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Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) Brent Campbell sage Reged: 02/09/10 Loc: Olympia, WA Need a planning software       #5615134 - 01/10/13 09:46 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Does anyone know of a good astronomy planning software that is cheap or preferably free? I am already using Stellarium on my PC and Sky Safari on my tablet. What I want is something that will show me the "best and brightest" objects in a particular area of sky, relative brightness, and coordinates. A picture of the object would be a huge bonus. Post Extras:       CJK professor emeritus Reged: 12/05/12 Loc: Scenic SE TN Re: Need a planning software [Re: Brent Campbell]       #5615640 - 01/10/13 02:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Observer Pro is excellent if you have an iOS device. -- Chris Post Extras:       Lane Post Laureate Reged: 11/19/07 Loc: Frisco, Texas Re: Need a planning software [Re: CJK]       #5615805 - 01/10/13 04:09 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I use sky safari to put together a plan of what I want to view and then I use that observing list to log my observations. I spend a lot of time creating lists to use when I go to my dark site. Rainy days are a perfect time to do that. Sometimes I will use Sky Tools 3 or just recommendations from CN to help pick what objects go on a particular observing list, but most of the time I pick them right off the sky safari screen. I generally don't carry pictures with me because I want to report what I actually see and not what I think I should see. I am guessing what you want is something like Sky Tools 3 where you enter a bunch of parameters and it selects objects for you. Nothing beats Sky Tools 3 for doing that kind of thing but it is not free. Post Extras:       demiles sage Reged: 11/07/06 Re: Need a planning software [Re: Lane]       #5615908 - 01/10/13 05:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Another vote for Observer Pro for iOS Post Extras:       dandabson super member Reged: 10/15/08 Loc: Dover, DE Re: Need a planning software [Re: demiles]       #5616009 - 01/10/13 06:24 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Give Astroplanner a try. Post Extras:       A. Viegas sage Reged: 03/05/12 Loc: New York City/ CT Re: Need a planning software [Re: dandabson]       #5616211 - 01/10/13 08:22 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Observer Pro and sky safari. Low cost and very useful Post Extras:       CelestronDaddy sage Reged: 08/22/09 Loc: Central Texas Re: Need a planning software [Re: dandabson]       #5616400 - 01/10/13 10:24 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Give Astroplanner a try. +1 Post Extras:       Jon Isaacs Postmaster Reged: 06/16/04 Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA Re: Need a planning software [Re: CelestronDaddy]       #5616876 - 01/11/13 09:10 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Skytools 3 is not free... but I believe it is the best, most complete, most accurate planning software available and well worth the money. I am just like everyone else, willing to spend money on another eyepiece that I will use every so often but reluctant to spend $100 on software that will make a much bigger difference to my evening's enjoyment. If you are double star observer, it's almost a necessity because it computes the orbits of short period binaries, it get them right... Jon Post Extras:       CJK professor emeritus Reged: 12/05/12 Loc: Scenic SE TN Re: Need a planning software [Re: Jon Isaacs]       #5617162 - 01/11/13 12:13 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   +1 (actually, more like +100) for Sky Tools 3 -- Chris Post Extras:       Lane Post Laureate Reged: 11/19/07 Loc: Frisco, Texas Re: Need a planning software [Re: CJK]       #5617840 - 01/11/13 07:28 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   In regard to Sky Tools 3 pricing: Ten of us got together from our astronomy club and arranged to get copies of Sky Tools 3 at a reduced price. The only requirement was a minumum of 10 orders that would all be shipped together to the same address. The discount was significant, I got the $179 pro version for nearly 50% off. Not the easiest software to learn, best to have someone that owns it give you a quick demonstration. Once you catch on to the way they do things in Sky Tools it makes perfect sense, but it is not immediately obvious how to use it. If you buy it and have trouble, come back here for help. Post Extras:       hvalentim journeyman Reged: 12/08/12 Re: Need a planning software [Re: Lane]       #5621409 - 01/13/13 06:39 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Another good option covering pretty much everything you ask for (and free): http://www.univers-astronomie.fr/generateur-soiree/ Post Extras:       Denimsky professor emeritus Reged: 01/21/07 Loc: BC, Canada Re: Need a planning software [Re: CJK]       #5621969 - 01/14/13 12:18 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I love SkyTools 3 Pro as well. I use it to plan observing and imaging sessions. Edited by Denimsky (01/14/13 12:19 AM) Post Extras:       Madratter professor emeritus Reged: 01/14/13 Re: Need a planning software [Re: Denimsky]       #5623501 - 01/14/13 09:57 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Another vote for SkyTools 3. I have the standard version. I am so glad I spent the money for it. I also have Sky Safari and Observer Pro. They are also very good programs. But if I had to have only one, it would be SkyTools 3. Post Extras:       Mike Phillips Carpal Tunnel Reged: 02/21/06 Loc: Swift Creek, NC - 35.682 N, 78... Re: Need a planning software [Re: Madratter]       #5628381 - 01/17/13 04:03 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   KStars - opensource and I think windows 'compatible' Mike Post Extras:       Ed Wiley professor emeritus Reged: 05/18/05 Re: Need a planning software [Re: Mike Phillips]       #5635430 - 01/21/13 05:45 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Not free by any measure, but Skytools3 is my choice. Ed Post Extras:       Brent Campbell sage Reged: 02/09/10 Loc: Olympia, WA Re: Need a planning software [Re: Ed Wiley]       #5637445 - 01/22/13 05:51 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I have tried Astroplanner-I like the interface but it could use a better connection to the planetarium software. Combined with Stellairum the interface is real powerful. A nice (but missing) feature would be at least a picture of the object. It didn't even have that in the default catalog. Is that something that is rectified in the non-demo version? I could not install Kstars (didn't work) will try more tonight. The starter version of Skytools 3 looks interesting but I would have liked it better if I could download the standard edition with limitations for demo purposes. The biggest issue that I have with Skytools is spending $100.00 sight uunseen and not sure which program I like better, it or Astro planner. I am also looking at Deep Sky Planner this week as well. Post Extras:       kolsen member Reged: 11/05/08 Loc: IL Re: Need a planning software [Re: Brent Campbell]       #5642690 - 01/25/13 02:19 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Brent, About a year ago I was in the same position as you. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on software. I tried most of the free ones and demos of others. Because of the high praise for Skytools 3 I decided to take the risk and bought it. I'm so glad I did. It makes planning and scope control a breeze. Post Extras:       Photobud super member Reged: 01/07/13 Re: Need a planning software [Re: hvalentim]       #5654401 - 01/31/13 02:07 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Another good option covering pretty much everything you ask for (and free): http://www.univers-astronomie.fr/generateur-soiree/ Very nice, but hard time finding location for United States, found it under the French name, Etats-Unis! Post Extras:       Photobud super member Reged: 01/07/13 Re: Need a planning software [Re: Mike Phillips]       #5654477 - 01/31/13 03:00 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: KStars - opensource and I think windows 'compatible' Mike Loaded and ran okay, but a little klutzy and some problems with graphics (change from N to E and horizon is tilted at 45°. Can't tell easily where zenith is. Filters don't seem to work as expected. Showed objects that were not visible during time span entered. Plotted points do not show name under cursor unless you move the display slightly. Will keep trying it to see if it's just me! Post Extras:       Mike Phillips Carpal Tunnel Reged: 02/21/06 Loc: Swift Creek, NC - 35.682 N, 78... Re: Need a planning software [Re: Photobud]       #5654591 - 01/31/13 03:58 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Loaded and ran okay, but a little klutzy and some problems with graphics (change from N to E and horizon is tilted at 45°. Can't tell easily where zenith is. Filters don't seem to work as expected. Showed objects that were not visible during time span entered. Plotted points do not show name under cursor unless you move the display slightly. Will keep trying it to see if it's just me! I don't like it much as a planetarium package, I use CdC for that. I like it for observation planning. Supposedly it supports OAL for logging too, but I've not tried to set it up as defining the equipment is kludgy too. Mike Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all)

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