ICEINSPACE
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22-08-2006, 06:20 PM
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Your Brain Drain
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Worrigee, NSW
Posts: 199
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Astro software packages
I was wondering about a better package for the PC as mine is fairly limited so thought I would put it to all of you out there for some advice. I'm currently using the sky edition 1 and could upgrade this one or go for something completely different but wouldn't know where to start. Can anyone help me?
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22-08-2006, 10:01 PM
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Looking Down From Above
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Cootamundra, NSW
Posts: 1,711
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Well, I have used The Sky, CdC and others but my preference is Star Atlas Pro, Advanced Edition, I think, a very nicely put together Australian product  . The other one I use is DeepSky Astronomy Software, a nice charting and Logging program.
There are a couple of nice free one available, CdC and Astrobyte Logging Program come to mind.
Cheers
JohnG
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22-08-2006, 10:10 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sale, VIC
Posts: 6,033
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For Windows Cartes du Ciel seems to be one of the good free ones: http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/
Celestia (that Ken's MW pics came from) is nice and very pretty but more a toy than a serious observing aid at this stage.
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22-08-2006, 10:14 PM
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The 'DRAGON MAN'
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: In the Dark at Snake Valley, Victoria
Posts: 14,412
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by janoskiss
Celestia (that Ken's MW pics came from) is nice and very pretty but more a toy than a serious observing aid at this stage.
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It's called Stellarium, Steve. Yeah, it ain't for serious work, just good to get an overall realistic look at the sky and some basic objects.
Muddy, I agree with Steve, Cartes Du Ciel is good. Stellaris 1.20 is reasonable too. http://www.stellaris-software.com/
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22-08-2006, 10:24 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Sale, VIC
Posts: 6,033
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 thanks Ken. Yes, of course. It's a good one to get started with, helps if you're really lost.
Celestia is a 3-D space simulation program. It's even more of a toy, but a lot of fun. You can visit planets, stars, fly out of the Milky way.
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23-08-2006, 04:06 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
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I won Starry Night 5 Pro Plus @ the recently held Astrofest QLD. And I must
say it is quite awesome, haven't touched The Sky 5 or cdc since. It has
alot of features.
regards,CS
Rob
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23-08-2006, 08:38 AM
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Support your local RFS
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Wamboin NSW
Posts: 12,405
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I use the "Star Atlas Pro" Advanced edition and cannot fault it.
It works very well with my scope and is a good price.
Also being an Australian product was a factor as well.
cheers
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23-08-2006, 01:07 PM
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Colour is over-rated
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newcastle, Australia
Posts: 2,414
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I use Starry Night Pro too..... great package, very customisable in terms of viewing options, a treat to use really. Downloads updates for new comets, asteroids, satellites etc as often as you want too.....
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23-08-2006, 03:29 PM
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~Dust bunny breeder~
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: The town of campbells
Posts: 12,359
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i use CDC. you can get plenty of catalogues to boost it too, like WDS catalogue 
all free!
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24-08-2006, 03:59 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Hunter Valley nsw australia
Posts: 535
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Hi All,
I use the free version of Starry Night Enthusiest,obtained from,I think Pc magazine a couple of years ago.
"To Me" it does all I would ever want.
I use 15x70/20x80, Binoculars most of the time,and this program,shows the night sky from "MY Location",as I would see it Naked eye, or through Binoculars,NOT inverted,like a lot of other programs,I have tried.
Good enough for me.
Everything is still updated,including,Comets,Satellites ,etc.
Regards.
John
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24-08-2006, 07:08 AM
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Colour is over-rated
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newcastle, Australia
Posts: 2,414
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Starry Night Pro can show the view right way up, mirrored, upside down - any way you like, at any magnification - handy for altering the view to match the scope you are using....
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24-08-2006, 07:36 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: E.P. S.A.
Posts: 4,963
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I had the Sky version 1, but when we got Windows XP, it didn't work. So upgraded to the Sky version 6, and its taking me a long time to get use to it. Its got lots of extra stuff but its not a simple as version 1.
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24-08-2006, 10:18 AM
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star-hopper
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Terranora
Posts: 4,403
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I have 6 programs.
Cartes du Ciel
Stellarium
SkyMapPro9
Guide8
DeskTopUniverse
MegaStar4
I use Guide8 the most, then SkyMapPro and DeskTopUniverse.
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24-08-2006, 07:27 PM
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![[1ponders]'s Avatar](../vbiis/customavatars/avatar45_9.gif) |
Retired, damn no pension
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Obi Obi, Qld
Posts: 18,778
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CdC
Starry Night Pro
Stellarium
Autostar Suite
Sky 1
Sky6
Deepsky (planning software that will work in conjunction with CdC)
Starry night 1st choice, followed by CdC. Worst of the lot Autostar Suite. Totally user unfriendly.
I'd love a copy of Star Astlas Pro though. I've read and heard nothing but good reports of it.
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11-09-2006, 08:26 AM
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Let there be night...
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hobart, TAS
Posts: 7,639
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18-09-2006, 05:51 PM
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star-hopper
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Terranora
Posts: 4,403
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Astronomical Free Software Links
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18-09-2006, 06:26 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by [1ponders]
Worst of the lot Autostar Suite. Totally user unfriendly.
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I would have to agree with that, it's is more useless than the stupid CD-rom
that came with my Saxon newt.
Regarding Starry Night Pro, the one thing that really annoys me is trying
to print decent star charts. Where the nubela and galaxies _dont_ come
out in red (of all colours) and although you can change the colour of the
font that labels objects you cant change the colours of the object out
lines. Anyone know how to get around this? I'd love to know.
regards,CS
Rob
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19-09-2006, 12:05 AM
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Shadow Chaser
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Moonee Beach
Posts: 1,945
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For lists and planning I really like Astroplanner http://www.ilangainc.com/ASTROPLANNER/ and a bargain at US$25
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19-09-2006, 10:09 AM
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Support your local RFS
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Wamboin NSW
Posts: 12,405
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I'm glad someone else feels the same way about Autostarsuite, I thought it was just me.
I just use Star Atlas Pro for the scope and then either Envisage or MaximDL for imaging.
cheers
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09-10-2008, 11:34 AM
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Moderator
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NEWCASTLE NSW Australia
Posts: 33,428
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OK just a bit of archaeology with this thread – it has been quite some time and now I see CDC has moved to version 3.0.14. I am interested in this – what catalogues are available for this programme (or what is useful)? The price is right!!
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