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Celestial data information- is it accurate?

Posted: 04.07.2017, 01:58
by brida1709
Greetings!

I just want to say how impressed I am on the Celestia software I downloaded earlier today. Mostly, I am curious about something though. Where does the authors and programmers acquire information for the stars and planets that is displayed within the program? For example, I noticed within the star browser, I compared the information with the nearest stars and brightest ones. As I began to select and "go to" each of the stellar bodies, the distances and apparent magnitudes changed. Is the information scientifically accurate? If so, what references do you use to inputting the dynamics of the stellar neighborhoods and magnitudes of nearby stars around the user's location? Many thanks again for a superb application! Well done!!