The program is supplied as a self-extracting ZIP file called COMET.EXE. Download the COMET.EXE file to a folder you have created and run the COMET.EXE file. The files required to create a full working copy CMTWIN32 will be extracted and decompressed into that folder. To run CMTWIN32 just double click on the CMTWIN32.EXE file.

The CMT_EPHM.EXE utility will allow the user to download the comet orbital elements from the Observable Comets web page and convert those downloaded elements into the CMTWIN32 format.

It can determine orbits of artificial Earth satellites and for satellites of other planets. It exists as both a 16-bit Windows program, and as a 32-bit Windows program (above the second). The only difference between the two is that the 32-bit version is considerably faster.

Features offered include:

• Calculates the ephemerides of a comet or asteroid for a given moment;
• Calculates the visibility of a comet or asteroid for a given place, taking into account the horizon and the effect of the refraction due to the atmospheric pressure and to the temperature of the air.
• Calculates the parameters of magnitude (g) and (k) of a comet using the ASCII files from the IAUC or by directly inputting the required values;
• Calculates the absolute magnitude (h) of an asteroid using the same procedure;
• Calculates the orbital parameters of a celestial body from observations made;
• Searches in the archives of comets and asteroids for an object whose equatorial coordinates at a given instant coincide with those observed in a direct observation or photography
• Converts a date to the Julian calendar and vice-versa
• Shows the position of a celestial body over the horizon and by reference to the Sun and Moon and calculates the Moon Phases.
• Shows a celestial sphere with stars down to mag. 5.4
• Recalculates the orbital elements of a comet or asteroid from one date to another by taking into account the main disturbing factors of solar system orbits.

You can display light curves of comets using observations around the world, calculate the magnitude formula based on that data, predict future brightness of comets, make a plan to observe comets, draw chart and look up magnitude of comparison stars, and so on.

Tools are provived to import data from most common formats/sources as well as to input new orbital elements.