 to 0.8) had an APT repository in apt.astromedia.ph. The repository stopped being functional whenever we moved to the distroastro domain. Therefore it had been removed in 1.0 Ceres to prevent mistake messages during apt-get.

Our APT that is new repository based in packages.distroastro . Its now included and enabled by standard in the /etc/sources.list file of 2.0 Pallas.

APT is short for Advance Packaging T l and is the program administration t l used in Debian-based systems.
Automatic Upgrades of Astronomy SoftwareRelated towards the addition of a APT repository would be the automatic improvements. Ubuntu repositories never ordinarily offer upgrades to new variations, only updates within the version that is same. Thus, you might be stuck with e.g. Stellarium 0.11.0 throughout the LTS cycle.

The developers of Distro Astro decided to produce upgraded versions of included computer software in the Distro Astro repositories. Packages perhaps not found in Ubuntu repositories, e.g., XEphem, are maintained into the Distro Astro repositories.

We plan to keep astronomy pc software inside our repositories upgraded to your latest versions that are stable backported to the latest Ubuntu LTS libraries.

Nevertheless, to do this effectively we truly need volunteers to keep up debian packages within our repositories, checking for brand new stable versions and building suitable packages for each upstream release that is new.
Concentrate on Professional Astronomy UseDistro Astro 2.0 Pallas has improved compatibility with pc software utilized by professional astronomy, e.g., IRAF now has FITS set as standard image kind and CASA are now able to become more easily installed.

Our developers recognize that many astronomers are moving to Python as being a preferred program writing language, and 2.0 Pallas reflects this trend. The preinstalled Python Astropack includes PyRAF, AstroPy, PyFITS, PyWCS, VOTable, NOVAS, and astrolib.c rds. In addition, the repositories also contain SciPy, CosmoloPy, APLPy, PyEphem, and NASA’s OSCAAR pc software which can be installable via apt-get.

Also acknowledging the vast amount of legacy FORTRAN computer software for astronomy, our repositories have both GFortran and G95 to help you to run the majority of them. GFortran is set up by default while G95 is available via apt-get.
Upgrade Ceres to PallasIf you have Ceres installed and desire to upgrade to Pallas, we now have written a script that is upgrade. Just download it and run it.

Warning the upgrade takes hours that are several. You will need a consistent online connection. Don’t interrupt the upgrade or you may end up getting a system that is broken.
Still an LTS release.This might not be an attribute for many who’re seeking an updated repository base, but we did this on purpose. Regardless of the update in kernel and graphics stack, we have held compatibility because of the present support that is long-TermLTS) repository, presently Precise. Which means Pallas will continue to be supported until 2017. Whenever we switched up to a Quantal, Raring or Saucy base we might be dealing with end of life very quickly.

If you should be currently happy with 1.0.2, there is no need to update. We’re nevertheless utilizing the same Ubuntu base as Ceres.

Just What didn’t make it?

The features that are following prepared but would not make it into 2.0 Pallas

1. Upgrade to Mate 1.6Distro Astro uses the MATE Desktop Environment. Presently we are using Mate 1.4. But, modifications to the means settings are conserved avoided us to update to Mate 1.6 for this launch. We are in need of time porting Distro Astro settings from mateconf to gsettings.
2. Support for CompizSome users of Distro Astro prerelease versions 0.1 to 0.4 (predicated on Natty Narwhal and Gnome 2) had been operating compiz. The update to 1.0 Ceres disabled compiz. This is because the switch from Gnome 2 to Mate. Compiz doesn’t make use of Mate 1.4. There have been indications into Pallas that it can be made to work in Mate 1.6, but our efforts went to naught when it became clear the Mate 1.6 would not make it.
3. EkosEkos is really a astrophotography that is complete by Jasem Mutlaq. We attempted to backport it into Precise but failed. Since Ekos is currently in Raring and Saucy, users whom need it are recommended to make use of the newest Ubuntu or Mint releases. For a edge that is bleeding of Ekos you may possibly use the feeld app reviews Ekos VM released by its author.

Whenever Distro Astro switches to a brand new Ubuntu 14.04 LTS base in 3.0 Juno, Ekos is included.