lumpy darkness

Observation notes (with equipment details), photos, sketches, reviews, software tips, random thoughts, by an amateur astronomer.

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

software resources - SkyTools

SkyTools is incredible astronomy software. While it has charts, it's core strength is session planning and logging. It takes into account season, time of day (er, night), horizon and sight lines, equipment, light from the Moon, light pollution, age of the observer, their experience, etc. In the Professional edition, a user can build or import lists for visual observing as well as use lists for photographic targets.

manufacturer: SkyHound
principal developer: Greg Crinklaw
category: planning, logging
platform(s): Windows

 

 

SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 2022

SkyTools 4 shortcuts

SkyTools remains a rich application with many features. It offers list, table, and chart views which can be used with the mouse or keyboard. There are a great number of keyboard shortcuts and mouse actions. There are over 65 in the Interactive Atlas alone!

Blake Nancarrow produced a procedurally-oriented list of all the SkyTools 4 keyboard shortcuts and mouse techniques. For both the Visual and Imaging editions.

To use it, look up the view or display you're in then look up the action you want to perform. Finally, read across the row for the keyboard or mouse technique.

View the ST4 shortcuts as a web page (white on black).

 

 

SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2018

software demo video

I demonstrated the SkyTools 3 software at the RASC Toronto Centre Recreational Astronomy Night meeting on 23 May 2018. The edited final version is available on the RASC YouTube channel. See the video notes for corrections and additional remarks.

 

 

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2016

searching for reference points

Stumbled across some keywords that can be used in the Designation Search Tool box. For example, type "ncp" in the search box to find the north celestial pole. Then one can add it to an observing list.

  • z or zenith - for the celestial zenith
  • ncp - north celestial pole
  • scp - south celestial pole
  • ngp - north galactic pole
  • sgp - south galactic pole
  • center or galactic center

The zenith reference point is "smart" in the sense that as the software updates a chart for a particular time, or the user activates the Real Time setting, the point will move.

If one conducts a "fuzzy" search for "galactic" then three of the reference points will be listed, along with a globular cluster.

One can search for "north" or "south" as well.

Very handy.

 

 

SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2014

SkyTools web resources

Don't know why I never tried this before but I went lookin' for web sites about SkyTools, by people like me. Found a few.

  • Greg Crinklaw's SkyTools 3 Power Tips from a presentation to the Rose City Astronomers (PowerPoint PPS file, 108 KB)
  • Mark Martin's Introduction to SkyTools 3 web page with 94 slide presentation
  • Mark also delivered a "tour" presentation to the RCA demonstrating the basic features (PDF, 111 KB)
  • and Uncle Rod is a big fan, often commenting on the product, reviewing the version, what have you, on his blog

Check 'em out.

 

 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2013

SkyTools 3 software demo

Blake Nancarrow delivered a presentation on the Standard Edition at Starfest (in August 2013) wherein he briefly demonstrated key features in the powerful application. A handout was also provided.

Both the PowerPoint file and Word document have been converted to Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).

  • SkyTools 3 demo presentation (3.2 MB)
  • SkyTools 3 demo handout (405 KB)

Happy planning!

 

 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2014

SkyTools 3 Pro shortcuts

SkyTools is very rich and includes many features. It offers list, table, and chart views which can be used with the mouse or keyboard, of course. There are a great number of keyboard shortcuts and mouse actions. Over 100, in fact. So many that one might feel overwhelmed.

Blake Nancarrow produced a procedurally-oriented list of all the SkyTools 3 Professional keyboard shortcuts and mouse techniques. To use it, look up the view or display you're in then look up the action you want to perform. Finally, read across the row for the keyboard or mouse technique.

  • ST3P shortcuts in a PDF document (26 KB)
  • ST3P shortcuts as a web page (white on black)

The downloadable file is used the Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF).

Thanks is made to Greg for reviewing and terminology.

 

 

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017

SkyTools 3 Pro observing lists

SkyTools Standard and Professional editions support the creation of new observing lists. These session lists can be shared. A user may import lists from a file or on-line via the SkyHound web site. Some users share their lists directly, copying or e-mailing files, or by putting this in the SkyTools Yahoo!Group.

Blake Nancarrow has made a number of lists. They are stored in the STX format.

  • RASC Coloured Double Stars, with notes, v2016, 10KB
  • Sky & Telescope double stars - summer, v2, 7KB
  • Sky & Telescope double stars - winter, v2, 7KB
  • Turn Left at Orion - spring, v2, 7KB
  • Turn Left at Orion - summer, v2, 14KB
  • Turn Left at Orion - autumn, v2, 9KB
  • Turn Left at Orion - winter, v2, 7KB
  • Turn Left at Orion - southern hemisphere, v1, 14KB
  • Sissy Haas's double star research project, v3, 3KB
  • Cambridge Double Star Atlas showpieces, v2, 13KB
  • Coldfield Top 200 Best Doubles, with notes, v1, 9KB

Once downloaded, do the following to incorporate the list into SkyTools.

  1. Click the Data Manager toolbar button.
  2. Click the Import Shared Data tab.
  3. Click the Local/Network Files radio button.
  4. If necessary, click the Browse button and select the preferred folder.
  5. Select the preferred STX file to import.
  6. If necessary, set the preferred group to import to.
  7. Click the Import button.
  8. Click the Close button.

Enjoy.

 

 

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2013

syncing with NexStar 11

Often I use SkyTools in Real Time mode with a Celestron NexStar 11 GPS, an alt-az telescope. It works very well with the Celestron ASCOM driver--yields very good pointing performance.

In terms of set-up, I perform all the initial routines at the 'scope proper. Start up, GPS Align, date-time-location entry. The two-star alignment. The mount will report a successful alignment. Once the computer and telescope are physically connected, SkyTools is linked via the ASCOM driver.

The flashing X indicator in the SkyTools Interactive Atlas chart shows where the telescope should be pointing. However, if a recent slew does not put a target centred in the eyepiece, sync up.

  1. Display Interactive Atlas.
  2. Check if flashing X is off target.
  3. In either the Interactive Atlas or Context Viewer, right-click at the spot where telescope is actually pointing.
  4. From shortcut menu, choose SYNC TELESCOPE TO CURSOR.

Perform this action periodically to keep pointing accurate.

 

 

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2011

SkyTools 3 software demo

If you respond to targets and goals, if you're pursuing astronomy certificates, you may find SkyTools indispensable. Blake Nancarrow delivered a presentation on the Standard Edition at the RASC Toronto Centre Recreational Astronomy Night meeting (on 7 Dec 2011) wherein he briefly demonstrated key features in the powerful application. A handout was also provided.

Both the PowerPoint file and Word document have been converted to Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).

  • SkyTools 3 demo presentation (2.7 MB)
  • SkyTools 3 demo handout (405 KB)

Happy planning!

 

 

 

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