diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+AC_PREREQ([2.68])
+AC_INIT([CADS_zodiacal_model], [1.0], [cads@iiap.res.in])
+AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([config.h.in])
+AC_CONFIG_HEADERS([config.h])
+AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE(CADS_zodiacal_model, 1.0)
+
+# Checks for programs.
+AC_PROG_CXX
+AC_PROG_CC
+AC_PROG_CPP
+AC_PROG_INSTALL
+AC_PROG_LN_S
+AC_PROG_MAKE_SET
+AC_PROG_RANLIB
+
+# Checks for libraries.
+
+# Checks for header files.
+AC_CHECK_HEADERS([stdlib.h string.h])
+
+# Checks for typedefs, structures, and compiler characteristics.
+
+# Checks for library functions.
+AC_FUNC_MALLOC
+
+LIBS="$LIBS -lm -Wall -pedantic"
+
+#---------------------------------------------------------------------#
+# Now we check for libnova headers and library #
+#---------------------------------------------------------------------#
+LIBS="$LIBS -L/usr/lib -L/usr/lib64 -L/usr/local/lib \
+-L/usr/local/lib64 -lnova"
+CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -I/usr/include -I/usr/include/libnova \
+-I/usr/local/include -I/usr/local/include/libnova"
+
+lnovaerror="
+ +------------------------------------------------------------------+
+ | Unable to find libnova distribution. You may need to get it from |
+ | http://libnova.sourceforge.net/ |
+ +------------------------------------------------------------------+
+"
+AC_ARG_WITH(libnova,
+ [ --with-libnova[=DIR] Location of the libnova distribution],
+ [LNOVA=$with_libnova]
+)
+
+if test x"$LNOVA" != 'x'; then
+ LIBS="-L$LNOVA/lib64 -L$LNOVA/lib -L$LNOVA $LIBS"
+ CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -I$LNOVA -I$LNOVA/include -I$LNOVA/include/libnova"
+fi
+
+AC_MSG_CHECKING(for libnova)
+AC_LINK_IFELSE([AC_LANG_PROGRAM([[
+ #include <stdio.h>
+ #include <stdlib.h>
+ #include <libnova/libnova.h>]],
+ [[ struct ln_lnlat_posn observer;]])],
+ [libnova=yes],[libnova=no])
+AC_MSG_RESULT([$libnova])
+
+if test "$libnova" != "yes"; then
+ AC_MSG_ERROR($lnovaerror)
+fi
+
+
+AC_OUTPUT(Makefile src/Makefile)
+
+echo
+echo " +------------------------------------------------------------------+"
+echo " | Configuration complete |"
+echo " | Type 'make' to compile the software, followed by 'make install' |"
+echo " | All the very best! :-) |"
+echo " | --CADS Software Team |"
+echo " +------------------------------------------------------------------+"
+echo
+