As a new member I mentioned I was playing around with the planetarium program Stellarium. It is a free program being developed contiuously and has now reached a very usable stage. Version 8.2 is now available for Windows, Mac and Linux.
It is principally designed as a planetarium display and used in computer based planetariums but it has now reached the stage where it can control a telescope and give a view just like what can be seen through the eyepiece. One of its shortcomings was the lack of stars but that will all change in version 9 to be released soon. Version 9 will display 9 star catalogues (if you have enough room to store them). The first 5 contain 9 million + stars.
I have been compiling the development version under Linux and it is simply fabulous. It is the first planetarium program that I have found that will display the trapezium! The ability to add landscape for horizons adds to the realism and digital photos can be superimposed over the stars in their FOV to an accuracy of arcseconds. This effect can be simply awsome.
Another interesting facility is being able to view the solar system from any of the objects defined in the ssystem.ini file. Looking at Mars as viewed from its satellites is interesting.
Hi Barry
I use the Mac OS X version of 0.8.2, having been introduced to 0.7.1 by Perth Observatory. I find it is better than K-Stars that I used with KDE desktops in various Linux distros.
It is a great program, with plenty of commercial features, and the main astro package I use.
Version 0.8.0 had some bugs in it and it was quickly updated to 0.8.1 and then 0.8.2 which is the current version. The speed slow down of the computer is interesting. I have had it happen once or twice but I haven't chased it up because all comes good next time I load. It could be lack of memory. A minimum of 256MB is usually OK but the program likes 512 or more. The 3D video display with openGl also needs lots of memory.
I have been playing with version 0.9.0 which hasn't been released yet and since build 1786 (now up to 1824) it doesn't like computers with no openGL drivers. Version 0.9.0 source can be downloaded in Linux and compiled. This gave me a lot of trouble and I needed to patch the source code to bypass the latest development for openGl.. However it now works and the new star catalogues are fantastic. My biggest trouble with Linux is there are no openGl drivers for my video display. When the 0.9.0 version is finished development a Windows and Mac version will be available.
You showed a screen shot of Orion. With the 0.9.0 version and star5.dat catalogue you can zoom in on M42 and see the trapezium. Just like a telescope view.
Three of the things I like about the program are easy adding of your own astronomy pictures, Displaying a real horizon panorama and It drives my LX200. Have a look at one of the screeen shots on my web site showing Pleides setting through the trees. That is actually the same as what I saw through a pair of binocculars yet it is computer generated.
Will the new version allow the user to add comets?
I find the lack of this functionality to be annoying, although it is more than made up for by the graphics.
As an aside, does anyone know of any planetarium programs tthat would allow the display of proper motions over very long time frames?
I don't know if comets are to be introduced for on the next release but this function and adding minor planets is definitely coming. Technically it should be possible now by including orbital parameters in the ssystem.ini file but I am not sure of where to enter the supplied data. I tried once but my data was wrong and it put the object in the wrong place.
In regard to the proper motion , I tried this once, I think it was in TheSky and it worked. I think it should work for most programs that can display the sky over a very long period as the data required is already in the star catalogues.
A script could be written for stellarium to do just this but the current Windows release has a bug that stops the program at 2037. This is an interesting idea. When I get a chance I will write a script to do just this. If it works I will put it in the wiki.
Must say I only checked out Stellarium because of your recent mention of your involvement. Can you give an approximate release date for the 9.0 version Barry?
I can't wait to see the new release, the current one looks fantastic, and will be better still with expanded catalogues, and if the comet thing could get off the ground too.
I am new to astronomy programs but very old in terms of computers and programming, and I think Stellarium is simply brilliant, well done and continued success.
For those who have looked at and enjoyed the program there are some extra and improved textures that can be downloaded from the stellarium wiki and from my stellarium site www.geocities.co./wendygblyde . They are zipped files that can be added to the textures folder along with anamended nebula_textures.fab and ngc2000names.data files.
Just copy these over the existing files in their respective folders to give some more accurate size & positions of the existing textures and some additions (for the southern hemisphere).
There are also some extra landscapes in the wiki with instructions for their addition.
can be downloaded from the stellarium wiki and from my stellarium site www.geocities.co./wendygblyde . They are zipped files that can be added to the textures folder along with anamended nebula_textures.fab and ngc2000names.data files.
What a fantastic program Barry, I've really had some fun with it.
I downloaded it to my father in laws new computer and showed him how it works, he has now been out under the skies for two night in a row with his binoculars and peeking between the clouds.
Up to this point he had virtually no interest in astronomy but now want's to come over and look through my 12".
I've used a few programs like StarryNight, Red Shift, K-Stars and the like, but Stellarium is definitely the best astronomy package I've ever used.
The realism of Stellarium is what helps me locate new objects, I can't find using the charts out of magazines. With the help of Stellarium, I had no problem locating the M31 Andromeda Galaxy for the first time. The graphics are superb. I also love the zoom facility, showing photo images.
My only grumble is that I really need to get a bigger monitor, as my 17" Apple display doesn't do the program much justice.
You have probably gathered that the program stellarium is my pet project at the moment.
If you can use Linux you can compile the latest development version which is being improved and expanded on a daily basis. Sorry there is no Windows version yet. I am working on that.
The display of comets and minor planets is now operational. All you need to do is add the orbital parameters in the ssystem.ini file. Addition of landscapes has now been made easier. The nebula textures file has been updated with arc second positioning and better textures giving seamless integration of the textures and jpeg textures can now be used. Telescope control works well with Meade and most Celestron or any telescope drive using compatable protocol. There are new language alternatives and the user manual has been updated.
The new user manual is still only available in source code. You will need to have Lyx 4. to compile it. However I can provide it in pdf form to anyone interested.
Yep i think the file on the Optus mirror is corrupt. its on;ly 24Mb big. I downloaded it a second time from a different mirror and it run successfully. I love Stellarium. Cant wait to take the new version for a test spin.
Top work Barry, and the rest of the guys who contribute to this fantastic program.
