lumpy darkness

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

FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021

software resources - SkySafari

Many regard SkySafari as the best astronomy app for mobile devices. I have a love-hate relationship with it. It's good in many ways but it is also mind-bogglingly frustrating in others.

I have paid for it twice, that is purchased the app on two occasions many years apart. I acquired most recently in 2021 so to better support it when others ask me about it and to more easily facilitate building observing list files.

The visuals are pretty good. The paid versions support custom observing lists which is cool—and I deliberately make them. It can show field of view circles which is very good. It offers vertical and horizontal flipping which is amazing. It can use a phone's sensors for pointing. But the data on double stars is a mess. The old free Basic version did not show the sidereal time.

I also think their documentation, in-app and on-line is stunningly bad. Out-of-date, incomplete, poorly organised, and rife with errors.

Anyhoo, it occurred to me in July 2021 that I have a lot of experience with SkySafari, a lot of insights, a number of tips and tricks, and many cautions and warnings, but I wasn't aggregating this in one spot.

manufacturer: Simulation Curriculum
category: planetarium, simulation
platform(s): Android, iOS, Macintosh!

 

 

SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2021

show current sidereal time

  1. tap the Settings button
  2. tap Date & Time
  3. if nec., put a tick in the User Current Time checkbox
  4. read the Local Sidereal Time row

For SS: Plus version 6.

 

 

FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021

show FOV circles

To show a field of view circle, or multiple circles, first configure the display. Then later you can quick turn on or off the circles.

Configure:

  1. tap the Observe button
  2. tap Scope Display
  3. if you don't have the properly sized FOV, create it:
    1. tap the Add FOV Indicator button
    2. enter the size of the custom FOV in degrees
    3. if nec, tap the rectangular shape button
    4. tap the device Back button
    5. sort the list, if nec.
  4. tick the checkbox for the FOV to use
  5. adjust options by via the checkboxes
    • to show a cross-hatch, tick Crosshairs
    • to show N, E, S, W, tick Cardinal Directions
    • tick Show Even if Not Connected to Telescope
  6. tap the X close button

Note: the first three Custom Field of View indicators will appear in the main screen pop-up.

To show or hide the FOV circle(s):

  1. tap the top-right of the screen, where the field of view dimensions show
  2. tap the preferred Rings button which lies under the last three FOV indicators
  3. if nec., tap the appropriate Flip button

For SS: Plus version 6.

 

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021

sharing a custom list

I believe, now, in this modern era, security restrictions within the Android operating system prevent the direct use of files.

In the past, I'd copy a .skylist file FROM the mobile device. Can't do that now. They do not show. They are hidden. Maybe if you root your device you could see them but let's not go there.

Now, the LiveSky tool is needed. And, happily, it works well, and provides some good spin-offs like that your precious observing lists are backed up to the cloud.

  1. log into your LiveSky account
  2. click Observing Lists
  3. if you want a copy of the file on your computer, click the Download button and save the file
  4. if you want to use the built-in sharing feature, click the Share button then click the Email, Facebook, Tweet, or Direct Link button

 

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021

installing custom observing list

This is the file-copy method where the device is connected to a computer. In my case, I connect my motorola phone running Android 9 to a Windows 10 computer and use File Explorer to copy the .skylist file.

This is what I did in the past: I'd email a .skylist file to a friend, we'd download the file, I'd move it to an appropriate folder, and start the app. SkySafari would see the file. Done. Easy.

Well, easy for me, 'cause my brain's wired that way. I cut my teeth on DOS, files, directories, etc.

This still works but you must use a particular location... Here's the path:

Internal shared storage
 \Android
 \data
 \com.simulationcurriculum.skysafari6plus
 \files
 \Observing Lists

The com. reference maybe end with "pro" as opposed to "plus." Should be obvious.

When you open the Observing Lists directory, it will likely show as empty, which is a tad disconcerting. Anyhoo, copy your .skylist file in there. For me, the file is displayed when the copy process completes.

When you access the Observing Lists in the app, the new custom list will show. It is ready for use.

And when you log into LiveSky, it will show there too...

Concisely:

  1. open a file manager window
  2. open the Observing Lists folder
  3. copy the .skylist file from the computer to the Observing Lists folder on the mobile device
  4. check the Observing Lists display on the device

For SS: Plus version 6.

 

 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021

creating a custom observing list

Creating a list on the mobile device involves two main processes. First, create the list to hold the objects. Then add the objects.

Create a new list:

  1. tap the Observe button
  2. tap Observing Lists
  3. tap the Create New Observing List button
  4. enter a name for the list, e.g. "colourful double stars from SkyNews"
  5. tap the X close button

Add objects to a list:

  1. get to the object in question by a method noted below:
    • direct:
      1. tap an object on the screen
      2. tap the Selection button
    • searching:
      1. search for the object
      2. tap the ... More button
  2. tap Add To Observing List
  3. tap the target custom list
  4. note the feedback message

For SS: Plus version 6.

 

 

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

TSTM observing lists

For SkySafari .skylist observing list files from The Sky This Month talks that I deliver, see the presentations page on this companion site.

 

 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 20 , 2021

my blog posts

For quick reference, here is an index to the blog posts referring to the SkySafari app. Reverse chronological order.

  • saw Cloudy Night post on non-functional email, 7 Aug '21
  • app showed file was loading, couldn't cancel, 6 Aug '21
  • approx. 14 hours for "additional file" to load, 6 Aug '21
  • encountered another label error, 1 Aug '21
  • spotted an error due to character sets, 30 Jul '21
  • documented SkySafari errors with double stars, 24 Jul '21
  • sent brief bug report to check against Starry Night, 23 Jul '21
  • showed how to flip the view to Melody, 5 Jul '21
  • needed FOV circles without cross-hairs, 5 Jul '21
  • found more errors in SkySafari, 20 Jun '21
  • rude response from Whipps, 18 Jun '21
  • created LiveSky account to transfer files, 17 Jun '21
  • uploaded FNGC lists made by Dave and Chris, 17 Jun '21
  • wasted time trying to manage observing files, 17 Jun '21
  • successfully loaded a custon observing list, 16 Jun '21
  • couldn't make a list in SS6!, 16 Jun '21
  • procured SkySafari 6 Plus on discount, 16 Jun '21
  • received message on LiveSky cloud features, 2 May '21
  • provided TSTM list in SkySafari format, 7 Apr '21
  • prices reduced again, 8 Oct '20
  • app prices doubled, 12 Sep '20
  • checked iOS prices (Basic not free!), 9 Aug '20
  • received message on LiveSky product, 3 Aug '20
  • provided TSTM list in SkySafari format, 19 Aug '20
  • learned SkySafari Basic updates weekly, 13 Jul '20
  • received good response from Hjelle, 8 Jul '20
  • received mediocre response from Braganca, 6 Jul '20
  • reminded users Basic does not support adding comets, 6 Jul '20
  • received weak response from Goodman, 4 Jul '20
  • sent complaint message, 4 Jul '20
  • halted order to due upselling and missing web pages, 4 Jul '20
  • decided to purchase new version of app, 4 Jul '20
  • received "flash sale" ad, SkySafari 50% off, 3 Jul '20
  • provided TSTM list in SkySafari format, 1 Apr '20
  • provided TSTM list in SkySafari format, 11 Sep '19
  • she confirmed it as Mars, 27 Jul '18
  • learned of free versions of SkySafari for Android and iOS, 4 Jun '18
  • provided TSTM list in SkySafari format, 15 Nov '17
  • turned off tilt detection, 4 May '17
  • checked southern sky on tablet, 8 Mar '17
  • provided TSTM list in SkySafari format, first time!, 6 Oct '16
  • learned of SkySafari 5 for Android, 9 Aug '16
  • unable to help with beta testing, 21 Jul '16
  • taught NOVA course and recommended SkySafari, 23 Feb '16
  • response on RASC Journal article, 9 Dec '15
  • Binary Universe review published, 22 Jul '15
  • transferred observing list from SkyTools, 10 Jun '15
  • tried panoramic background, 9 Jun '15
  • tried app with ISS flyover, 6 Jun '15
  • joined Yahoo!Group, 4 Jun '15
  • showed a galaxy that SkyTools didn't!, 17 May '15
  • searched for Mercury, 16 May '15
  • tried SkySafari on ASUS tablet in the field, 19 Apr '15
  • identified a star, 5 Apr '15
  • purchased SkySafari Plus 1.8.5 for Android, 31 Mar '15
  • Simulation Curriculum acquires SkySafari, 20 Dec '13
  • tried SkySafari on an iPad, 5 Mar '11

 

 

 

 

links

    lumpy darkness sites:
    blog proper
    lists home
   
    telescopes:
    SP-C8 SCT
    GoToStar system
    Edmund 6" newt
    ETX90-RA MCT
    FirstScope 3" newt
    accessories
   
    life lists:
    planets, moons, etc.
    constellations
    notable stars
    double stars *
    Messier objects
    NGC objects
    other deep sky objects
    eclipses
    occultations
    photo gallery
    magnitude limit
    to do
   
    resources:
(*)   SkyTools
    Stellarium
    TheSky
    NexStar 11
    Aladin quick query
   
    other lists:
    Greek alphabet in HTML
    judging angular size
    atlases, books, software
    what's up for the year
    meteor showers
    with just your eyes
    assessing darkness
    observing preparation
    presentations
    articles
    tips and tricks
    builds and hacks
    wx dashboards
   
    web site links:
    magazines
    sky conditions
    predicting aurora
    science and research
    space telescopes
    double stars sites
    retail stores
    clubs and associations
    DIY observatories
    miscellaneous