Software Reviews

Introduction

This book titled "Software Reviews" is intended to serve as a collection of reviews on various features, pros and cons of various available Astronomical Software. It is not wholly dedicated to Desktop Planetariums and Night Sky simulators, but to a larger genre of software that are related to astronomy. The motive is to help the reader to choose the software that is best for his intended usage.

Software Reviews

Starry Night

• Platform: Microsoft Windows


• System Requirements: Pretty slow on a Pentium II with 128 MB of RAM


• Plus Points: Eye Candy Graphics, Planner Feature listing bright objects visible during the night, Simulates the Night Sky from non-terrestrial locations, User Friendly, Ideal for a beginner in developing countries (Backyard Demo Version)
  


• Minus Points: Hogs system resources, Very limited database (in Backyard Demo version)


• License: Demo


• Website: http://www.starrynight.com/


• Reviewer's Rating: 4 / 10

Cartes du Ciel

• Platform: Microsoft Windows, Linux and other UNIX variant


• System Requirements: Minimal


• Plus Points: Extensive database covering several catalogs, Plug-in based, Additional Catalogs can be added, Low on system resources, Simple, Extensive object information, Fully configurable appearance, Capability to print finder charts, Can control telescopes, fit for the experienced amateur.


• Minus Points: Not very user friendly and somewhat complicated to use, Graphics are not good, Calculations don't seem very accurate.


• License: FreeWare
  
• Website: http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/


• Reviewer's Rating: 8 / 10

KStars

• Platform: Linux, UNIX Variants, Microsoft Windows. KDE Required.


• System Requirements: Requires about 160 MB of free RAM.


• Plus Points: Pretty stable, Observing Log feature, Conjunctions predictor, Simple and Fast, User friendly, Can control telescopes / observatories, Fully Open Source, Accurate, Links to external sources of information, inbuilt DSS / SIMBAD query feature, Additional Catalogs downloadable include USNO-NOMAD to 16.5 magnitude.


• Minus Points: Not accurate enough at high zoom levels, Finder charts printed are not very good, graphics are not good, Many features are still incomplete


• License: GNU GPL


• Website: http://edu.kde.org/kstars


• Reviewer's Rating: 8 / 10

Stellarium

• Platform: Linux, Microsoft Windows.


• System Requirements: Requires hardware graphics acceleration, heavy on system resources otherwise.


• Plus Points: Unsurpassable graphical quality, compatible with All-Sky planetarium projectors, simulates ground / horizon / surroundings, Constellation Art, Realistic Milky Way, Scriptable, Simulates light-pollution, Images of all Messier and bright NGC objects, Fully Free and Open Source


• Minus Points: Catalogs are not exhaustive enough, Search facility is not too good


• License: GNU GPL


• Website: http://www.stellarium.org


• Reviewer's Rating: 8 / 10

Star Calc

• Platform: Microsoft Windows


• System Requirements: Very light. Can run on archaic computers. Compatible with PocketPC.


• Plus Points: Excellent for naked eye and binocular sky gazing, so good for beginners; can add additonal plugins available to see portion and phase of moon, asteroids, solar / lunar eclipse, Messier Object and NGC objects. Also supports USNO-A, Tycho 2 and GSC [Star Catalogs], making it suitable for use with high power scopes. Can print finder charts, simple controls.
  
• Minus Points:
  
• License: FreeWare
  
• Website: http://www.relex.ru/~zalex/main.htm


• Reviewer's Rating: 8 / 10