1- Aladin could be thought of as an astronomy browser. Instead of the internet, Aladin browses through astronomy images, density maps, and other astronomy sources, e.g. Hubble images, the Simbad database, and the VizieR service. You select theyour results would depend of course on the connection speed and on how many databases are being utilized. One can apparently download files for offline viewing.
I could superimpose various views in to one and I could open up to 16 panels with images in each.
It was one of only two programs which indexed every star and deep space object in my test sample as well as showing several images of each item. You can also point at a specific location using the right ascension and declination coordinitem you wish to view and it automatically downloads a view of the item selected.
This program provides access to professional quality telescope images in several wavelengths. In effect you are looking through a very large telescope. The images are downloaded from the internet so some displays take a few seconds to update—ates. You can bookmark views.
Since Aladin is a sky atlas image viewer and not a planetarium program it has no solar system objects in its index. Obviously there could be images of the solar objects in many of these images but it's beyond my ability to locate them.
Requires Java 1.5 and runs under Windows, Linux, and Mac.
2- Stellarium
Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. It is being used in planetarium projectors. Just set your coordinates and go.
3- DeepSky 2011 - I had a chance to use this software and it does a lot. While not as smooth or cohesive as TheSky, it does do several things well. With a bit of a learning curve, one gets a list of available targets for the evening so a plan can be made. An image of the object is available so you have an idea what the target is; so when ready, you can view its location on their built-in chart, send the target info to your goto system and enjoy. From the, note of what you see can also be performed. It keeps a detailed log, and you can share online. Be sure to give it a go!
THE SKY- SCREENSAVER
Shows the positions of stars and planets. Cool. See screenshot.(323KB)
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| DOWNLOAD
SOME ASTRONOMICAL OBJECT CATALOGS
Not software.
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| DOWNLOAD
MOONCALC
This is a DOS program but is easy to use. It calculates all
manner of things concerning the moon's position, moonrise-moonset times, phases
etc. Quite a good program. Comes with a star catalogue to display the moon's
position as well. (202KB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated
Nov 30 '01
LUNAR OCCULTATION WORKBENCH
This program computes occultations by the moon of eight
planets and 54 thousand stars. See homepage for more info. (14MB)
HOMEPAGE
SKY-CALENDAR
This program opens with a bar-chart representation of the
days of the month from top to bottom, with a graphic of each day from day to
night to day. As you pass the mouse around the screen, events like the passage
of the moon, planets, etc. track along the day bar and up and down the month
graph. Includes a planet finder window that also shows a moving graphic of the
planets visible from where the mouse in positioned. See homepage for Pentium 4
bug issue. (6.4MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated Dec 19 '02
AVIS
Avis is a FITS viewer. FITS files are used in scientific
applications like astronomy and medical imaging. (830KB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added
Feb 11 '00
ANALEMMA
Displays a full year of solar visibility. Includes
sunrise/sunset, equinoxes/solstices and dates of earliest/latest
sunrises/sunsets.
HOMEPAGE |
| DOWNLOAD added Jul 10 '00
IRIS
Iris offers numerous and powerful functions of image
processing in the field of the digital astronomical images. It is particularly
optimized to exploit the images that come from CCD or DSLR cameras. Iris can
load and save images in the formats FITS, PIC (proprietary format), raw or BMP.
(2.5MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated Apr 24 '05
PLANET VISIBILITY
This program presents a simple 3-color graph that tells,
when a planet (or moon, sun) is visible from your location. (10MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated
Aug 27 '05
PLANETARY APPRENTICE
Planetary Apprentice is a reference tool that displays
several properties for a selected planet. There are 18 properties divided into
four categories - orbital, physical, axial, and atmospheric. The Apprentice
shows all 18 properties for your selected planet in one scrollable window.
(4.0MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Apr 1 '01
TUMOL
The Ultimate Messier Object Log (TUMOL) is a database that
contains relevant information for all 110 Messier objects. It contains various
layouts to assist amateur astronomers in documenting their search for deep sky
objects. (3.1MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated May 4 '10
THE SIMPLE OBSERVING LOG
The Simple Observing Log (TSOL) is intended as a place where
you can keep track of all your star-gazing information. After recording your
observations, you can view and print your observing records sorted by date or
by object. There's space where you can sketch your observations on the page, or
place scans of your sketches after you're done. An "astrophoto"
section for each observation lets astrophotographers keep track of their
exposures as well. When you want to use TSOL in the field, simply choose
"Nightvision Mode" to switch to a vision-saving red display. (2.2MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added May 4 '01
HELIO
Calculates the latitude/longitude and area of sunspots. The
only inputs are the data/time, the sunspot x and y coordinates and sunspot
size. (846KB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated Sep 10 '05
CELESTIA
Celestia is a real-time visual simulation of space. Choose a
point within the Local Group of galaxies and Celestia will show you an
approximation of how it would appear to your eyes were you actually there.
Celestia is unique in its ability to allow you to navigate at an immense range
of scales. Orbit a couple kilometers above the surface of a tiny, irregular
asteroid, then head off toward Jupiter, watching it grow from a bright point of
light into a looming sphere filling your field of vision. Leave our solar
system entirely and observe the sun as it fades from a brilliant disk to a
bright star, disappearing almost entirely as you head off toward the Upsilon
Andromeda system to orbit around its innermost giant planet. (11MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated Jun 9 '07
ASTROSTACK
AstroStack has some essential tools in order to load and
combine a set of pictures (from an AVI video or a sequence of bitmaps) and make
it into a detailed and noise free image. Take advantage of the short shutter
speeds (1/25 or 1/30 of a second) of video and combine as many images as you
can. (724KB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated
Jan 21 '05
GRAPHDARK
GraphDark allows you to work out when an astronomical object
will be visible from your location and when moonlight, twilight or low haze
will affect its visibility. An additional option displays the moon's phases as
a lunar calendar. (2.5MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated Jan 18 '04
OPEN UNIVERSE
Realtime Solar System Simulator, simulates the major planets
and moons in 3D on your computer. (4.5MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Mar 16 '02
ORBITER
Orbiter is a realistic space simulation using proper physics
for the modelling of planetary motion, gravitational fields, free space and
atmospheric flight etc. (19MB)
HOMEPAGE added Mar 18 '02
MARS PREVIEWER II
Displays the central meridian and angular size of the red
planet for any date and time. (3.1MB)
DOWNLOAD added May 6 '02
VIRTUAL MOON ATLAS
This software, realized by Patrick Chevalley and Christian
Legrand can visualize the Moon aspect for every date and hour. It permits also
to study lunar formations with unique databse and pictures library compiled by
Christian Legrand. It's conceived to be easily usable "in the field"
according to an observing session needs, but also to study "at home"
the Moon and its relief. Smaller downloads are available at the home page.
(90MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated May 5 '10
SOLAR ECLIPSE VIEWER
Solar Eclipse Viewer is a 32-bit astronomical program for
Windows to search for solar eclipses and display global circumstances (eclipse
map). (974KB)
DOWNLOAD added Jun 30 '02
ASTROBYTE LOGGING SYSTEM
An easy to use database to keep all your astronomical
observations together in one package. It contains over 10,000 of the best
pre-selected objects along with a form to enter new selections. It keeps track
of objects, which you have observed, along with objects that you still need to
observe to fill a catalog. (20MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added
Jul 24 '02
MOONLOC
MoonLoc shows the location of the sun and moon in the sky
for any date/time. Sun rise/set moon rise/set is found instantly. Shown: Right
Ascension, Declination, Altitude, Azimuth, Angle between sun and moon (which is
also the moon's phase). Just a very basic program. (122KB)
DOWNLOAD updated Mar 2 '03
ADC
Shows you current universal time, Julian date, GST and local
sidereal time. (2.9MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added
May 1 '03
MOONPHASE
Moonphase - displays the current moon phase of selected day.
(3.3MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated May 5 '10
GRANDTOUR
Flexible wireframe simulator for the Voyager and Giotto
space missions, with animation capability. Developed at JPL for
science/navigation, and filmed by the BBC/NOVA. This is a DOS program. (334KB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added May 28 '03
K3CCD TOOLS
Basic image processing or stacking program for use with
CCDs, digital cameras or webcams. This is an old free version. (2MB)
HOMEPAGE |
| DOWNLOAD updated Apr 10 '04
ALTAIR
Altair calculates Local Sidereal Time, Julian Date,
Universal Time, RA/DEC to Alt/Az and Alt/Az to RA/DEC. (4.3MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Jul 26 '03
TCOL
The Caldwell Observing Log (TCOL) is very similar to The
Ultimate Messier Object Log, except it describes the 109 objects described by
Sir Patrick Caldwell Moore in his Caldwell Catalog. (3.8MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Aug 23 '03
VARIABLE STARS OBSERVER
This free program help you to plan and log variable stars
observations. This is not a data analysis software. (554KB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added
Aug 31 '03
EFECALC
Calculates astronomical phenomena. Besides positions (Sun,
Moon, Planets and Stars) this program gives results for: Solar and Lunar
Eclipses (with maps), Phases of the Moon, Calendar Dates (Easter, Chinese
Calendar,...). (2.8MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Dec 16 '03
ASTROFLY
Its main purpose is to present the three-dimensional models
of our neighborhood in our own Milky Way Galaxy on a personal computer. The 3D
models are based on the remarkable Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogues. (20MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated Apr 10 '04
DARKADAPTED
DarkAdapted is a gamma control application program. It
modifies your screen gamma settings so that you may, for example, preserve your
dark adaptation while using your computer. Can turn it night vision red. (6MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated May 5 '10
RESOLUTION
Calculates the focal plane image diameter of an object given
its angular size in arcseconds and the focal length of the telescope.
Resolution can also calculate either arcseconds, distance or separation given
two out of three parameters. (37KB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added
Mar 15 '04
MAXCLOCK
MAXCLOCK is a high-precision digital astronomical clock. It
displays the following data on your computer screen: Civil date & time, day
number in the year; Julian date and modified Julian date both in terms of
ephemeris time ET (TT) and universal time UT1; Delta-T, the difference between
ET and UT1; Mean solar time, apparent solar time, equation of time; Mean
sidereal time, apparent sidereal time, equation of equinoxes; Geocentric
ecliptical and equatorial coordinates of sun and moon; Constellation and zodiac
sign for the sun; Constellation, zodiac sign, phase, appearance, and
illuminated fraction of the moon; Elongation between sun and moon; Earth
distance to sun and moon. This is a DOS program. (200KB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added May 15 '04
SUNCYCLE
Suncycle is a calendar showing the sunrise and sunset time
for a latitude/longitude and timezone. You can also create a suncycle graph.
(1.1MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added
Sep 7 '04
GRAVITY SIMULATOR
Gravity Simulator provides amateur astronomers with a
powerful numerical integration tool. By performing n-body simulations, you can
study the orbits of planets, moons, asteroids, or any object in the universe.
You can recreate simulations performed by professional astronomers, or
experiment with simulations of your own creation. (2.1MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Sep 1 '05
NIGHTCAL
Basic observation session planning. It is designed to
produce a monthly calendar telling the user when it gets dark, when the Moon
rises and sets and what the Moon should look like when it does make an
appearance. It also provides data on the elongation of the inferior planets.
(1.5MB)
HOMEPAGE added Oct 8 '05
MOON PHASE CALCULATOR
Moon Phase Calculator allows you to calculate the phase of
the Moon for any time in the past or future and to search for the next or
previous full moon, new moon or first or last quarter. (189KB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Jan 27 '06
JUPITER
Jupiter 2.0 is a software for the calculation of Jupiter's
satellites ephemeris, with a graphical view of the jovian system. (1.5MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Mar 2 '06
DEEPSKYSTACKER
DeepSkyStacker is for astrophotographers that simplifies all
the pre-processing steps of deep sky pictures. Registering. Stacking. Simple post-stacking
processes to quickly view the final result. Saving the resulting picture to a
TIFF file (16 or 32 bit). (10MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated April 2 '09
PP3
PP3 creates celestial charts. It generates resolution
independent maps of very high graphical quality. They can be used for example
as illustrations in books or on web pages. You may use own databases or free
ones from the Internet. (1.7MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Mar 3 '07
REGISTAX
Used to stack images in astrophotography. (1.8MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated May 5 '10
WINJUPOS
Database for object positions on planets, moons and sun.
(3.9MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD updated May 5 '10
LUNAVIEW 2000
Mare labels, crater names, image maps with supporting text
are simply one click away! The current phase of the moon can be seen in the
remote control monitor window while rise and set times can viewed from a
selection of capital cities around the world. There is also a detailed database
referencing lunar surface features and history behind the names. (7.6MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Mar 5 '08
STARMAX
StarMax is an easy Star Trails creator. (445KB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Apr 16 '08
STARTRAILS
Image stacking program specifically geared towards
"Star Trail" shots. (197KB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added
Jul 28 '09
GENIUS LOCI
The consideration of the Planets in the 'Toposphaera' - or
as we call it nowadays: horizontal coordinate system - was important part of
the ancient astrological approach to the celestial phenomena. Genius Loci 1.0
is an innovative software displaying Azimuth and Altitude (mathematical and
refracted) values simultaneously with the Tropical Longitudes of Planets, Asc.,
MC and Vertex, calculating between 1000 AD and 3000 AD, both Geocentric and
Topocentric planetary positions, in different time frames, with easily
adjustable geo coordinates. It can be recommended for those who show interest
in scientific astrology or intend to discover the hidden context of the
'Celestial Mechanics' carefully considered by the ancient and medieval
astrologers. Of course, this software can be useful for amateur astronomers or
'stargazers' too. (16MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Dec 27 '12
PANSTARRS C/2011 L4 COMET VIEWER
It displays the ecliptical positions of this Comet as well
as the estimated apparent magnitudes, its angular separation from Sun and the
values of its distance from Earth. (2.4MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Feb 15 '13
ISON COMET OF 2013 VIEWER
ISON Comet of 2013 Astrology Software displays the celestial
path and the tropical positions of this unique comet, it presents
simultaneously the estimated visual magnitudes. (2.7MB)
HOMEPAGE | | DOWNLOAD added Feb 15 '13