Observation Planning Software

[cyborg421]

Hi All,

Does anyone use any astro planning software to plan an evenings observing, preferably freeware.

If not what else do you do?

Simon

[ronin]

Planning software tends to tell me what is up there, what it doesn't do is that into account the house and a tree or two that blocks things.

I usually simply determine which constellation has a decent view and then read a book to see what is in it.

Later as things rotate I may select something else to search through or return to a few previously visited and known items to remind myself.

Piece of paper and a little preliminary work tends to be pretty good.

[tbird]

I sometimes use this site Tonight's Sky, I don't always follow the plan, but it gives an idea what to look out for.

[cyborg421]

Thanks tbird.

I like the look of the site and it's easy to use.

You can download an csv file and print if you wish.

I have attached one that I have generated for tonight for anyone who is interested.

Simon

Observation Plan.xls

[Stargazer51N]

Hi Simon,

I use Nexstar Observer List (just put NSOL into a search engine and it's usually the first on the list). This is freeware for use with Celestron goto scopes (it can communicate with the scope and you can work through the list, with the software moving the scope to your next target) but it might be worth a look. You can build lists yourself, automatically sort them in the order they will appear on a given date. You can apply filters to show only what's visible from your location. The resulting list can be displayed or exported to a file (it includes object names and co-ordinates, etc). There are also loads of pre-installed lists to look through.

I appreciate you don't have a Celestron scope but there might be enough functionality for your needs.

[xyz]

Astroplanner

AstroPlanner

[DoctorD]

Hi

I use Starseek Pro on my iPhone & iPad - great tonight's best feature and observing list with the ability to export in cvs format and to add observation notes.

Clear skies

Paul

[garethmob]

its not software.... but iv started using this

JR's website on Deep Sky Astronomy printed and laminated the A charts

[Merlin66]

+1 for AstroPlanner V2...does everything..and more!

[umadog]

I use SkyTools 3 for planning.

[cyborg421]

I had a look at Astroplanner but couldn't work out how to set the site so gave up .

Simon

[Merlin66]

Under V2 its:

EDIT/ RESOURCES/ SITES

HTH

[cyborg421]

Ah....

as always, if all else fails read the manual....

Thanks

Simon