% ASTROSYM.DOC : AstroSym (Version 1.00, May 1, 1992) - file 1 of 7
% Peter Schmitt                     eMail: a8131dal@awiuni11.bitnet
% Institute of Mathematics, University of Vienna    Vienna, Austria
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* AstroSym : astronomical symbols *
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*  ( Version 1.0 - May 1, 1992 )  *
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ASTROSYM is a font containing the astronomical symbols used for the
planets and the signs of the zodiac.
The shapes of the symbols are taken from various sources.
For some symbols more than one shape was found - for these
symbols variants are included.
The shapes were reviewed by some historians and astronomers, and the 
`main shape' reflects their preference.

The main style used for the symbols in AstroSym is calligraphic (strokes
of varying breadth). An additional version uses a uniform stroke.
It is supplied in two variants (thin and thick strokes).
The size of the symbols, and the breadth of the stroke, can easily
be changed in the driver file.
The MetaFont code of AstroSym uses the plain base, but is completely
independent of the cm-fonts.

The AstrSym-font contains the following characters:
    calligraphic style:
       \char0  - \char10 : main shape - the planetary system
       \char11 - \char22 : main shape - the signs of the zodiac
       \char23 - \char28 : variant shapes
    uniform stroke, bold : \char100 - \char128
    uniform stroke, thin : \char200 - \char228

The package contains the following seven files:
    ASTROSYM.DOC  this file
    ASTROSYM.MF   the driver file
    ASTROSYM.MAC  the macro file
    ASTROSYM.COM  character definitions - common to both styles
    ASTROSYM.CAL  character definitions - calligraphic style only
    ASTROSYM.UNI  character definitions - uniform stroke only
    ASTROSYM.TEX  sample file with symbol list

Comments and suggestions are welcome.
Since I am curious if the font is useful (and how it looks in practice) 
I would appreciate a short message (with reference) - or even some sample
page(s) - if it is used in a publication.

==========================================================
 Peter Schmitt                           Strudlhofgasse 4
 Institut f\"ur Mathematik                    A-1090 Wien
 Universit\"at Wien                               Austria
----------------------------------------------------------
 a8131dal@awiuni11.bitnet   schmitt@awirap.bitnet
         @vm.univie.ac.at          @apap.pap.univie.ac.at
==========================================================

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