Sky software

Hi jeyjey, that AstroPlanner thing looks simply superb. Will give that a go, thanks!

Bart.

Bart --

Be sure to sign up on the AstroPlanner Yahoo list as well. You can get great support there (and make feature requests, etc.).

One of the coolest features is the ability to show DSS images (such as those from the Sloan Sky Survey) of your targets. You do have to be a registered user (ie: pay) to get this and a few other features, but it's only $20 or $30 to do so. There's no better value out there (IMHO).

Cheers,
-- Jeff.

For general touring the universe, I use Celestia www.shatters.net/celestia/ - an amazing and beautiful bit of work (and free!).

For general "what's up", I use Starry Night Enthusiast www.starrynight.com/ or xEphem www.clearskyinstitute.com/xephem/ . An alternative to both of these is Stellarium www.stellarium.org/ .

For occultation predictions, I use Lunar Occultation Workbench www.doa-site.nl/software.html , or Occult www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/occult3.htm .

For eclipse predictions, I use WinEclipse www.lcm.tuwien.ac.at/scs/welcome.htm , the Javascript eclipse calculator www.ecliptomaniacs.com/resources/calculator.htm , or the mobile phone eclipse calculator www.ecliptomaniacs.com/resources/j2me/index.htm .

For studying the long-term evolution of the orbits of solar system objects, I use Solex chemistry.unina.it/~alvitagl/solex/ .

Note that almost all of the software mentioned above is free (I think Starry Night Enthusiast is the only exception). Although xEphem isn't easy to get working on a P.C. (it can be done!).

Simeis 147 is beautifully outlined in the new "Pocket Sky Atlas" from Sky and Telescope.

It's just beside Elnath, straddling the border with Auriga.

Its shape and general structure are clearly depicted..

Peter.

I like Stellarium ( www.stellarium.org ) very much. Nice lay-out, easy to use.

If your out in the field, then there's nothing handier than Pocket Stars for a Pocket PC, Dell Axim or equivalent.

Hi jeyjey, that AstroPlanner thing looks simply superb. Will give that a go, thanks!

Bart.

Bart --

Be sure to sign up on the AstroPlanner Yahoo list as well. You can get great support there (and make feature requests, etc.).

One of the coolest features is the ability to show DSS images (such as those from the Sloan Sky Survey) of your targets. You do have to be a registered user (ie: pay) to get this and a few other features, but it's only $20 or $30 to do so. There's no better value out there (IMHO).

Cheers,
-- Jeff.

or you could try carted du ciel. Dss images and more are free
www.stargazing.net/astropc/