GSoC/GCI Archive
Google Code-in 2014 FOSSASIA

Astronomical Unit Converter - Create a simple GUI application in python for Astronomical Unit Conversion.

completed by: Akshat Tripathi

mentors: Praveen Patil

Note: Please do not claim this task if you have already completed a similar task on unit conversion tool in python.

 

Unit Conversion Tools

Unit conversions are an important part of scientific calculations. Without knowing these conversions our understanding of science would be severely limited. Even if science/math is not a chosen field of study, the average citizen can also benefit from knowing these conversions.

 

The units that most people from the United States are familiar with are the English Units. For instance, you know that a football field is 100 yards long, or that the speed limit on the highway is 65 miles per hour. Most people from other countries however, are not familiar with the English System, instead they know the Metric System.Therefore unit conversion tools have become a necessity in our day-to-day life.

 

Learning Objective of the Task

To learn GUI programming with python and contribute to world of FOSS and Science Education with easy to use applications.

 

Details of the Task

Create a simple GUI application in python for Astronomical Unit Conversion

 

For example astronomical unit to meters

{1 au = 149597870660 meter OR  1parsec is equal 30856776029497 kilometers }.

Consider adding all the related units like parsec, light year, astronomical unit etc...

 

You can use python GUI tools like Tkinter, GTK or wxPython. 

 

In the application one should be able to easily convert  measurements such as parsecs to meters or light year to meters etc.

User should  select units for conversion (To and From) and click on convert button to get the converted value.

 

 Example GUI

 (Its for Temperature. You need to create a similar one for Astronomical Unit conversion..... You are free to use your creativity while designing the GUI  :) )

 

[IMAGE http://wavicles.in/files/2014/12/PIC2003115615208751-1ccwo4f.gif]

 

Share your Learning Experience

During the process of working on this task and/or when you finish it,

 

Some useful links

  1. Light Year  : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light-year
  2. Astronomical unit : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_unit
  3. Example Tool 1: http://www.unit-conversion.info/astronomical.html#data
  4. Python GUI Programming : https://wiki.python.org/moin/GuiProgramming
  5. GUI in python : http://sebsauvage.net/python/gui/