Mac Astronomy Software Observation List

The SkyLive – online planetarium ( web only) SkySafari – 3 versions with varying levels of features (sometimes free up to paid), Mac OS, iOS & Andriod. TriAtlas – free iOS app with stars up to mag 12.6, galaxies up to mag 15.5, planetary nebulae, clusters, double stars and variable stars. It's been a good three years now since I swapped my HP laptop for a Macbook Pro. In the mean time, I've started doing a bit more astrophotography and of course the change of operating system has affected the tools I use to obtain and process photos. Amateur astronomers have traditionally mostly used Windows, so there are a lot of Windows tools, both freeware and payware, to help. I used to run. Listed here are software packages useful for conducting scientific research in astronomy, and for seeing, exploring, and learning about the data used in astronomy. Package Name Pro. SkyChart III by Southern Stars is a planetarium software that is for both Windows and Macintosh. The only Mac OS X only planetarium software is Voyager 4 by Carina Software. While I have not seen it in action, it promises to be a very powerful program that also offers telescope control. For the advanced amateur astronomer, the full-color AllSky CCD mosaic, sophisticated telescope controls and comprehensive observational tools included in the Starry Night Pro Plus Astronomy Software version 6.3 will engage you in the hobby like no other software.

What are the essential Mac apps for the backyard astronomer? In this article, I've listed some of the most notable OS X apps that round out a complete technical package for the amateur astronomer.

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The goal here is to recommend some very good, respected apps for beginners that are in typical use on the Mac. It would be impractical to list every available app, and I recognize that many advanced amateurs will have their own favorites.

I've defined six categories of apps: a sky chart that does telescope control, astronomy weather forecast, satellite look up, session planning, image processing and last but not least, a superb scientific calculator.

1. Sky Chart & Telescope Control. There are several Mac apps that combine a sky chart with telescope control for compatible GoTo telescopes. They include, for example, Equinox, SkySafari, TheSkyX and Starry Night. Based on previous reviews of the Mac and the iPad versions, as well as the technical energy being put into continuous development, I have come to consider SkySafari Pro or SkySafari Plus by Southern Stars the best option for the Mac. Here's a review of the Mac version by a well-known amateur astronomer.

Image Credit: Southern Stars, SkySafari Plus for Mac.

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Mac Astronomy Software

Southern Stars also offers SkyFi, a Wi-Fi telescope controller to operate a GoTo telescope with a Mac (or PC, iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch and, with some limitations, Android.) A description and list of compatible GoTo telescopes is on the SkyFi page.

2. Astronomy Weather Forecast. Before you can start planning for an observing session, it's helpful to know what the weather is going to be that evening as well as the phase of the moon. The weather will help determine a start time and what clothing you'll need. The phase of the moon will tell you whether you'll be doing some casual observing of the moon and planets during a bright full moon or perhaps some deep sky photography at new moon or after the moon in partial phase has set.

Two sites that help with that are 7Timer! and Clear Sky Chart.

3. Satellite Info. Satellite info is good in case you'd like to try to catch one with binoculars and need the azimuth and rise time. Some amateurs have used this data to anticipate and photograph the International Space Station from the ground with stunning results.

Check the Heavens-Above website.

4. Observational Planning. Once you've figured out the weather and what you want to look at or photograph, it's helpful to have a session planning app. Your start time and the positions of the selected objects will determine when they go below the horizon, so you'll want to start in the western sky before they set. A planner will help with all that.

AstroPlanner is a well regarded astronomy session planning app for the Mac. Here's a review.

Image credit: AstroPlanner.

5. Photographic Image Processing. If you move from introductory visual astronomy, simple gazing or things that can be done visually, such as sketching or double and variable star observations to astrophotography, you'll need a collection of apps that can process your images for research or publication.

Note that astrophotography will require some extra equipment and lots of trial and error to gain experience. There are plenty of good books that will help you get started. For example, 'Digital SLR Astrophotography' by Michael A. Covington.

Here are some image processing apps, in no particular order, that are typically used by amateur astronomers.

  • Photoshop. For merging photos, enhacing in various ways, creating animated GIFs to show object movement over time, and so on.
  • GIMP. An open source Photoshop alternative.
  • Pixelmator. Another strong image editing app. Some people, including me, prefer Graphic Converter.
  • Lynkeos Often, a better image can be obtained by digitally 'stacking' or combining several shorter duration photos on a Mac/PC rather seeking to obtain one long duration photo. This app does a good job of that for individual images.
  • Keith's Image Stacking. This app can stack multiple frames from a single video file.

Image Credit: Lynkeos.

6. Scientific Calculator. Many astronomers have a good, physical scientific calculator or two handy, such as the HP-35s from Hewlett Packard. However, if you prefer to have one on your Mac, I give my highest recommendation to PCalc by James Thomson.

Amateur astronomy is an enormous field that encompasses a long scientific history, huge choices for equipment and a great many books on the subject. As I mentioned above, it's virtually impossible to cover the possibilities in a single article of this size. However, if you want to get started or already have some initial experience with a telescope, the links here should be helpful.

Mac Astronomy Software Observation List 2017

Next up: a similar look at iOS Astronomy apps for the iPad.

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Starry sky teaser image via Shutterstock.

Mac Astronomy Software Observation List Pdf

(Redirected from List of Software for Astronomy Research and Education)

Listed here are software packages useful for conducting scientific research in astronomy, and for seeing, exploring, and learning about the data used in astronomy.

Package NameProInterfaceConnects to Online

(e.g. VO) Data

Displays

or Manip. FITS Images

Tiled Multi-Resolution All-Sky image HandlingDisplays

or Manip.

Spectra

Handles Cubes

(Volumes)

Statistics?OSHas APICostSuppt'd

or Sold by

websiteCurrently Supported?
glueProGUI and command lineYesManipulatesNoYesYesBasic, plus python terminalMac, Win, LinuxYesFreeNASA (JWST), NSFhttp://glueviz.orgYes
WorldWide TelescopePro/AmGUIYesDisplaysTOASTNoLimitedLimited (histograms)BrowserYesFreeAmerican Astronomical Society (originally by Microsoft)http://worldwidetelescope.org/webclientYes
Google SkyAmGUIYesDisplaysMercatorNoNoNoBrowserYesFreeGooglehttps://www.google.com/sky/No
IRAFProGUI and command lineYesDisplay & ManipulatesNoYesYesLimitedMac, LinuxYesFreeNOAOhttp://iraf.noao.eduYes
ds9ProGUIYesManipulatesNoYesLimitedLimitedMac, Win, LinuxNoFreeNASAhttp://ds9.si.edu/site/Home.htmlYes
js9ProGUIYesManipulatesNoYesNoLimitedBrowserNoNASAhttps://js9.si.eduYes
AladinProGUI and command lineYesDisplays & ManipulatesHiPSNoYesLimited (histograms)Mac, Win, Linuxyes (java plugins)FreeCDShttps://aladin.u-strasbg.fr/DesktopYes
AladinLitePro/AmGUIYesDisplaysHiPSNoNoNoBrowserYesFreeCDShttp://aladin.u-strasbg.fr/AladinLite/Yes
ESASkyPro/AmGUIYesDisplaysHiPSNoNoNoBrowserNoFreeESAhttp://sky.esa.intYes
Starry Night (planetarium software)AmGUINo?NoYesNoNoNoMac, WinNo$Simulation Curriculum Corphttp://www.starrynight.com/starry-night-7-professional-astronomy-telescope-control-software.htmlYes
Legacy Survey Sky BrowserPro/AmGUIYesDisplaysYesNoNoNoBrowserNoFreeNOAO, AURAhttp://legacysurvey.org/viewerYes
QFitsViewProGUI and command lineNoDisplays & ManipulatesNoYesYesLimitedMac, Win, LinuxNoFreeThomas Ott, MPEhttp://www.mpe.mpg.de/~ott/dpuser/qfitsview.htmlYes
Gaia SkyAmGUI and scriptsYesNoNoNoNoNoMac, Win, LinuxNoFreeZAHhttps://zah.uni-heidelberg.de/de/institute-des-zah/ari/gaia2/info-material-fuer-die-oeffentlichkeit-downloads/gaiasky/Yes
FITS LiberatorPro/AmGUINoDisplays & ManipulatesNoNoNoNoMac, WinNoFreeESA, ESO, NASAhttps://spacetelescope.org/projects/fits_liberator/Yes
xTimeProUtilityYesNoNoNoNoNoBrowserNoFreeNASA Goddardhttps://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/Tools/xTime/xTime.plYes
wiseviewPro/AmGUIYesDisplays & ManipulatesNoNoNoNoBrowserNoFreeDan Caselden and Paul Westinhttp://byw.tools/wiseviewYes
AstropyProGUI and command lineYesDisplays & ManipulatesLimitedYesYesYesbased on pythonYesFreeNumFOCUShttps://www.astropy.org/Yes
LightkurveProGUI and command lineYesDisplays & ManipulatesNoNoNoYesbased on pythonYesFreeLightkurve collaborationhttps://docs.lightkurve.org/Yes
ChirpProAlert SoftwareYesNoNoNoNoYesBrowser, Google Play, App StoreNoFreeAurore Simonnet, EPO Sonoma State Universityhttp://chirp.sr.bham.ac.uk/Yes
TOPCATProGUI and command lineYesDisplays & ManipulatesLimitedYesYes(?)YesMac, Win, Linux, SolarisYesFreeDeveloped mostly in the UKhttp://www.star.bris.ac.uk/~mbt/topcat/Yes
Space EngineAmGUINoNoNoNoNoNoMac, Win, LinuxNo$Vladimir Romanyukhttp://spaceengine.org/Yes
Universe SandboxAmGUINoNoNoNoNoNoMac, Win, LinuxNo$Dan Dixonhttp://universesandbox.com/Yes
Astrometry.netPro/AmGUIYesNoNoNoNoYesBrowser or Mac, Win, LinuxNoFreeNSF, NASA & NRChttps://web.archive.org/web/20101015122353/http://www.astrometry.net/Yes
MISTProGUIYesNoNoNoNoYesBrowserNoFreeNSF, NASA & Packard Foundationhttp://waps.cfa.harvard.edu/MIST/index.htmlYes
Banyan ΣProGUIYesNoNoNoNoYesBrowser, IDL code or python codeNoFreeJonathan Gagnéhttp://www.exoplanetes.umontreal.ca/banyan/banyansigma.phpYes
OpenSpaceAmGUINo?NoNoNoNoNo?Mac, WinNoFreeNASA, Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation, AMNHhttps://www.openspaceproject.com/Yes

Mac Astronomy Software Observation List Download

Mac astronomy software observation list 2017

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