Recommended Planning Software?

[AdamH]

Hi All,

As I'm new this this hemisphere I'm a bit lost to know what to look at (or take bad photos of). I was wondering if anyone could recommend free or reasonably priced planning software. Something that'll tell me what's worth looking at tonight.

I've got Cartes du Ciel and Stellarium, and they're both great but not too good for this discovery phase.

Many thanks,

Adam

[Merlin66]

Check out AstroPlanner...it does everything - other than make the coffee!
Highly recommended.
http://www.astroplanner.net/

[gary]

Hi Adam,

The two most popular commercial observing planning programs are -

(as mentioned in the previous post) - Astroplanner - http://www.astroplanner.net/
and the other is Sky Tools - http://www.skyhound.com/

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[mishku]

Hi Adam :)

Not sure if it's the lazy way out, but I like to plan for the *easy* things I'll be able to find myself, then seek some recommendations from some of the more experienced folks for suggestions. I'm hopeless at directions and navigating, so this way I can improve my navigational skills AND get to see some fabulous things to keep motivation levels high :)

[AdamH]

I'm giving astroplanner a trial run now, but am finding it a little non-obvious to use. Once you've created a plan I can't see an easy way to search and add more items to it.
I've watched the demo video for Sky Tools, and it looks similar to astroplanner but somewhat slicker. Does anyone know if they do a trial/demo version at all?

[tonybarry]

Adam, you might want to have a look in the Projects & Articles section here:-

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-268-0-0-1-0.html

There are a number of good lists of "things for southern observers".

I used Paul Mayo's lists for over a year till I got Astroplanner. Personally I think it cannot be beaten - and the developer (Paul Rodman) is very responsive.

Regards,
Tony Barry

[norm]

Hi Adam, I have sky tools v3 standard edition and find it great to use. Simple and quick to get up to speed with. NOt sure if there is a demo version though.

Cheers Norm (from sunny Phuket :-) )

[jakob]

[QUOTE=gary;807931]Hi Adam,

The two most popular commercial observing planning programs are -

(as mentioned in the previous post) - Astroplanner - http://www.astroplanner.net/
and the other is Sky Tools - http://www.skyhound.com/

Best Regards

Gary Kopff


Gary,
Is there a simple way to transfer a list to the ArgoNavis?
Which prorgam is better suited to a transfer?
Do you have preference?

Thanks, Jakob.

[AdamH]

Thanks Tony,

I'll definitely look at those lists for reference.

Also the author of Sky Tools has confirmed that he doesn't provide a demo, just the videos and a refund if you don't like it.

[gary]

Hi Jakob,

Happy New Year!

They both directly support Argo Navis.

For example, on AstroPlanner, there are a couple of ways.
There is a Telescope- > Download Plan to Argo Navis menu where if you
have the Argo Navis interfaced to your computer, it will download the plan
directly into the unit as an Argo Navis user catalog. The dialog that appears
(see image attached below from the User Manual) includes features such
as the ability to add a prefix to each entry so that the objects will appear in
the Argo Navis User's catalog in a pre-sorted "observing order".

One of the features of Argo Navis is that if you dial up MODE CATALOG
and then drill down to a specific object until the bottom line of the display shows
the word GUIDE, if you then spin the dial one "click" clockwise, Argo Navis
will then advance to the next object in that catalog. Catalog entries are
lexicographically sorted so the ability to add some prefix us as "001", "002"
to the name of each object will then dictate their ordering within the catalog.

AstroPlanner also has a File -> Export -> Argo Navis User Catalog menu
which allows you to export the catalog as a file and then use Wildcard
Innovations' own Argonaut utility to load it at a later time.

SkyTools also provides connection to the Argo Navis as part of its Real Time tool
suite in the Professional Edition or as as purchased add-on to the Standard Edition.

Both are excellent programs.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[Makronti]

Hi Adam

I use DeepSky software, I find it great. It is very accurate and easy to use. There is an updated version in 2011.

http://www.deepskysoftware.net/

[mswhin63]

I have only just started to investigate astro plannning software I am currently using Tonightsky (http://njstargazer.org/PROG/PROG.asp).

So far it is not bad and includes EQTour data download for EQMod. I have yet to try it but it is a great way to automate the scope to few DSO in some order.

[AdamH]

It sounds like there's more options than I thought. I was having enough problems deciding between the original two!

[Makronti]

Adam, none of the "original" Cartes du Ciel and Stellarium are planing software. CDC enables you to draw sky charts, and Stellarium is a planetarium program. If you want a planning software you have to use some of the special programs for this reason mentioned before.

[DavidLJ]

Hi Adam. I'll give a plug for SkyTools. I have the professional version but consider the extra cost well spent. It's basically a lifetime investment so that its cost is very small when spread out over the many years that you will use it. And since I got it about 18 months ago I don't think that I've needed to refer to any other paper or software source for my imaging / viewing sessions. And I've found that it has directed me to many accessible objects of interest that I doubt I would have found otherwise. If you have an ASCOM linked telescope (or even Argo Navis) the experience of navigating around the sky in real time using its interactive atlas can't be beat.

[knightware]

You might also look at Deep-Sky Planner. There is a trial version at http://knightware.biz/dsp/trial.htm

The full version supports downloading plans to Argo Navis or Sky Safari 3 but the trial does not.