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Astronomy Software
In
astronomy, there is a wide variety of software. In most cases, there are many
different versions of software that do a particular thing. The most common
reason for this is preference. While I use some of these software titles,
I am in no way endorsing one brand over another. All of the software listed here are popular among the amateur astronomer
population; in fact, it is common for one person to have several different
programs that do about the same thing - the features of one might be missing in
another, but that other may excel in something else (if that makes sense). For ease,
I will break them down into category. Keep in mind this
list is not at all complete. If there is a software that is worth mentioning,
please send us the link.
Planetarium Software |
Specialty Observing Programs |
CCD Software |
Robotic Software |
Other Software
Software for OS X (Apple)
Planetarium Software: This type of software is used to map the night sky
from any location on the Earth. It most cases, the software below can print our
star charts for a night of viewing and will have extensive databases with at
least the most popular night sky objects.
- TheSky
by Software Bisque is probably the most popular planetarium software
available. I also use version 6 of this software. The benefit of using
TheSky is their extensive database, ability to remotely control a
computerized telescope, and work seamlessly with their other popular
product, CCDSoft. Their website also has a Hot Fix section for up to date software updates (you will have to register).
- TheSky Pocket Edition provides access to the virtual sky from your Palm or Pocket PC. For the diehard astronomer, you can download and extended version of the SAO catalog as well.
- A free, open-source software called
Stellarium is probably a good place to start.
- Another free planetarium software is
Celestia. It
runs on Windows, Linux and Mac. This software not only shows you the sky
from Earth, but also allows you to "fly" to other locations and view the sky
from there.
- Keeping with the freeware theme, the third free bit of software is an up-and-coming simple yet capable sky charting program called Asynx Planetarium.
- Starry Night
is a software that uses OpenGL and QuickTime to show a photo realistic
night sky. It also provides telescope control.
Updates for this software are available at their website, but newer versions allow updates through an application installed with the program.
- An old style DOS type software by
Project Pluto called
Guide is also a pretty capable Windows based software as well. While it
does not have the pizzazz associated with the "modern" planetariums, it does
have what I consider one of the best presentations of nebula.
Guide
updates are also available on the website.
- A specialized planetarium software called
AstroMB is also
available. I have no experience with this software, but it boasts a pretty
impressive set of features - available for viewing at their website.
- SkyMap is another
software title I am not familiar with, but it does seem to have a faithful
following.
- Redshift
is a program that used to be Macintosh only, and doesn't seem to want to go
away. I used it many years ago and found it capable although I have no idea
how the newer versions are compared to what is currently available.
- Sky Tools by
CapellaSoft is a bit different from other planetarium software as it has
an integrated notepad to store observing notes during observation. While I
have no personal experience with this software, this also seems to have a
faithful following.
- SkyChart III by Southern Stars is a planetarium software that is for both Windows and Macintosh.
- Voyager 4 by Carina Software - a Windows and OS X platform planetarium software, this provides the standard features expected in virtual sky and telescope control.
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Specialty Observing Programs:
These programs are not full featured planetariums, but specialize in
specific objects.
- Seeker by Bisque - a 3D immersive tool for traveling through our Solar System
- VRMars - A virtual reality program that lets you see through the eyes of the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit (The Opportunity MER version is in the works).
- Night Sky Observer has a program called
LunarPhase Pro that is a very capable Lunar observing program. It
has imbedded maps, listings of major Lunar features, and Lunar time
tables for anything you want to know.
-
Night Sky Observer also has a very nice program called
JupSat Pro. It's a program designed to provide information on the
four Galilean moons of Jupiter - and does it well.
-
Heavenscape software has a nice program called
Satellite Tracker. This program allows full control of a Meade or
Celestron computer controlled telescope to track the orbiting satellites
- like the International Space Station and various communication
satellites.
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CCD Control and Imaging Software:
This will be the longest list as there are many of these types of
programs available. I will keep the descriptions short for this list.
- CCDSoft - works in concert with TheSky for full camera and telescope control. Also provides the necessary image reduction, processing and stacking
- Mira Pro
and Mira AP - professional level CCD software
- MaxImDL -
a popular choice that offers CCD control and processing
-
AIP4WIN - a popular choice that is really a book with included
software
-
Santa Barbara Instrument Groups software page - CCD software
updates
-
IRIS - a free and capable program for CCD control and processing
- Registar
- specialized image stacking program
-
RegiStax - free image stacking program, used mostly for planets
-
K3CCDTools - provides video image stacking and image processing
-
Fits4Win - Windows program to view FITS files
-
AstroVideo - specialized video stacking program
-
RC-Astro Console - Russell Croman's add-in for enhanced MaxImDL
functionality
-
SigmaReject - Another Russell Croman plug-in for MaxImDL
-
RGB Weight Calculator - Specialized program that assists in
determining ideal exposure time for various filtered images
-
AstroArt 3.0 - 96bit image processing software
- ImagePlus
- image converter and processor, useful for Digital SLR cameras
-
Adobe PhotoShop - need I say more? The de-facto standard for the
"digital darkroom"
- Grain
Surgery - clean up those messy images
-
PixInsight - image enhancement
-
NEAT Image - digital filter for noise reduction
-
FitsPlug - FITS file plug-in for PhotoShop
- Irfanview
- free image reader and basic processing, reads just about
everything
- FITS Liberator - a free PhotoShop plugin by the folks from the ESA/ESO and NASA
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Robotic and Remote Control Software:
This next batch of software specializes in telescope control -
either from another room or across the globe.
- TheSky with CCDSoft provide robotic control from a computer nearby.
- Want to improve your telescopes pointing accuracy? T-Point is a software that models your mounts accuracy and uses this model to improve pointing accuracy.
- Orchestrate is a software to automate imaging sessions - so you can get some sleep.
- For those with motorized domes, AutomaDome adds the ability to control the dome as well - moving the dome with the scope as well as opening and closing.
- Users of the Paramount can improve accuracy with PrecisionPEC.
- Have your cake and eat it too - the complete Bisque Observatory Software Suite.
- DC-3 Dreams
- full suite of robotic observatory control, software updates
available in their
support pages
-
PoleAlignMax - software to assist your computer control
telescope to point to the north
- ASCOM
- the communications standard for interface control in astronomy
-
CCDWare - a new software company providing a variety of products used to assist in tracking accuracy
and automatic control (with links to other software as well), imaging stacking, session planning and CCD inspection.
- SN Finder - This software automates supernova searches, designed by an amateur astronomer for amateur astronomers
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Other Software:
The following software doesn't really fit in the above
categories.
Software for OS X (Apple):
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