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Cosmic Calculator

A Java application for quickly and accurately converting between redshift-dependent cosmological variables.

Given a user-specified cosmological model, the application will convert between redshift (or equivalent cosmic scale factor), age of the Universe and a range of other useful quantities - including the many different types of distance used in cosmological calculations (see below for a full list of supported quantities).

Features:

  • fully adjustable 3-parameter cosmological model,
  • range of pre-defined parameter sets, including fits to the latest observational data,
  • adjustable precision and formatting of result.

The following quantities are currently supported (*as output only):

  • redshift
  • expansion factor
  • age of the Universe
  • dimensionless Hubble parameter*
  • mean density (relative to critical)*
  • mean matter density (relative to critical)*
  • mean vacuum density (relative to critical)*
  • comoving distance*
  • luminosity distance*
  • angular diameter distance*
  • proper motion distance*

This software is currently at a highly experimental stage. Please send feedback and suggestions for future improvements through the contact page or by using the feedback button below.

Screenshot

Requires Java version 1.5.0 or later. Available as either a simpe JAR file or packaged as 'native' applications for Mac OS X and Windows†. See below for installation instructions.

Installing

Mac OS X

Click the download button to download a compressed disk image containing the application. When the download is complete, open the disk image and drag Cosmic Calculator to your Applications folder.

Windows

Click the download button to download a zip file containing the application. When the download is complete, open the zip file and extract the cosmiccalc.exe executable. This is a stand-alone executable and doesn't require any installation process. To run, simply double-click the executable file.

Other operating systems

Click the download button to download a JAR file containing the application. To run Cosmic Calculator either double-click on the JAR file or type 'java -jar CosmicCalculator.jar' at the command line.

† thanks to Launch4j.

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