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Protheus
Vaguely offended
Reged: 09/01/07
Posts: 4643
Loc: Illinois, US
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Anyone use Astronomist? Just got a palm system, and think it might be cool to have some astronomy software. I'm just looking for somebody with first-hand experience with this particular one (or some other that might be preferable). I'm especially interested in knowing what objects the free version includes.
Chris
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"To tread the sharp edge of a sword;
to run on smooth-frozen ice,
one needs no footsteps to follow..."
"Well, people sometimes ask me 'how did you get involved in astronomy?' I said 'I got born, what's your problem?'" -- John Dobson
"In discussing the large-scale structure of the cosmos, astronomers sometimes say that space is curved, or that the universe is finite but unbounded. Whatever are they talking about?" -- Carl Sagan
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RandallK
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/10/06
Posts: 716
Loc: Nanaimo, B. C. Canada
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Hi Chris, Yes I have it and it is terrific. Im running it on my Palm TX and also I can control my mount via Bluetooth.
This is neat because: 1. It's wireless, 2. Your hand controller doesn't display anything, it justs lists objects by category. With Astromist and the Bluetooth AIRCABLE (availabe from AIRCABLE's website), you just tap on the object in view and select GO-TO and you're there. I must admit I still use my SynScan hand controller in conjuntion with Astromist on my PDA and have only used the Bluetooth several times even though it works great. I think I'll use it to go off the beaten track to hone in on stars.
There is a red/night mode, lots of filters to avoid clutter on the screen and a very useful Polaris Hour Angle utility to set Polaris correct for astrophotography.
When using it for mount control, the writer advises to use your mount's star alignment procedure rather than one that is in Astromist. There are 3 methods to align using Astromist, which are a bit beyond me.
Other features include a libray of astropix that are linked to the main planetarium screen. Make sure you have memory card of at least 1Gb installed to install the picture library. You install the main program in local memory on the PDA and the pictures on the memory card.
I believe you can download a trial verison to test it out for yourself. I don't think I'll be needing another PDA astro program for a very long time.
Hope this helps.
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Scopes: Meade SC-8AT w UHTC
SkyWatcher 5" F/5 Reflector
SkyWatcher 127mm MAK
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Cameras: Orion Starshoot DS Colour Imager V.1
Imaging Source Webcam DMK21AU04.AS
Palm TX PDA w Astromist and Bluetooth wireles control.
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Jeff in Austin
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/26/07
Posts: 581
Loc: Austin, TX
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I've been using Astromist for about 6 months and it's a great program. I use it more than similar programs on my PC. I'm running the Windows Mobile version and the only complaint I have is Windows Mobile shuts off the card reader as a power save "feature", and Astromist only runs off the card reader. So if I'm actually looking through the scope and loose track of the time, the program locks up when the card reader goes to sleep. Of course there is a work around and that's to turn power save off.
Regardless, Astromist is a great program. There are lots of nice tools for planets, comets, and satellites, in addition to the usual star map. I highly recommend it.
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Stellarvue SV102ED
Celestron C8-SGT XLT GoTo
Astro-Tech AT66ED
Canon 50D unmodded, TC80N3 timer, Stiletto Focuser.
DMK21AU04.AS
Coronado PST (Lunt LS60THa on order)
Supportive family, including First Grader w/ scope, curious toddler, and lovely wife.
Sponsor of Austin CSC, Austin CalSky.
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Barry C
super member
Reged: 04/15/08
Posts: 101
Loc: North Bend, WA
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Quote:
Anyone use Astronomist? Just got a palm system, and think it might be cool to have some astronomy software. I'm just looking for somebody with first-hand experience with this particular one (or some other that might be preferable). I'm especially interested in knowing what objects the free version includes.
The free version won't let you store your location, among many other limitations. If you try the free (or full) version, make sure you spell the directory "astromist" and not "astronomist" when you install it! I made that mistake and thought the program didn't work 
The full version is definitely worth the price IMO...
Barry
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CPC 1100 XLT
Moonlite Dual Rate Focuser
TV 2" Everbrite Diagonal
TV 41Pan, 22T4, 17T4, Ethos 13
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Protheus
Vaguely offended
Reged: 09/01/07
Posts: 4643
Loc: Illinois, US
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Quote:
The free version won't let you store your location, among many other limitations. If you try the free (or full) version, make sure you spell the directory "astromist" and not "astronomist" when you install it! I made that mistake and thought the program didn't work
Indeed, I didn't notice the name difference until I went back and looked later. I did get the free version installed yesterday, and so far, so good. Night mode is a complete loss unless I can find something to deactivate the keyboard glow on this thing, though.
Chris
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"To tread the sharp edge of a sword;
to run on smooth-frozen ice,
one needs no footsteps to follow..."
"Well, people sometimes ask me 'how did you get involved in astronomy?' I said 'I got born, what's your problem?'" -- John Dobson
"In discussing the large-scale structure of the cosmos, astronomers sometimes say that space is curved, or that the universe is finite but unbounded. Whatever are they talking about?" -- Carl Sagan
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arpruss
super member
Reged: 05/23/08
Posts: 198
Loc: Waco, TX
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Key light deactivation should be there in the next Astromist version (I've been corresponding with the author). In the meanwhile, you can use a Desk Accessory launcher and the KeyLight Desk Accessory which toggles the keyboard light.
For a free Desk Accessory launcher, you can get my MultiLaunch:
http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=141262
For the KeyLight toggle, you can go to:
http://www.1src.com/freeware/fileinfo.php?id=1859
You can also get a NightMode Desk Accessory here:
http://www.1src.com/freeware/fileinfo.php?id=1801
(It's not quite red on black, but white on black. However, this can be edited with the free Khroma (google).)
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Coulter Odyssey 8"
Skymaster 15x70
BPTs4 8x30
25(?)mm Rini, 27mm Kellner, Owl 10mm Plossl, 6mm TMB/BO Planetary, Owl 2X Barlow
Palm TX with AstroInfo and RescoViewer
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