For observation planning, I use
SkyTools.
From the website, it boasts:
- The Observation Planner singles out objects for observation on a particular night, listing the optimum time to observe each.
- Nightly Observing List Generator -- auto-generate observing lists for a specific night, location and instrument. Generate lists of showpieces, interesting deep sky objects, interesting solar system objects, well placed NGC/IC, lesser-known objects, interesting red or variable stars, or appealing double/triple stars.
- Observing Synopses -- auto-generated for any object. Example: "On this night 6P/d'Arrest is best visible between 20:32 and 22:34, with the optimum view at 22:33. Look for it in Grus, fairly high in the southern sky in complete darkness. ... Use the Ultima 35mm eyepiece for optimum visual detection. It is magnitude 10.5 with a diameter of 5.7'. In the following 30 days this object is detectable visually on October 19-26, with the best view coming on October 19. During this period it will fade rapidly and will reach minimum altitude of 13° on November 6. 6P/d'Arrest will next reach perihelion in late February 2015. It is also predicted to reach maximum brightness of magnitude 10.5 in late February."
Have a look, as SkyTools 3 has just come out – I received it a couple of days ago and it is a very powerful observing tool.
Cheers
Dennis