----------------------------Original message----------------------------
<Cross posted to GOVDOC-L and MAPS-L>
 
Inserted in the 1999 edition of the United States Naval Observatory's
annual Air Almanac [SuDocs classification D 213.7:999, distributed
under item 0393] was a pink self-addressed questionaire to be returned
"no later than 1 August 1998" which suggests by its tone that Air
Almanac might be discontinued or replaced by software.
 
Does anyone know more about this title and whether the Naval
Observatory might make this data available in electronic format?
There was a reference to MICA (Multiyear Interactive Computer
Almanac at http://aa.usno.navy.mil/AA/ but it doesn't appear to
say whether MICA includes all of the same data as the Air Almanac.
 
I found the following preface to a survey (also due 1 August) on
the web at: http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/nao/survey.html
 
"The Astronomical Almanac is going to be revised. Some of the
proposed changes include:
 
     Removal of outdated sub-sections;
     Provision of a companion CD-ROM to the printed book;
     Introduction of a newer fundamental ephemeris of the Solar
       System in place of DE200/LE200;
     Adoption of the International Celestial Reference System.
 
The entire contents are being reviewed item by item. Some tabular data
may be moved to the CD-ROM, and other data will be replaced or
complemented by software which can calculate, display or print that data.
 
These changes are expected to be introduced into the edition for 2002."
 
Does anyone have more information on this?
 
John Stevenson                  University of Delaware Library
Coordinator,                    Government Documents and Maps
[log in to unmask] - email         181 S. College Ave.
302/831-8671 - voice            Newark, DE 19717-5267
302/831-1046 - fax              Depository 0087