Astro software packages

[Prickly]

I'll give my vote to winstars 2. I havent tried all those described above but I must say the interface for winstars would have to be hard to beat. It actually goes down past 10th magnitude. It does just about everything you could need and is ASCOM compatible.

If there are better programs Id be interested to know.

Cheers
David

[Octane (Humayun)]

Starry Night Pro Plus 6 is the best application for astronomy that I've used.

I use it for all my astrophotography planning, too: input your camera type (or chip size, if it isn't in the list), what lens/telescope you're using (again, choose from a list, or input the details), as well as the mounting configuration (altitude/azimuth, equatorial) and you're set for the night.

Regards,
Humayun

[doergn]

I'm using CdC and Stellarium (http://www.stellarium.org/) for planning. For logging my ObservationManager (http://observation.sourceforge.net/en/).
All for free and runs on my linux and windows machines.

Clear skies

Dirk

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

H0ughy,
The V3 will read many, many catalogues. I use it with the USNO down to 18 mag.
The "Skychart-discussion" Yahoo group has lots of info

[garin (Garin)]

Houghy,
V3 uses the same catalogues and image files as V2. In fact you can install both versions and use the one set of catalogues. I find the V3 display much more pleasing to the eye. Telescope control works ok also.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Octane

Starry Night Pro Plus 6 is the best application for astronomy that I've used.

I use it for all my astrophotography planning, too: input your camera type (or chip size, if it isn't in the list), what lens/telescope you're using (again, choose from a list, or input the details), as well as the mounting configuration (altitude/azimuth, equatorial) and you're set for the night.

Regards,
Humayun

yes i have SNP6 as well and star atlas pro 7 (pre pre release - ) and deepsky 2003 though i dont use it very much. CDC got me interested and stellarium is very nice eye candy and quick to run on my machine for show and tell. I like the price and what is available for CDC!!

Originally Posted by Merlin66

H0ughy,
The V3 will read many, many catalogues. I use it with the USNO down to 18 mag.
The "Skychart-discussion" Yahoo group has lots of info

thanks will look into that

Originally Posted by garin

Houghy,
V3 uses the same catalogues and image files as V2. In fact you can install both versions and use the one set of catalogues. I find the V3 display much more pleasing to the eye. Telescope control works ok also.

nice to know - i have downloaded a swathe of catalogues but need to look at some more southern orientated ones