The Official Astronomy Thread - Page 3

JWiPhone · 10-19-2009, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by KrakaJap

That's only a very small part of what that app can do though. I highly recommend it for all the other reasons though!

http://www.appstorehq.com/starmappro-iphone-7399/app

That really looks impressive. I want an astronomy app I can point at the sky and it will tell me where everything is.

Europa · 10-19-2009, 07:25 PM

+1 Starmap Pro

JWiPhone · 10-19-2009, 07:31 PM

I see Starmap Pro is the premiere astronomy application. I browsed through the manual online and all I can say is 'Wow!' I think it is most useful for the professional, astronomy students, or those living in prime viewing areas, such as the countryside or mountains. I have so much light pollution from the big city I am lucky if I can see Venus.

KrakaJap · 10-19-2009, 07:35 PM

There is an app for that (not to sound cliche). LOL but seriously, I can't remember what it's called but after calibration it will attempt to plot certain key stars and objects. I didn't download it when I came across it because it didn't get very good reviews.

Another app that's good and works well as a sister app for starmap pro is GoSatWatch if you're good enough at catching and tracking sats including the shuttle and space station. I haven't had a chance to use it yet because I don't have a motorized telescope (which makes sat watching almost impossible).

Edit: found it... pUniverse for $2.99. And I was wrong about the rating. Apparently it gets some pretty good reviews so I just downloaded it.

Not bad but definitely not starmap pro. The "motion" feature isn't exactly "augmented reality" as it does not use your camera at all but does seem to do a fairly good job at positioning your view on the supplied map. Very nice if you're a beginner and have no idea where to look for objects. If you don't want to spend the money on starmap pro, this one might be worth the download. Not quite as good as starwalk though.

Edit 2: Well what do you know... StarMap Pro has the exact same feature as pUniverse!!! LOL Looks like I just wasted $2.99 on pUniverse.

oh well

JWiPhone · 10-19-2009, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by KrakaJap

Edit 2: Well what do you know... StarMap Pro has the exact same feature as pUniverse!!! LOL Looks like I just wasted $2.99 on pUniverse. oh well

You live and learn LOL. I have made some less than wise app purchases in the past. I have taken a closer look at StarMap Pro and added it to my wish list. Even if I can't see the stars from where I live it is still very educational to virtually see where they are on the iPhone screen. I just watched the flash movie on StarMap Pro and I was very impressed. I will definitely keep an eye on this. I doubt they will reduce the price on this though. I don't see a history of them doing so. I already have Star Walk but StarMap Pro is so much more comprehensive.

KrakaJap · 10-19-2009, 09:11 PM

It's definitely one of the very few apps I would pay even more for

I wish Google would release Google Sky as either an update to Earth or a separate app. Native app I mean.

Europa · 10-20-2009, 09:46 AM

32 new exoplanets discovered, some dwarf the Earth.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science...ets/index.html

Napoleon_PhoneApart · 10-20-2009, 09:51 AM

Over 400 extrasolar planets discovered so far:

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/...,1549942.story

Napoleon_PhoneApart · 10-20-2009, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by Europa

32 new exoplanets discovered in the Kuiper Belt, some dwarf the Earth.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science...ets/index.html

In the Kuiper belt? I didn't see that mentioned in the article.

Europa · 10-20-2009, 10:21 AM

It was an assumption. I guess they could also be in the scattered disk.