![]() ![]() Image maps for each of the planets and the major moons are included, so when you zoom in on Mars you'll see more than the typical wire-frame globe you usually get with other programs. You can also add your own photos to the program if you like. Trying again a few minutes later usually fixes things. Occasionally you'll run into an error message on the DSS website, but that's the internet's problem, not SNP's. Zooming more than 30 arc-minutes into any area of the sky allows you to bring up the corresponding plate from the Digitized Sky Survey via an internet connection. Zooming in on a random Messier object brings up a stunning photograph, blended well enough with the surrounding stars that it's hard to tell where the photo ends and the program-generated stars begin. ![]() SNP didn't sacrifice accuracy to become an attractive program, it's attractiveness is a wonderful bonus. Now that I've pointed out the few things I don't like about SNP, let's get to the good stuff.įirst of all, Starry Night Pro is a jaw-droppingly beautiful program! My reservations about beauty vs. Overall, though, these complaints don't change the fact that SNP is a joy to use. (Honestly, these functions might be included but so well hidden that I can't find them. Starry Night Pro needs a comprehensive built-in help system.Įphemeris and "event" data can't be exported, and there is no built-in observation log. ![]() But a mailing list shouldn't be something you need in order to fully understand a program. The Starry Night support guy that hangs out there does a great job. , where you can browse through the archives. ![]() To understand every feature of SNP you'll need several things - The manual, access to a modem so you can read the online FAQ and a subscription to the SNP support group at. The online FAQ itself is okay, but it often refers you back to obscure text files located on the SNP CD-ROM itself rather than directly answering your question. If I'm using SNP to guide a telescope from the back yard I shouldn't need to string a phone cable outside to the laptop when I need help with the program. Clicking on help brings you to a FAQ on the Starry Night website. and there are no help files included with SNP. There are a lot of frustrating little things like that in the manual. #STARRY NIGHT PRO ENTER COORDINATES MANUAL#Being told to look for the registration number at the front of the manual was confusing until I figured out that whoever wrote this was using an eyepiece which reversed east and west. #STARRY NIGHT PRO ENTER COORDINATES SOFTWARE#acquired Sienna Software in May, 2000, and it's possible that the usual confusion which follows such acquisitions is to blame.) There are quite a few inaccuracies in my copy, the first of which I noticed when registering the program. However, the manual appears to have been rushed to press. This is one of those programs that you'll want to keep the manual nearby when using, at least for the more esoteric functions. It is certainly usable right out of the box, but the deeper features take a bit of poking around to find. The learning curve, while not steep, isn't eased very much by the program's documentation. Starry Night Pro meets almost all of my "perfect program" requirements. ![]()
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