Lookinf for a simple (I hope) graphics program

[Golan2072]

Looking for a simple (I hope) graphics program

Originally from this thread:

I DID make a 2D map of near space that I like, but I had to make several assumptions that others may not agree with that could make it work or not work for someone else.

I used the HYG star list, converted everything to galactic XYZ coordinates and distance. I then used the X and Y values to calculate an angle called THETA (for lack of a better term). Where 0 degrees Theta was Coreward. I then plotted all the stars using Theta and the true distance.

I tried doing something similar and ran into the same problem. I like your solution of "thinning out" the stars and ignoring some of the nameless Type-M's; however some of them seem to have potential for habitable planets look here or here).

Also, how did you plot the locations of these stars on the map? I did it by hand with a ruler and a protractor and it was a messy and inaccurate chore. Is there any free computer program capable of doing this?

So, is there any such free program? What I need is an application that would take an angle and a distance from a center point and draw a point (hopefully with a short text-string tag that I input) at the relevant location. Scale should be adjustable. And it should export results in GIF/PCX/BMP/JPG or any other common graphics format.

 

[BeRKA]

You can do this with GD. Easy to program using the perl GD module. If You need a GUI, You can use Gimp.