[Visualpython-users] vector precision?

[Martin M. <mm...@mt...>]

Hi Folks,

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Just finishing up  a program to convert observations of RA and Dec into
orbital elements.  I am trying to match the precision of my measuring
instruments, which means I need to worry about how the vector object =
stores
its components.  I know that the regular float variable type has 53 bits =
of
precision.  When I display the contents of the vector, it seems like it =
is
truncating it to something like 24 bits.  Is this just in the display or =
is
this real? IE

Angular Momentum <0.122495, 0.227241, 1.46103>

Magnitude of Angular Momentum 1.48366502545

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Is the output just hiding the extra digits or are they disappearing?  =
Anyone
done any testing on this?

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Thanks!!

mmason

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-------------------------

Martin S. Mason

Professor of Physics

Mt. San Antonio College

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