MacBook Pro and iOS devices - Software / App Suggestions

[Jin-oh Choi]

I have a MacBook 13-inch, Mid 2012, iPhone 5 and iPad 2.

It looks like I'll be taking the plunge and buying my first telescope (2nd hand) via this forum. A friend of mine who is also here is communicating with the seller.

It's a Celestron 80 LCM Computerised Refractor Telescope.

What software / apps should I have on my MacBook Pro and iOS devices to compliment my astronomy experience.

[coldknights (Cathy)]

Hi for the Mac you can download Stellarium for free and for the ios try SkySafari 4 pro (Around $40 ) I think if you are wishing to connect to the mount and move it around ...
but in saying that for the mac with Stellarium you can use Bluetooth but with ios only wifi hope this helps.

They are 2 good ways of learning the night sky by looking at the program or app and looking up at the night sky and saying Oh that is it and there is that and so on.
I have the same scope as you as well easy to use.

[tonybarry (Tony)]

Hi Jin-Oh,

Sky Safari Pro is very very good on Mac ($60). I have it on MBP, iPad, and iPhone. Makes many things easier. Info is very comprehensive on all kinds of objects. Beautiful interface and graphics.

Astroplanner is a seriously good planetarium program ($60). I use it All The Time. If you need sky charts down to 16th magnitude, it has UCAC4 as a catalogue. I use it to make finder charts for occultations of minor planets (asteroids) and it cannot be beat. Will download Palomar Obs. Sky Survey images of your chosen area of sky.

Nebulosity is the third app ($60). Will do stacking and dark subtraction and all kinds of stuff.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Tony Barry