A Great Computer Program for Stargazers!

[Stan Birch]

While stargazing is somewhat less than a significant pre-occupation for me; from time to time, I get a bit of a kick from being able to place names upon at least a few of the constellations, stars and planets I'm observing on one of those clear dark nights away from city lights.

About a year ago, I stumbled upon a really great skymap computer program, after reading a number of rave reviews from those who seem to have at least a modest interest in the subject. The program is Stellarium. I have no idea whether a program like this might appeal to really avid stargazers; buts it's just right for a casual observer like me. With very limited knowledge in this area, this program makes it very easy to identify and place a name on the stuff I'm looking at.

For the most part, you don't need anything beyond the naked eye to identify planets or star-groupings. The most elaborate piece of equipment I use, is a terrestial 20-60x spotting that will enable me to see and identify most of the entities shown on a moon map.

Stellarium is a really great easy to use educational tool; and one of its best attributes, it is that it's absolutely <span class="ev_code_RED">FREE</span> from:

http://stellarium.sourceforge.net/index.html

It's one of those programs installed on my laptop, that adds to the enjoyment of boondocking away from the city lights.

[Stan Birch]

While stargazing is somewhat less than a significant pre-occupation for me; from time to time, I get a bit of a kick from being able to place names upon at least a few of the constellations, stars and planets I'm observing on one of those clear dark nights away from city lights.

About a year ago, I stumbled upon a really great skymap computer program, after reading a number of rave reviews from those who seem to have at least a modest interest in the subject. The program is Stellarium. I have no idea whether a program like this might appeal to really avid stargazers; buts it's just right for a casual observer like me. With very limited knowledge in this area, this program makes it very easy to identify and place a name on the stuff I'm looking at.

For the most part, you don't need anything beyond the naked eye to identify planets or star-groupings. The most elaborate piece of equipment I use, is a terrestial 20-60x spotting that will enable me to see and identify most of the entities shown on a moon map.

Stellarium is a really great easy to use educational tool; and one of its best attributes, it is that it's absolutely <span class="ev_code_RED">FREE</span> from:

http://stellarium.sourceforge.net/index.html

It's one of those programs installed on my laptop, that adds to the enjoyment of boondocking away from the city lights.

[zetron]

I think I will look into that program. The best program for Astronomy that I have come across is the Project Pluto "The Guide" series. I believe he is up to version 9 now.

I have Guide 8 and some of the earlier ones. This program allows you to set the diameter of your viewing eyepiece and invert as your telescope may do. It has all the Messier, NGC, IC, and many more catalogs.

It will give you a visual representation of a deep sky object (galaxy, globular, nebula). It gives the object's location and many interesting things about some objects. You can also add objects to it.

I also have "The Sky" which is much more expensive than "The Guide" and doesn't offer as much, but that program was needed to do CCD work.

My present opinion is there is nothing that stands up to finding and seeing the object with your own eyes, even with a small scope!

David/zetron