Sky Safari disappointment - not any more!

[MortonH]

Decided to buy the basic version to try it out on my Android tab. I like the general feel and settings except for one major flaw - you have to zoom in way too much before any deep sky objects appear. For example, Leo has to be expanded to fill my 10" screen before any of the Messier galaxies appear. Setting the name densities and magnitude limits to maximum makes no difference.

Other apps such as Stellarium and Vortex don't behave this way so I find this strange. I still don't know the southern sky very well so I like to look at large areas, choose a region with some objects and then zoom in for a more detailed look. With this app you need to know where the objects are first. Definitely puts me off paying for the pro version.

What do others think? Does the iOS version behave the same way?

[rogerco]

Yes, with the magnitude setting on max for deep sky objects they pop up when you enlarge Orion to about a quarter of the screen. Personally it doesn't bother me, I find the drill down approach with more detail showing as you zoom in seeming natural.

[Steffen]

The magnitude limit for stars and DSOs is configurable in Settings and can also be adjusted on the fly by tapping the top left corner. The setting applies to the current field of view and will then scale up and down as you zoom.

For pointing out all the "good stuff" you can also use Search > Tonight's Best and then, in Settings, enable Highlight Objects.

(I'm assuming the Android and iOS versions behave the same way, which they probably do.)

Cheers
Steffen.

[glend]

Yeah just tick the highlight box in tonights best and it will draw little circles around all the Messiers etc that are above the horizon at that time.

[MrB]

Don't know if it's due to it being the droid version, or being the basic version, or the fact that the droid version hasnt been revised recently like the iOS version, but 'Tonights Best' doesn't have a highlight box. It only seems to list what's up, seemingly randomly too.

[Steffen]

Hm, no idea. What I do know is that the Settings feature in Tonight's Best (including the highlighting option) existed in the iOS version before the recent version 4 update.

Cheers
Steffen.

[killswitch]

It must be a limitation for basic. Ive got Skysafari plus on my android and its got the Highlight Objects box.

I go to Search > Messier Objects > Tick Highlight Objects (up top). All the M objects should be labelled now.

[glend]

I run it on Android with no issues but I do have the Plus version. The IOS and Android versions run different release numbers because they were devloped at different times but both have exactly the same functions an operate the same. Its worth the $13 for the Plus because you get Telescope control functions with that versin which is needed for Pushto opeation, and its fun to use.

[MortonH]

OK, so I've used it a bit more and I may have over-reacted a little. I would still prefer the brighter objects to be visible with less zooming in, but everything else about the app is great. It seems more user friendly than the others, has a very good night vision mode and runs very smoothly. I was also able to zoom right in on Jupiter to figure out what transits I saw two nights ago.

With the latest Android version rumoured for March, I'm planning to wait before buying Plus or Pro.

[mithrandir]

From what the SS guys have said it appears they are going to make the version number the same on all platforms when they have the same feature set. I guess there will be differences in the third or maybe a fourth part of the version string for platform specific fixes.

[acropolite]

I used Sky Safari Pro on my iPad at Astrofest for target selection, alongside the Laptop for control. In that application it did a fantastic job. :D

[glend]

When you buy the Android version of Plus or Pro, the version is automatically updated when your Android tablet is connected to the net. On start up Google downloads the new version to your tablet, at no cost. All future versions will come to you this way.

In fact you can run the Sky Safari Plus or Pro app on any Android device that you own without additional cost, as the licesnse is linked to your Google Store account, regardless of device used. I have it on both my Android tablets, they update whenever there is a version release and no charges come my way.

[MrB]

I think Morton has the same idea as me....
When the new iOS version was released, they did a special on the Pro version for ~1/2 price, which is only a little more than the Plus version.
It's rumoured they will do the same with the new release of the driod version :)
(btw, the Plus version is 16.99)

[MortonH]

Yes, that's what I meant - the new version of SS for Android rather than simply a software update to the existing version. I'd be happy to get a new Pro version for around $20 introductory price like they did with SS4 for iOS.

[Amaranthus]

Has anyone used it to successfully drive a Celestron GOTO SCT? I currently use SkyQ with the wifi link,but that app is still quite basic and the touchscreen arrows are frustrating when aligning, so I usually just use the hand control. However, I'd like to do programmed tours, so I'm considering my options. (Nextour is also problematic).

I've got Sky Safari Pro v4 on my iPad, but have not tried the telescope driving part of it yet. Basically, is it worth persisting with?

[Camelopardalis]

Barry - I've used my VX mount (with C8 on board) with it before...you have to do a star alignment (physically) before SS can take over. Then you just watch the cursor sweep across the display :)

Regarding SS for Android - iirc when v4 came out for iOS I'm sure one of the disgruntled posted in here a quote from Southern Stars that they would hold a similar promotion when v2 for Android was launched, but don't quote me.

[Camelopardalis]

I agree with OP, having the DSOs brighter than the magnitude limit would be really useful when zoomed out further IMO. Opt here are other apps that do this regardless.

[Amaranthus]

Thanks Dunk. I have a single arm fork mount (Nexstar SE), so it's an Alt-Az. I wonder if it can handle this? (SkyQ can, but among other annoying things, it forces you to do a sky align and doesn't allow for sync etc.).

I guess the way to find out is to play around and see. I'll report back when I'm done - just waiting for clear skies now...

[Camelopardalis]

There are 5 different choices for Celestron under Scope Type, of which one is 'Nexstar GPS/SLT/SE'...so hopefully it'll work for you :)

Btw, I practiced indoors one cloudy night to test that it all talked...did a dummy alignment on the scope (just hit enter followed by align when faking the alignment - it assumes it's a perfect alignment!) and then let SS take over. I tapped a few targets and it slewed off to where I would expect :)

It requires SkyWire or SkyFi btw.

[MortonH]

Having spent quite some time playing with SS and comparing it to the other similar apps I have, it really is excellent. And I only have the basic version.

The most amazing thing is how fast and responsive it is while also being beautiful to look at.

[Amaranthus]

I really LOVE the way I can specify my telescope-eyepiece combination, get the fields of view set, and then pre-judge what EPs to use on a given object. It also helps, using this method for identifying difficult stellar targets in crowded fields.

I still need to work on getting it to talk to my 8SE via the SkyQ WiFi adaptor.

[Camelopardalis]

Good luck with that Barry...from what I understand, you need their SkyFi adapter for that...

[Amaranthus]

Right. But where there's a will, there *might* be a way :)

[Camelopardalis]

:lol: good luck, keep us posted :thumbsup: