iPhone/iPod Touch - new Voyager planetarium/scope ctrl software
I am a dedicated user of CarinaSoft's "Voyager" planetarium & scope control software. It's been around for decades for both Mac and Windows, and is my favourite system by far.
Should be very good judging by their usual offering...and onlu US$14.99!!! Should absolutely kill PocketSky.
Quote:
For the iPhone and iPod Touch
SkyVoyager is a powerful planetarium program for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It is designed for both beginners and advanced users. It contains a database of 300,000 stars to 10th magnitude, and 30,000 deep sky objects, including the entire NGC and IC catalogs. It renders the planets and moons in detail, using NASA mission imagery, and includes a database of several hundred asteroids, comets, and artificial satellites.
SkyVoyager accurately shows the sky from any location on Earth, at any time up to 100 years in the past or future. It is a precise astronomical calculator, computing the positions of solar system objects to sub-arcsecond precision with the latest JPL planetary ephemerides.
SkyVoyager also includes informative, plain-English descriptions of the constellations, planets, moons, stars, and deep sky objects. It contains hundreds of images from NASA space missions, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the world's foremost amateur and professional astro-photographers.
Finally, if you have a computer-controlled telescope, SkyVoyager can use the WiFi capabilities built into your iPhone or iPod Touch to point it in the sky. To do this, you will also need a WiFi-to-serial adapter; see the WiFi Scope Control page for more details.
SkyVoyager's simple user interface, and its ability to wirelessly control your telescope, make it an invaluable tool for exploring the heavens.
SkyVoyager is exclusively available through the iTunes App Store, and runs on the iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPod Touch.
The download price is $14.99 (USD). The app weighs in at 54 MB; here's what you get with your purchase:
1 Sun
9 Planets (counting Pluto!)
22 Moons
88 Constellations
110 Satellites
298 Comets
327 Asteroids
1,418 City locations
31,831 Star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies
312,088 Stars
Educational Content
SkyVoyager doesn't just contain facts, figures, and graphics. It's an educational astronomy field reference, including:
37 Planet and Moon Descriptions
51 Constellation Prints
65 Reference Diagrams
88 Constellation Guides
144 Solar System Images
187 Deep Sky Object Images
471 Deep Sky Object Descriptions
487 Star Descriptions
The app includes extensive on-line help. It even contains the "Basic Concepts" chapter from our SkyGazer desktop software. SkyVoyager is a complete astronomy handbook that fits in your pocket!
WiFi Scope Control
SkyVoyager can use your iPhone or iPod's WiFi capability to control the following GoTo telescopes:
Meade LX-200 classic and GPS
Meade LX-90, ETX, LXD, RCX-400
Meade Magellan I and II
Celestron Ultima 2000
Celestron NexStar and NexStar GPS
Celestron CGE, GTO, CPC, SLT series
iOptron SmartStar/GOTONova
Orion Sirius, Atlas, SkyView Pro, Intelliscope
Takahashi Temma 2
ServoCAT Argo Navis, Sky Commander, Losmandy DSC
Astro-Physics GTO, Losmandy Gemini, Vixen SkySensor 2000
In order to communicate with your telescope, we've created SkyFi, a revoutionary device that lets your iPhone or iPod touch drive the scope using its built-in WiFi capability. You can also use our Voyager software, running on a Mac or PC with WiFi and a serial port. See the WiFi Scope Control page for more details.
I'm finally caving in and getting the 3GS on Friday, as Optus isn't getting the Sony-Ericsson Xperia X1 anymore. The iPhone now has copy and paste (hello, 20th Century!) and is now where Nokia's were over ten years ago.
So, thanks for this, I'll get it! Have you been able to control your G-11 with it?
Seems like a neat little app for the iPhone. It might be worth the download, however I really don't know what I would use it for. Maybe if the mount had built-in wifi, but that is a different story.
I just upgraded my iPhone to version 3 software. The only major changes are the capability of MMS and cut and paste (Real cutting edge technology!). The other minor upgrades aren't really worth mentioning. Like Humayun has already said, the iPhones are where most phones were 10 years ago. Although I must admit they do make up for this in other areas. There is no doubt about that.
Mmmm... Just tried it. A good start for a version 1.0 app compared to others, but it is obviously a port of a desktop app and, as such, needs a lot more work to make it useable in the field with a scope, compared to StarMap Pro.
It seems to me the author is a bit confused as to what he's trying to deliver - a sky simulator for the classroom, an electronic skychart to use outside at night (its not a decent substitute for Sky Atlas, its far too awkward on a tiny screen) or a telescope controller. IMHO its not advisable for a single app to try to be all three in one. For a start its user interface is way too bright to use outside in the dark and lacks a nightvision mode, so kiss your nightvision goodbye.
Too many nitpicks to go into here but IMHO StarMap Pro is far better if you want something to use at a scope in the dark.
And for those of us who don't own an iPod or iPhone...I dislike Apple's business practices and hardware lock in. I bought a Creative mp3 player that was (and still is) better sound quality wise than anything Apple offers. Nada for me...
And for those of us who don't own an iPod or iPhone...I dislike Apple's business practices and hardware lock in. I bought a Creative mp3 player that was (and still is) better sound quality wise than anything Apple offers. Nada for me...
Dave
You've made it clear you're not an Apple fan David. That doesn't sway me at all - and it's OK because not everyone will appreciate their philosophy. The reason Apple hardware and software worked so comparatively seamlesslessly and reliably through Systems 7,8,9 and now 10 is that the software WAS locked to the hardware. Rightfully so, Apple dictated how the architecture would be applied by software vendors and the result was proper integration. Don't even think of persuading me otherwise (LOL!) - I've been using the gear professionally since 1984 and have been heavily involved in development of real-world publishing solutions on both platforms.
Mmmm... Just tried it. A good start for a version 1.0 app compared to others, but it is obviously a port of a desktop app and, as such, needs a lot more work to make it useable in the field with a scope, compared to StarMap Pro.
It seems to me the author is a bit confused as to what he's trying to deliver - a sky simulator for the classroom, an electronic skychart to use outside at night (its not a decent substitute for Sky Atlas, its far too awkward on a tiny screen) or a telescope controller. IMHO its not advisable for a single app to try to be all three in one. For a start its user interface is way too bright to use outside in the dark and lacks a nightvision mode, so kiss your nightvision goodbye.
Too many nitpicks to go into here but IMHO StarMap Pro is far better if you want something to use at a scope in the dark.
Good to hear your feedback. After following the development of Voyager over the past few years, I know that Tim and the mob there react very swiftly to user input. I'm pretty confident that this app (which surprised everyone - it was never even mentioned until release) will mature over the next little while. Too bright? Tell them. They'd appreciate the info!
You've made it clear you're not an Apple fan David. That doesn't sway me at all - and it's OK because not everyone will appreciate their philosophy. The reason Apple hardware and software worked so comparatively seamlesslessly and reliably through Systems 7,8,9 and now 10 is that the software WAS locked to the hardware. Rightfully so, Apple dictated how the architecture would be applied by software vendors and the result was proper integration. Don't even think of persuading me otherwise (LOL!) - I've been using the gear professionally since 1984 and have been heavily involved in development of real-world publishing solutions on both platforms.
I have just finished rebuilding my observatory PC after installing XP pro, finding and downloading drivers is a PITA. OTOH my MacPro had a 1TB drive die the other month, the one with the OS on it, replaced the hard drive and fired up Time machine, after a couple of hours everything was back to normal. Even got the original hard drive replaced under warranty. Go Apple!!!!
Back on topic though downloading the app now. I'll see if it's compatible with my RCX, might be nice to have at public outings.
I always chime in when these topics come up. but Jadu vnc is by far the best way to control your scope from the iphon/itouch, my opinion of course. With jadu you see your pc/mac desktop on the iphone so you can see what ever app you normally use for control of the scope on the iphone. Works a treat. The only thing that dislike about jadu is that there is a tiny bit of lag when you use it in full desktop rez.
I have star walk and starmap pro on the itouch but only ever open them if I'm not connected to the pc.
I always chime in when these topics come up. but Jadu vnc is by far the best way to control your scope from the iphon/itouch, my opinion of course. With jadu you see your pc/mac desktop on the iphone so you can see what ever app you normally use for control of the scope on the iphone. Works a treat. The only thing that dislike about jadu is that there is a tiny bit of lag when you use it in full desktop rez.
I have star walk and starmap pro on the itouch but only ever open them if I'm not connected to the pc.
Not to good when you're out in the field or at a star party though.
You can set up a peer to peer network between the iphone and a laptop so you dont need a wireless router so it works fine in the field, as long as you have a laptop.
But yeah if you dont have a laptop handy then the other other apps are great, like I said I have two of them.
I picked mine up at 7:30 AM Friday morning in Canberra.
It's my first Apple product since the iPod I got back in 2003. I have to say I am very, very impressed. All my contacts/notes/etc., synced seamlessly and without any effort on my part.
I must admit Humayun - that I also bought and downloaded StarMap Pro. It's a far more mature product and blows Voyager out of the water - at the moment. I think that it will improve as time goes on and hopefully sync observing shedules and ephemerides with the desktop version - which I love to death.
Cant wait to give this a go! iphone control of my mount would be nice... if not a touch gimmicky.. Love to give it a fly in any case.
I got a 16G iphone 3G a few weeks ago and love it. Haven't worked up the courage to try and drive the EQ6 with it though, I think I'd rather drop the wireless logitech on the obs floor than the iphone!
Last edited by mldee; 28-06-2009 at 11:06 PM.
Reason: Can't spell iphone. Sorry, Steve.
I've just connected to 802.11 tonight with my new 3GS for the first time tonight because I hate spending cellular comms dollars.
I am TOTALLY gobsmacked by this phone. I'm not speaking emotionally here either. I'm a very seasoned IT manager who's been around computers since 1979 professionally, and I've never been so impressed with a device. The sheer user interface brilliance is something you have to really explore in order to fully appreciate. This phone leaves all the Treo's, JasJams, Blackberrys and Nokias I've ever had to absolute shame. Damn I love this phone - because it's just so much more than a phone. Others claim this too, and call theirs "smart phones". Well..... nope...sorry but they're not!
Having come from the Sony-Ericsson P900, the O2 XDA Mini II, O2 XDA Atom, and not being an Apple user (in general), I concur with you -- I am also blown away by what this little beast can do.
Get X-Plane, for an example of its capability. phw0ar!
