[slice of heaven]

Whew. That could make for a long post Thiink.

We've spent a bit of time on it this week. Our family room come telescope rebuild shop had become a hospital ward, Alex -tonsils out ,Kita - broken leg, so I've been hanging out with them on their computer.

Basically it's user time that count's. And setting your preferences.
1) set your location and time.
2) set your preferences : taskbar-file-preferences. Theres a drop down pane . one selection is for Hud controls- what info you want displayed when you hover on an object. simplify or expand on what suits you. Me, I only have name and az/alt showing as more info is avail by right click- show info when you hover on the object. The other prefs are the same ,adjust to suit your needs.
3) Taskbar :Self explanitory View - you can adjust WHAT objects you want shown. Options - more prefs on HOW you want objects shown e.g. star brightness,different colour labels for different objects etc
4) zoom slider : magnifies the view . Though I've found it magnifies different objects at different rates it's handy to set at what you know you see in an ep if your looking for an object thats been evading you. (scroll wheel zooms also)
5)View options panel : hot keys -cont j- : Lots more goodies to play with
6)Hover : Left click to label : Left click and hold ; gives you the angular seperation between 2 objects (handy for starhopping for those with a Telrad) . Double left click ; shows info : Right click ; another popup for more localized options on the object selected .

7) Anyone know where the chainsaw is ? I can't change the view of the local horizon and the trees are in the road . I've selected other views but the grass and trees always show.

I think thats the major points .The main thing is to strip it down and only show exactly what you want to see. When you first load it ,it is exactly as Starkler said " Eye candy ", but stripped down it's a handy tool.

Slice