TheSky vs Starry Nights vs StarAtlas

[DaveO (David)]

Hi All

Ok, next question. If you are going to part with your hard earned dollars, which of the following do you recommend and why?

• TheSky
• Starry Nights
• StarAtlas Pro
• Others?

I am looking to control a SkyWatcher Goto mount, prepare star charts and plan and record observations. All comments are appreciated.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I can't comment on SA Pro but for simple useability I much prefer Starry Night to The Sky. I've used most versions of SN from Enthusiast 4.5 up to the latest Pro version. I've also used The Sky 5 and 6.

[iceman (Mike)]

Star Atlas Pro is a great product, aussie produced and owned. And a proud supporter of IceInSpace events and competitions, too!

They all have pros and cons, you really can't go wrong.

[Striker (Tony)]

I use starry nights and love it but can't comment on the others...I have never tried them.

[rogerg (Roger)]

I use TheSky 6. I got TheSky 4 with my SBIG and have stuck with them since because of the integration between CCDSoft and TheSky, and the compaitbility with many other pieces of software such as CCD Commander that I'm now starting to use for automation.

The thing that anoys me most about TheySky 6 is it's speed. I haven't used Starry Night to be able to compare, but I find TheSky relatively slow on my 2.4gighz machine. But, I do have a few extra databases linked in including USNOA2 that's about 7gb.

The way I look at it:
- For general browsing around the sky, easy use casual observing etc, I have heared Starry Night is the best.
- For a more "technical" aproach to things (like plate matching, ccd imaging, etc, plugging in all the large databases, etc) TheSky is better.

I haven't used StarAtlas Pro, I probably should have considerred it, I like to support australian businesses, but TheSky is so well supported and compatible, I just didn't want to risk some incompatibilities when I'm trying to link it up with other programs.

Roger.

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

I have used the sky, starry night Cartes duciel, but always come back to Skymap Pro, dont know why, but main reason would have to be, I have used it since version 3 so fairly used to it. Does everything I need it to do, which is what it's all about IMO.

[CoombellKid]

I use the Sky, did have the freebies out there, I would always recommend
Cartes duciel, it's pretty good considering it's free. I tried the trail version
of SN until it wouldn't work anymore. It has a nice comfortable interface
and probably a lil more user friendly than the Sky. But I think I like the Sky
better, probably because that is what I'm stuck with for now. Still I think
it's pretty good, although one thing does stick out and the is the Daylight
Saving option seems a lil screwed up on my version. It's seem when we
set the clock forward I have to set mine to New Zealand for the sky to match.

regards,CS

Rob

[Dennis]

Hi David

It might be worth hooking up with the Brisbane Astronomical Society and attending a meeting or two. At most meetings, there is a laptop with SNP and The Sky, so you could get a look and feel and ask questions of the users?

Cheers

Dennis

PS - I have all 3 and use SNP for planning and visualisations and The Sky for telescope control in the field.

[fringe_dweller]

Interesting this came up - been reading recently a lot about how Software Bisque TheSky is coming to the mac, maybe early next year for release? But porting is apparently well underway even now - Open GL as well :-).
Making it only the second full blown commercial Planetarium program to ever do so (never got into redshift in the old days tho - what I saw of it looked ordinary) Starry Night has had us all to themselves so far - pretty awesome the old SNP I have

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

For cost; the CDC is the answer. For maximum capabilities and integration The Sky,V5/6 ( There's an older version, V4 going cheap in the buy/sell forum) and for general telescope control with facility to record observations it's got to be AstroPlanner!!! The database and "sky tours" expands everyday.
My 2c worth.

[johnno]

I have the free version of Starry Nights,That came with (I think)PC World,last year,
Just Checked, It was the April 2005 edition.

I love it.

In fact,it is the ONLY program I use now,it is the Enthusiest Version,very basic,(like me)

I do a LOT more observing with Binoculars,than anything else,and this program not only shows me,where things are.
BUT THE WAY I WILL SEE THEM,WITH 2 EYES,OR BINOCULARS.

NOT,oriented to the northern perspective,like a lot of other programs,
Nothing wrong with this,of course,

But as a Binocular user,its easier FOR ME,to find objects,if they are presented as I would NORMALLY see them.

Free Updates are available,so all Comets,etc,etc. are easily found

Regards.
John

[JohnG (John)]

I suppose this comes down to a matter of preference and how you handle the interface. I use Star Atlas Pro as my primary program when I am hunting things down, because of my setup, I have to use the ASCOM interface and just update my Gemini Driver when needed, I have never had a problem with this program, and, of course it is Australian, anytime I have needed help it was always prompt and friendly. Another program I find usefull is CDC, and, has been said, is free with Version 3 in the beta testing, it is looking good with a huge database, I use this program when I have people at my Observatory to show them where the telescope is pointing and general area identification. As far as logging is concerned, I use Deepsky Astromomy Software, once again it has a huge database and an excellent system of logging your observations. You might also want to look on SAC downloads page, there is a very nice observation logging program called Astrobyte Logging Software available, free.

As already said, see if you can find someone with the programs you want and have a test run.

JohnG