Starry Night Pro 6.2
Reviewed Dr. Eric Flescher
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Starry Night
284 Richmond St. E.
Suite 300
Toronto, UN M5A 1PA, Canada
http://www.starrynightstore.com/stniso.html
Released: November 29, 2007
$150 USD
Macintosh/Windows/
Update: http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/11008
Strengths: Very versatile. Starry Night Pro (SNPro) is a feast
for your eyes and astronomical mind. Starry Night works with Macintosh and PC
Windows version (different version OS are available). Different pricing for
different versions of Starry Night to meet your needs. Upgrades are possible
to add to lower priced versions and previous versions can be updated to newer
versions.
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![AppleMark](SNPRO6_files/image002.jpg)
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Starry Night can update
celestial coordinates for objects which are “on the go” like comets and
satellites. Customizable interface allows for a variety of types of sky and
celestial viewing. Other DVDs (DVD Skytheater DVD etc.) include simulations,
videos and slide shows. Three different ways to locate celestial objects on
the sky maps. The sky observing window can be customized with legends,
coloration, titles and much more, to showcase your views of the sky. A
variety of keyboard shortcuts (Mac and Windows versions) allow quick access
of features used frequently. Left hand pane has 12 different options.
Weaknesses: Labeling can be a pain as there are different ways
to configure the icons and it is a little confusing. Starry Night Pro 6
requires OSX 10.2.8 or later. (If you use an earlier OS try a different
version of SN. The Pro version might have more tools then you might need. See
website for differences versions of Starry Night, to see which one might be
best for you and price range. Companion Astronomical Guide Books are found
for lesser versions then Pro or Pro Plus. Factual information is easily
accessed on the User Guide in the Toolbar under HELP.
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Introduction
Astronomy is a fascinating to
children and adults. To elevate their understanding and observing the planets,
celestial objects and phenomenon, many users think about a telescope as their
first astronomical instrument of choice. Today, planetarium programs for
locating celestial objects and assisting with their assorted endeavors, is a
growing first choice before buying a telescope. One software program packed
with numerous possibilities for various budgets and astronomical lifestyles is
Starry Night.
Currently the Comet Observer
Award coordinator for the Astronomical League, I began hunting comets in
earnest in 2001 using a version of this program. There were many fine
astronomical planetarium programs on the market. Starry Night is very Macintosh
friendly but is cross platform, so that I could “talk” to amateurs who using
the Windows version. Initially having purchased Starry Night before 2001, I
needed for the software to be able to update coordinates of objects “that did
not sit still” like comets, asteroids and satellites. These objects “that moved
in the sky” had to be updated manually to appear in the right place and it was
quite a chore. Typing in the new objects into the database was tedious and time
consuming. A new version solved my problem. It was a pleasure to have the
information updated automatically. Finding and knowing the new accurate
coordinates of the objects on a daily basis became a painless process. This was
“worth its weight in gold” and made my astronomical work more efficient. I
could then concentrate on other tasks.
Since then, I have been able
to locate and photograph over 36 comets, 10 asteroids, many galaxies, nebulae
and more. I become so enraptured with this program and the finding comets that
eventually I created the Comet Observers Award. It is now being achieved by
many amateur astronomers in the US and abroad. And I have not looked back with
this program not only for these reasons but for its versatility, power,
Macintosh oriented abilities and ease of use and much more. Since then, I
decided to look at the Starry Night 6 version with when I started using OSX
10.4.11, as the previous version 4.5 was slowing down and sometimes crashing.
I wanted to see if version 6 could help. I am glad to say, it did.
Starry Night Pro works with
Macintosh and Windows versions and both versions come on the DVD. Starry Night
Pro 6 for Macintosh is native to OSX so your computer needs to have version OSX
10.2.8 or later. (Earlier OSX and Windows version are still available). The
program has ten main features. These are (1) Getting Started and using the basic
controls; (2) Changing viewing and directions; (3) Sky Data: Using Object
databases; (4) Date and time viewing; (5) Labeling objects and configuring your
view; (6) Finding working with and viewing your objects; (7) Learning more
about objects; (8) Using options; (9) Advanced options etc.; (10) Printing,
miscellaneous features and other options.
Getting Started and using
the basic controls
Three ways help to control
the program: (a) using the tool bar at the top; (b) using the side panes (small
panel like vertically placed labels); (c) and/or the button bars (only in
Windows version). Operating the controls can be performed in either of the
three ways or in combination which gives you on the go flexibility. The
disadvantage is that you have to learn three ways of learning the different
controls if you want to use the three types of controls depending upon your
preferences. It is really a personal, visual and creative preference which way
the features are managed. But it is not that difficult and there is much help
along the way.
The Starry Night Quickstart
is a six-sided booklet for helping you get started with the program. Basically
the working of the program breaks down to these nine parts. Getting started
with the software was the first task.
![AppleMark](SNPRO6_files/image004.jpg)
Your desktop opens and to a
starry background view. Modifying your viewing direction helps orient a proper
accurate view. Clicking on either N, E ,S , W( in the top toolbar) and your
“sky” will quickly “slew” (quickly move) to the area which can be viewed on
your desktop. A trick I learned, pressing the spacebar, while this was
happening, made the action go much more quickly.
The software is highly
customizable which adds to the appeal for using the software. Depending upon
preferences, the “look and feel” of the desktop could be modified for ”seeing,
identifying and observing” in more enjoyable ways. By using the nine
Preferences (Starry Night Pro menu with Macintosh and File menu for Windows),
general options from the drop down box, users work with additional options. The
default cursor is a “hand” icon (is troublesome sometimes) can be changed.
(2) Changing viewing and
directions;
The top toolbar can display
and change time mode, location and field of view. Options include hiding the
toolbar in the View toolbar. The time area shows the date and time for
selecting your viewing. The time mode, a series of icons similar like those for
movie controls, allows the user to stop or to put into action, the movement of
the “heavens” over time during the day or night. Clicking on any of these
reveal pulldown menus and ways for even more options. Hiding the toolbar in
the View toolbar is an option if you desire. The time area shows the date and
time to select your viewing. In the top tool bar is the “ time mode”, which is
a series of icons, similar like those for movie controls, allowing the user to
stop or to put into action, the movement of the “heavens” over time during the
day or night. For example you can let the time progress, stop the “sky” at a
different time or switch to a different time frame.
Viewing direction
(orientation) by default, shows your view facing south, looking slightly over
the horizon. By using the Preferences (Starry Night Pro menu with Macintosh and
File menu for Windows) and then the General setting from the drop down box, the
user can decide other options. The default cursor is a “hand” icon. Holding the
mouse button down and dragging on the window drags the sky view in whichever
direction desired. Looking high above the horizon, a red marker called the
“zenith” can be seen or if looking straight down, the “nadir” (the point below
your feet) can also be observed. These can be changed in the Preferences as
well.’’
(3) Sky Data: Using Object
databases;
Sky Data is the heart of
using these programs. The Object database helps locate deep space objects like
double stars, nebula, supernova and other objects. The Solar System Stars and
Deep sky objects allow the identification and finding literally millions of
objects. The number of objects can also be increased or decreased (hidden from
view). Identifying and finding objects in the sky and using the information to
simulate the sky, objects, events, phenomenon etc is part of the fun for using
such a program.
The Sky data part of the
software can add to the multimedia possibilities. Some of the sky date that is
required for certain type of celestial objects requires connecting to the
Internet (called LiveSky events). It is your option to turn this feature on or
off. Upcoming Events in LiveSky can show events immediately (eclipses,
planetary conjunctions, moon events for example). The Hertzprung-Russell
diagram can also show a multitude of options that emphasizes the stars age
versus the stars mass. Starry Night can show 19 million celestial objects but a
host of images can be also used from a database know as the Digitized Sky
Survey (DSS). Online telescope imaging in the LiveSky control can image a part
of the sky by using controlled remote telescope over the Internet.
The Sky Data section shows the
astronomical events that can occur or the general sky information settings.
Some of the date requires connectivity to the Internet (called LiveSky events
and information). Movies, Astronomy Events, LiveSky Pane images, can be played
on the SNPro DVD (other levels of SNpro these can be purchased separately).
Upcoming Events in LiveSky can show events immediately (eclipses for example).
The Status info pane shows general information, field of view, limited
magnitude, time (universal time etc), location (longitude, latitude of location
etc). The Hertzprung-Russell diagram can show a multitude of options in a
different way that emphasizes the stars age versus the stars mass. Starry Night
can show 19 million celestial objects but a host of images can be also used
from a database know as the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS).
(4) Date and time viewing
Planetarium programs like
this one have a myriad of information in the form of databases that can be
called upon, replaced, updated, reviewed or viewed at any time. What is amazing
is that you can work with the data in many ways and at your whim. One reason I
like this particular program is its versatility for customization.
The main parts of the
interface show the constellation/sky viewing area, the toolbar and the side bar
labels. The top toolbar has 9 different options. The main planetarium interface
is easy to view and the constellation/sky scene, the toolbar and the side bar
labels were easy to use and helpful. However labeling took awhile to configure
and use the way I wanted.
(5) Labeling objects and
configuring your view;
Flexibility in terms of
labeling can help with identifying objects but so much so it can be a pain.
SNPro has multiple options but this makes possibilities confusing sometimes.
Some of the options are not where they should be or are located in different
parts of the toolbar for further flexibility (or is it confusion?). There are
different ways for configuring the icons and it is a little confusing. For
example, instead of all information about labeling being in one section, this
function is actually in different parts of the Toolbar. By clicking on the
objects (Toolbar> Labels), data icons such as objects, planets etc, are
turned off/on. Clicking “Options > Solar System > Comets” really brought
up what I wanted- how to configure the colors of the comets so that these
objects could be displayed in the sky. However nothing happened when I clicked
on the color which I thought would made it so in the sky. I had to drag the
yellow color (swatch) and place into the top color window. Once that was done,
the window turned yellow which meant the comets in the sky would appear as
yellow icons and it immediately changed. Working with the Toolbar>Options
even more is possible but I found it was “overkill” for me and started to get
confusing. Once again Starry Night shows it flexibility, some time more so then
you want. Better more flexibility than too little I thought. It was best for me
to find and use an option path and stick with that to avoid confusing.
Sometimes SNPro multitasking is not a good thing.
![AppleMark](SNPRO6_files/image005.jpg)
(6) Finding working with and
viewing your objects
The left pane listing of
celestial objects has titles ( planets, comets etc). The Name, Kind, Semi-Major
and Database columns can be widened by dragging the little vertical line to the
right of each column in the header row. Furthermore, you can resize the entire
side panel by dragging the blue line that runs vertically down the right hand
side of the panel. But when you have your object in view, you can identify
more about the object. Typing a name like M42 (the Orion Nebula), identified
the nebula, set the sky into motion and zoomed in on this pretty nebula. A
interesting graphic of the nebula also showed more information. By clicking
upon the magnifier icon, brought up a listing of different objects like
quasars, constellations etc that could be used to narrow the search of the
objects you are looking for.
![AppleMark](SNPRO6_files/image006.jpg)
Pressing the FIND button
brings up the objects listing that can be used to find celestial objects on
your planetarium screen.
![AppleMark](SNPRO6_files/image007.jpg)
Clicking on the “i” in the
right hand part of the FIND dropdown menu calls up additional information.
However the information is not very specific for each object . For the most
part the “facts” are a generic introduction. If you need more specific
information then Google a search engines or websites are the better places for
finding more specific and detailed information (for example comets ) showed
more.
Clicking the little triangle
(next to the object category title) allows more of that family of objects to
appear. For example, names of many more comets will appear under the main
Comets heading when clicking on the little “side-triangle”. Hundreds of Comet
names cascade downward (working with the Preferences is a way to customize how
many you want). But what if I wanted to alphabetize this listing of comets?
Clicking on the Name bar under Solar System did not do the trick at first
clicking on the title “Comets” (after the rest of them descended), then clicking
on NAME helped alphabetize the listing. This made working with the interface
easier for me to locate the comet(s) I wanted to find and view.
![AppleMark](SNPRO6_files/image008.jpg)
First I clicked the latest
bright comet called Holmes. Clicking on the comet (left side square) then clicking
on the name, started the “slewing (moving from one position to the next)”. I
found that by holding down the space bar while this happened, made the
“slewing” to the object go much faster. The position of Comet Holmes popped
into the center of the desktop (my preference but this is customizable),
surrounded by all the other stars and objects in that quadrant. Objects that
are “checked off” appeared on the desktop as red (my preference but this can
also be changed).
(7) Learning more about
objects
Sometimes more information is
good. There is an amazing array of celestial objects in the sky at any time and
date. By clicking on this centered object (or any object nearby), the HUD
(Heads Up Display) appeared. This HUD display is customizable by changing the
types of information (in toolbar) that will appear (magnitude, altitude etc).
I tailor- made my information with the pop-up window so that by clicking on a
comet, for example (or another object), a pop-up window displayed the
coordinates, magnitude and much more information, using the colored text of my
choice. Clicking on other objects helped locate any objects nearby to identify
what was nearby in my photographs that I made.
(8) Using options;
Using menu (Macintosh) or the
preference (Windows) helped the finding of more options. Normally the sky will
appear dark with light stars but white side mode can adjust this in inverse
(which is preferable for types of printing). Night vision mode, dims the screen
and adds a red tone which is good for viewing a nearby telescope or monitor.
The brightness can also be adjusted and the night vision can also be turned off
when needed. Full screen mode shows all the celestial objects and hides the
screen controls.
Multimedia computerized
simulations are possible. One of my major obsessions is computer simulations.
After all they were a main part of my doctoral dissertation. What is really
cool is that with this “time machine” software, you can literally go view
objects in the present as well in the past as well as the future. Certain
circumstances and events can simulate sky viewing not normally possible.
Options include changing locations, elevations, orbits as well viewing
locations from a difference vantage point (on the Moon, another planet etc) is
possible. For example, on the desktop, I watched as an eclipse of the sun from
the moon progressed, as the dark (umbra) shadow was crossing over Libya in
2006. At the same time, I simulated what the sky would look like in 2001 and
used it in my eclipse video by captured the simulation on screen and saving to
hard drive.
I also went back in time to
check out some research for the phenomenon known as the Star of Bethlehem. I
devised a simulation that would allow me to see what the sky looked like while
trying to view the “Star of Bethlehem” conjunctions (close meeting in the sky)
with Venus and Jupiter 2 BC in Jerusalem. It was most interesting to see these
objects so close 2000 years ago as historical data had found.
Different formats can be used
on the menu (Macintosh) or with the preference (Windows version). Normally the
sky appears on a dark background with light stars but the white mode can adjust
this (inverted), which is preferable for printing. Night vision mode, dims the
screen and adds a red light hue on your computer which is good for viewing with
a nearby telescope or monitor which makes it easier to view both the
instrument, your telescope and starry night without a blinding glare. The
brightness of the color can also be adjusted and the night vision can also be
turned off when needed. Full screen mode shows all the celestial objects and
hides the screen controls.
(9) Advanced options etc.
Special tools can synchronize
with Starry Night and telescopes. My old telescope can’t work with SNPro.
Starry Night offers the possibility of operating a telescope, if you have the
equipment, to control one. If this is something you want to do with your Starry
Night, it is best to see if your telescope is supported by Starry Night or want
to use your current one. before you purchase a new telescope. Macintosh
computers use a telescope plug-in that has drivers that are packaged with the
main Starry Night installer. (The PC version uses an open source code called
ASCOM. The drivers for this are on the CD but need to be installed after
inserting the Starry Night Pro disc and choosing “Install telescope support”
from the pop-up menu).
The telescope controls are in
the Telescope side pane. There are instructions and information to configure
your telescope, connecting to your telescope, disconnecting, setting up the
telescope, telescope controls and then using a very nice feature called the
Observation Planner.
This allows adding special
features to your favorites and operating your telescope with Starry Night when
you want. This planner allows for the operation of your telescopes and Starry
Night for current date or from a different date (use of the Planner side panel
pane). Clicking one of the listed objects, these can be added by clicking upon
the Add Items window. The full name is displayed or if part of the name is
listed, several possibilities will show in the listing and there is the
possibility to choose the one desired. Checking in the add window (left hand
box) allows the adding of this object to the Observation Planner.
Several
windows called "filters" (Name, Database, Type, Constellation) can be
used if one of these areas are entered. Finding one of these and clicking on
the Add button adds to your listing. Clicking on the Name, shows whether than
object is visible (if it is not visible, then the object can be deleted from
the list immediately as well as any other time). A planned listing is
immediately saved and can be recalled by opening the pulldown menu at the top
of the Planner and then choosing the required date.
The Graph option is very
interesting as this offers a visual way of examining object's quality as
compared with: time: angular separation; altitude; magnitude; distance;
elongation (plotting of the visual separation in the sky between an object in our
solar system and its parent body); angular size; and/or time range.
A previous SETI Home plug-in
let the software use a popular option that is also available through separate
Internet connections. The main goal is to continuously monitor signals that may
be signals from extraterrestrial alien life. If selected, this screen saver
appears on your screen and launches a continuous stream of data send from a
radio telescope from Puerto Rico. Someday you might discover signals from a far
away planet. However at this time, SETI does not work with this version but it
might do so in the future.
(10) Printing, miscellaneous
features and other options
Sky charts can be customized,
printed out or even saved or run as later QuickTime movie.
There are also different ways
to work with files. Savings the initial settings can restore the setting to
correct it. A great feature is the use of multiple settings that can be saved
as "sets" after various options are configured. Clicking on the
Presets menu (under Options) can turn on any of the presets later.
Working with Starry Night
files, image files, movie files, and exporting text files give the user even
further flexibility. You can also make movies of your favorite celestial
events. For example, I simulated the eclipse of 2001, a viewed traversing the
Earth from the Moon. Starry Night allows the capture of movies and then turning
these into QuickTime movies. I used such a video simulation which I Integrated
into my 2001 solar eclipse movie with other video effects, view and travel
information. Exporting images, printing color images. Making movies and then
saving them under QuickTime mode is very helpful. Using Starry Night to play
back your movies is not needed as these movies can be played on a PC or Mac
computers through the use of most versions of QuickTime software players (which
is free).
Savings the initial settings
is an option. These can be restored if needed or multiple settings can be saved
as "sets" by using the Option and then presets option. Clicking on
the Presets menu under Options can turn on any of the presets later. Print
settings and global preferences can be customized
The astronomical CDs that
came with this new version were well done and informative. DVD Skytheater DVD.
Those who want to know more about astronomy can use the DVDs that come with it
or even purchase other ones. Novice and intermediate users may be useful to
give a wider understanding of Astronomy, Advanced users may want to use this
version for the extreme flexibility, to control their telescopes and to do
advanced sky observing. However for me, I just want to use the sky tools.
Past, present and future are
also tools at hand with Starry Night. There is a special events section that
shows and presents in simulation format, several lunar and solar eclipses. Also
while doing research on the Star of Bethlehem, I “went back in time” and could
observe the planetary very close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in 2 B.C.
Conclusions
Working with OSX 10.4.10, on
my iMac, I found Pro version to be a very flexible, faster and did not crash
compared to SNPro 4.5. The fact that Starry Night Pro can grow with you,
depending upon your needs, desires and astronomical pursuits is one of the
strong suits of the Starry Night software. Many years ago, I used Starry Night
Pro as a OS 9 version and it accomplished what I wanted to do - find comets and
asteroids and show me what was happening in the past, present and future. I
will be able to use all the tools in the future when I can get an automated
telescope. However the later versions allowed me to update the coordinates upon
launch and that has been most helpful.
The DVDs/CDs are “eye candy”
and while other users might like using them , these adventures about the solar
system, looking at simulated comets and asteroids in space and more are not my
main purpose for using this great program. Advanced users may be interested in
these other CDs and might want to try the less costly Pro version instead. The
other CDs can be purchased later if desired and also work with the other
versions of Starry Night, not only the Pro versions. This makes for even more
flexibility beyond just being a “planetarium maker” and yields superior product
for all astronomical pursuits for all levels of users.
This Starry Night Pro
version, like versions before, is fairly easy to use. Once I learned the many
control options and discovered which set I preferred to use, my planetarium
looked friendlier. moved into position at a good pace and then centered (can be
altered in the preferences), on the comets and other objects that I wanted to
view. I liked the flexibility for controlling the colors of the various labels
so different objects would stand out and be recognized more easily. In
particularly I liked the way all the information concerning each object
displayed. Once clicked, like on a comet, a listing of all the necessary
information (magnitude, declination, right ascension, etc) lined up in a column
above the stars. This was an invaluable tool for trying to plan when objects
could be observed or photographed.
In the preferences, I
increased the number of comets and asteroids that would be updated each time I
launched Starry Night. This allowed me to view more of these objects in the
Find pane. I made the updater launch when the software was installed. I made
sure to have my Internet connection launched before the starry night was
launched and for it to operate properly. Once the up-to-date coordinates
finished and I closed the window down and started the program up again. This
was to insure that the current coordinates would allow the planetarium to place
itself into the proper coordinates. If the updater indeed needed to be updated-
on some of the days, the updater window would open and the display that “no
other corrections were needed.” I made the listing of the Find pane
alphabetizes the column area so I could better view the comets and other
objects. I also placed check marks next to the comets that I wanted to view
when I launched the software at another date.
I configured the “look and
feel” of my planetarium interface so that when it launched each time, I could
view the sky the way I wanted. I added a mountain scene that had the starry
night in the background (there are many other options including feet etc). I
reconfigured the colors for the constellation borders, comets, satellites,
planets and other objects so that the colors matched what I wanted and so that
each object was a different color. I changed the constellation colors to show
as light green, the constellation boundaries as darker green, the names of the
comets showed in red when targeted (but normally yellow), the stars showed as
different shades so on. I also configured the limitations how I could see the
brightness of stars and more. Versatility can be fun I found. You can change
how you want the sky to appear and much more. And this version was more stable
for my OS so what is not to like?
No matter which Starry Night
version you choose, the software will allow you to grow with your astronomical
endeavors now and the future. There are many fine Astronomical Planetarium
programs on the market. However for my astronomical needs then, now and in the
future, Starry Night is my choice. The “sky’s the limit” (literally), for
your celestial pursuits with Starry Night Pro.