next up previous 264
Next: AST_RETAINFITS - Indicate that the current card in a FitsChan should be retained
Up: AST Routine Descriptions
Previous: AST_RESAMPLEX - Resample a region of a data grid


AST_RESOLVE - Resolve a vector into two orthogonal components

Description:
This routine resolves a vector into two perpendicular components. The vector from point 1 to point 2 is used as the basis vector. The vector from point 1 to point 3 is resolved into components parallel and perpendicular to this basis vector. The lengths of the two components are returned, together with the position of closest aproach of the basis vector to point 3.
Invocation:
CALL AST_RESOLVE( THIS, POINT1, POINT2, POINT3, POINT4, D1, D2, STATUS )
Arguments:
THIS = INTEGER (Given)
Pointer to the Frame.
POINT1( $*$ ) = DOUBLE PRECISION (Given)
An array with one element for each Frame axis (Naxes attribute). This marks the start of the basis vector, and of the vector to be resolved.
POINT2( $*$ ) = DOUBLE PRECISION (Given)
An array with one element for each Frame axis (Naxes attribute). This marks the end of the basis vector.
POINT3( $*$ ) = DOUBLE PRECISION (Given)
An array with one element for each Frame axis (Naxes attribute). This marks the end of the vector to be resolved.
POINT4( $*$ ) = DOUBLE PRECISION (Returned)
An array with one element for each Frame axis in which the coordinates of the point of closest approach of the basis vector to point 3 will be returned.
D1 = DOUBLE PRECISION (Returned)
The distance from point 1 to point 4 (that is, the length of the component parallel to the basis vector). Positive values are in the same sense as movement from point 1 to point 2.
D2 = DOUBLE PRECISION (Returned)
The distance from point 4 to point 3 (that is, the length of the component perpendicular to the basis vector). The value is always positive.
STATUS = INTEGER (Given and Returned)
The global status.
Notes:
  • Each vector used in this routine is the path of shortest distance between two points, as defined by the AST_DISTANCE function.

  • This function will return "bad" coordinate values (AST__BAD) if any of the input coordinates has this value, or if the required output values are undefined.


next up previous 264
Next: AST_RETAINFITS - Indicate that the current card in a FitsChan should be retained
Up: AST Routine Descriptions
Previous: AST_RESAMPLEX - Resample a region of a data grid

AST A Library for Handling World Coordinate Systems in Astronomy
Starlink User Note 210
R.F. Warren-Smith & D.S. Berry
24th May 2011
E-mail:ussc@star.rl.ac.uk

Copyright (C) 2009 Science \& Technology Facilities Council