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TomN
sage
Reged: 01/14/09
Posts: 264
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Hello to all, my first post here! I have been interested in the Starry Night Pro Plus software package and I am looking for some input. I want to use the software to plan observing sessions and would like to have the capability to plot oc, gc, pn, bright nebulae, etc. by specific areas of the sky. It would also be nice to sort by brightness or other characteristic and plot just open or globular clusters, double stars, etc.
What are your experiences with the software and how do the star chart printouts work out for you. I only have "primitive" printer capability (8.5 x 11) cheapo laser printer... Thanks in advance! TomN
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Amateur Astronomer since 1962.
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TomN
sage
Reged: 01/14/09
Posts: 264
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Nobody uses this? Hmmmm... Maybe that says something right there... Any users out there? Thanks guys!
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Amateur Astronomer since 1962.
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4593
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Quote:
Nobody uses this? Hmmmm... Maybe that says something right there... Any users out there? Thanks guys!
You posted this Saturday night and are surprised you don't have a reply early Sunday a.m.?!
There are plenty of SNPP users, and I are one o' them. 
Starry Night is an excellent planetarium program, and does have an integral planner that works OK. That said, if you are mainly interested in planning, get SkyTools 3 instead; you'll be much happier.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
Edited by rmollise (11/09/09 08:23 AM)
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bicparker
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/07/05
Posts: 1706
Loc: Plano, TX
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I use Starry Night Pro Plus for both planning and chart printing. I often use its 3 pane chart printing capabilities for most of my finder charts. In that vein, I especially like its customization capabilities for chart designs, labels, designations, etc.
I'm on a Mac, btw, so SkyTools 3 isn't on my radar, but I have used SkyTools (2) in the past when I had Win boxes around. It is one of the best dedicated planning and logging programs out there.
I personally like using software to their strengths where possible... SNPP as an atlas, chart printing... ST3 as a planner/logger, et al.
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Bic Parker
17.5" f/5 dob
10" f/10 SCT
5" f/8 refractor
80mm f/6 refractor
66mm f/6 refractor
Plus a few others out of the rotation
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Tim C
sage
Reged: 11/11/07
Posts: 272
Loc: Marietta, GA
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My vote is get SN Pro and save some money. I tried pro plus but wasn't impressed with the DSS images and got a refund. SN Pro is really good.
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Tim
Some average astrophotos: http://TCardin.zenfolio.com/p355986048
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RandallK
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/10/06
Posts: 1003
Loc: Nanaimo, B. C. Canada
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I use SN 5.8 Pro and have gotten used to the planner. I export the plan to an Excel spread sheet and manipulate it from there. The only thing I do before putting it into Excel is sort by RA. Excel has a difficult time sorting RA.
Once you get the hang of it it takes but a few minutes depending on what you want to list.
I make up a list when I go to the dark site. Because I want to observe, and not waste time swinging back and forth, I can check of the listed items in order or R.A. and have just a tad of slewing between objects.
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Scopes: Meade SC-8AT w UHTC
Orion ST-80 Refractor (Autoguiding)
SkyWatcher 5" F/5 Reflector
SkyWatcher 127mm MAK
Mount: HEQ5 Pro
Cameras: Orion Starshoot DS Colour Imager V.1
Imaging Source Webcam DMK21AU04.AS
Canon XSi 450D Unmodded
Palm TX PDA w Astromist and Bluetooth wireles control.
Edited by RandallK (11/10/09 02:29 AM)
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