NightCal Astronomical Calendar Software

A new piece of ephemerides software is here in the form of the first beta release of ‘NightCal’ Astronomical Observing Calendar software.

NightCal is a simple, practical tool for basic observation session planning. It produces a single A4 sheet monthly calendar telling the user when it gets dark, when the Moon rises and sets and what the Moon should look like when it does make an appearance. It also provides data on the elongation of the inferior planets and a quick aide mémoire for planetary conjunctions. The output is designed to be printed so that you can stick it on your notice board at home or work or saved as a graphics file for inclusion in newsletters or publishing on the web.

To find out more and to download your free copy visit www.nightcal.co.uk . We hope you find it useful. As this is a first beta release we are especially looking for feedback (good or bad). Please e-mail us to let us know what you think.

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO TRADITIONAL HELP FILE WITH THIS FIRST BETA RELEASE. TEXT AND ACROBAT HELP FILES ARE HOWEVER INCLUDED IN THE DOWNLOAD.

Thanks Lads and I've downloaded it and will let you know how I get on.

Neither a Linux version nor a Mac version so my only comment is that I cannot use it and that there is no way in hell I am gonna fork out the money for Windows just for this software!

Could I recomend that the developers implement a Java version so that their software can be used by all or perhaps better still a web based version. Either way it is not really on in this day and age to make the assumption that "everyone is a Windows drone", especially when targetting the science comunities which have always provided the bedrock of Unix, Linux and Mac users!

Bart.

Neither a Linux version nor a Mac version so my only comment is that I cannot use it and that there is no way in hell I am gonna fork out the money for Windows just for this software!

Could I recomend that the developers implement a Java version so that their software can be used by all or perhaps better still a web based version. Either way it is not really on in this day and age to make the assumption that "everyone is a Windows drone", especially when targetting the science comunities which have always provided the bedrock of Unix, Linux and Mac users!

Bart.

I'm sorry you feel this way. This is a program my brother (the programmer) is writing with me (the amateur astronomer). He's helping me out as a favour. I wanted it on Windows, so that's what your getting! We've spent literally hundreds of hours of our spare time developing this program and I have spent about many hours writing the documentation and setting up the website.
This free software is produced by my brother and I simply because we want to; not as a service to the science community. Anyway, it's aimed at the amateur observer, not the science community. If you had read the website carefully, you would have realised this. We just thought it would be a nice idea to let others share our work.

There is no pleasing some people!

Hey! Its free so I've no complaints. Thanks Bob & Michael

Bob, Michael

as a "Windows drone" (cheers Bart ) I downloaded the Nightcal program and had a bash.

What a surprise - its actually very good! Very simple, clear and concise. I can see printouts generated by nightcal hanging off many walls :lol:

Well done and thanks.

Cheers

Dave McD