Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Cloudy Nights - Official Forums of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User   You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Announcements and News >> Beginners Forum Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 redsquash super member Reged: 08/05/08 Posts: 105 Loc: JAPAN Better than a planosphere for a tiny screen ?       #2660208 - 09/24/08 09:27 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   http://albireoplanetarium.com/settingLocation.swf I stumbled accross this . It seems much better than a planosphere which I was going to buy.It fits on an ipod touch or iphone. How useful is it really on such a small screen for an absolute beginner. How good is it for the very experienced ? I have accumulated software in the past which has later turned out not to have lived up to its promises from the advertising. There will be a pro version in spring but I want to get up to speed now. the appealing thing is I can take the ipod outside but I cant lug my desktop around at 1 am in the morning. Is there another product apart from starry nights and st telscope websites -------------------- Vixen R130 f/5 powermate 2.5 vixen LVW 5mm ,13mm Vixen LV 8-24mm zoom Whats the next lens to complete this set up.please send me a PM if you like Post Extras:       john D All you have to do is ask!! Reged: 08/05/07 Posts: 4942 Loc: Midlothian, VA Re: Better than a planosphere for a tiny screen ? [Re: redsquash]       #2660217 - 09/24/08 09:31 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   looks cool. i checked on my ipod its 11.99 not bad. let us know how you like it! -------------------- Meade ETX-125 Meade LXD55 mount Philips SPC900NC webcam Seymour Solar filter Backyard Observatory -Midlothian VA --Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave-- Post Extras:       bsim professor emeritus Reged: 01/04/08 Posts: 679 Loc: New York City Re: Better than a planosphere for a tiny screen ? [Re: john D]       #2660228 - 09/24/08 09:41 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Starmap is a nice app, but no competition for apps like Astromist. I primarily use it as a planisphere. In early 2009, a pro version is coming which will cater to astronomers. One thing I have to note is that in some reviews you will read about the excruciatingly slow scrolling. That has been fixed in the latest version. Here's details about the upcoming pro version: Star-Map Pro version details -------------------- Teeter's 10" F/6 Truss Dob / Sky Commander DSC / Round Table Platform Celestron C80ED / MoonLite CF Tri-Knob William Optics ZS66, Orion XT8i, Orion XT4.5 Garrett Signature 15x70, Canon 10x30 IS, Constellation View 2.3x40 Bino Astro-Tech Voyager, Bogen 3011 & 3036, UA MicroStar Deluxe Howie Glatter Laser & tuBlug 13 & 8 Ethos, 35 & 24 Panoptic, Nagler 3-6 Zoom, TV 8-24 Zoom Edited by bsim (09/24/08 09:43 AM) Post Extras:       redsquash super member Reged: 08/05/08 Posts: 105 Loc: JAPAN Re: Better than a planosphere for a tiny screen ? [Re: bsim]       #2660258 - 09/24/08 09:58 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks BSIM, Yes starmap looks good on my monitor , but how does it appear in the dark on a 7.5cm x 5cm ipod touch for practical use Edited by redsquash (09/24/08 10:02 AM) Post Extras:       stefanj Pooh-Bah Reged: 11/15/07 Posts: 1287 Loc: Western New York State Re: Better than a planosphere for a tiny screen ? [Re: redsquash]       #2660354 - 09/24/08 10:56 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I use a couple freeware apps on my Palm- THe smaller screen is a bit of a hinderance- but they all work- I just prefere a planisphere (as do my aging eyes) -------------------- Life is a circus- and I'm stuck in the FREAK TENT If these are blue- it means the moon is full! Meade ETX 90RA w/ tripod Meade AZ 70 Meade DS 2130 AT Zhumell 10" Dob Zhumell Plossel EP and Filter set Simmons 10x50 Binoculars GLPx6 LPI Post Extras:       bsim professor emeritus Reged: 01/04/08 Posts: 679 Loc: New York City Re: Better than a planosphere for a tiny screen ? [Re: redsquash]       #2660401 - 09/24/08 11:22 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I don't use it in the dark as it's not detailed enough, but it could be very useful for beginners trying to learn the constellations. It's great for daytime use when you want to see what's visible. In the dark, I use a Chandler planisphere, Orion DeepMap 600, and Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas. If I need to go deeper, I'll print out a chart. I can see the Starmap Pro will be useful since it will go down to mag 20. One major issue with Starmap is that though it has a red night vision mode it is only app specific--not system specific. After your iPhone powers down to sleep mode and you turn it on, you will be greeted by a "hello" screen which will blow away your dark adaptation. One workaround is to set the auto-lock to "never" sleep, but it will quickly drain the battery. I'd love to see a system-wide night vision mode "hack." If I ever get some free time, I may delve into the iPhone SDK and write it. -------------------- Teeter's 10" F/6 Truss Dob / Sky Commander DSC / Round Table Platform Celestron C80ED / MoonLite CF Tri-Knob William Optics ZS66, Orion XT8i, Orion XT4.5 Garrett Signature 15x70, Canon 10x30 IS, Constellation View 2.3x40 Bino Astro-Tech Voyager, Bogen 3011 & 3036, UA MicroStar Deluxe Howie Glatter Laser & tuBlug 13 & 8 Ethos, 35 & 24 Panoptic, Nagler 3-6 Zoom, TV 8-24 Zoom Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 3 registered and 12 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  miniventures, desertstars, werewolf6977, dgs©, ClownFish  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 87 Jump to *International Year of Astronomy 2009* -----   Global Coordination   Cornerstone Projects   Special Projects   Special Task Groups   Global Activities   National and Regional Activities   IYA 2009 in Africa   IYA 2009 in the USA*Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Beginners Forum   Celestial Events   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Celestron SkyScout and Meade mySky   Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   General Observing   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Other* -----   Science of Astronomy & Space exploration   AstroWebsites   Space Rocks*Speciality Forums* -----   AstroArt   Astronomy Software & Computers   Stellar Media   Astro Outreach, Clubs and Star Parties*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements Home

Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics