SKY:Lab® Astronomy Software Newsletter
June 2003
www.skylab.com.au

Dear Star Atlas:PRO User,

Welcome to the newest issue of the SKY:Lab Astronomy Software Newsletter. 

Dominating this newsletter is the arrival of STAR Atlas:PRO Version 5.0, the most powerful version of STAR Atlas:PRO ever released !

Version 5.0 introduces stunning new planetarium features with All-Sky and Horizon views, turning STAR Atlas:PRO into a full featured Planetarium. STAR Atlas:PRO also maintains it's current mode of chart printing and you may now choose between the existing 'POLAR' charting mode or the new 'HORIZON' (Planetarium) charting mode.

Planetarium features are not the only improvement, there are many more new features that include Transit times for Jupiter's Great Red Spot, real-time positions of Jupiter's Moons, much improved Planetary Ephemeris with extensive Planetary data, a new Instruction Manual, improved Astronomical database manager and literally dozens of other new features. Every screen in STAR Atlas:PRO has been improved for better legibility, and there is improved support for Laptop computer users, with more Hot Keys, and the ESC key that now exits from windows within STAR Atlas:PRO. STAR Atlas:PRO's astronomical database manager is also much improved and there are new and corrected entries in the Deep Sky Popular Objects list.

In fact there are so many new features and improvements, it is impossible to list them all within this newsletter, without further delaying the release of STAR Atlas:PRO Version 5.0. Instead, the new Instruction Manual may be examined at your leisure, however most of you will find STAR Atlas:PRO intuitive enough that you do not need to refer to the Manual. Though the manual does include valuable information such as a description of each of the astrophysical data provided in STAR Atlas:PRO's astronomical catalogues, a description of the new charting modes, and other useful information. The new Manual is a HTML file that requires a Web Browser program like Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla, etc to view Manual. The new manual supercedes the current Windows Help provided with earlier versions of STAR Atlas:PRO.

The STAR Atlas:PRO Version 5.0 Upgrade and the new Instruction Manual will be available to you soon, as a download from the SKY:Lab Web Site. Instructions for downloading and installing the STAR Atlas:PRO Version 5.0 Upgrade will be E-mailed to you shortly.

Until then, yours Sincerely and Clear Skies!

 

Paul Mayo
SKY:Lab® Astronomy Software
Web: http://www.skylab.com.au
E-mail: info@skylab.com.au

What's New in STAR Atlas:PRO Version 5.0

New Charting Modes.

STAR Atlas:PRO now moves to a full featured Planetarium program providing the user with correctly oriented Horizon Views and Full-Sky Views of their local Sky. Improvements to the Local Settings also allow the user to select their observing location from hundreds of preset world locations.

Charts may still be displayed in Polar orientation, where Charts are plotted with the observer's Celestial Pole always pointing upward, while the new Horizon Mode displays Star Charts with the observer's Zenith always pointing upward and with charts oriented to the local horizon.

Previews
All Sky Chart - as observed from New York USA.
All Sky Chart - as observed from New York USA (white background).
North Horizon - as observed from New York USA.
South Horizon - as observed from New York USA.
South Horizon - as observed from Sydney, Australia.

Planetary Data and Ephemerides.

There is now a great deal of calculated Planetary data including distance to planet, phase, elongation, apparent angular diameter, visual magnitude, even atmospheric composition.

Each Planetary Body now includes Planetary Data from JPL/NASA, that describes characteristics of each Planet. The current Phase of the Moon and inferior Planets is also displayed. A Printable Ephemerides of the Planets can also be browsed or printed for any instant in time.

Preview

Jupiter's Great Red Spot & Galilean Moons.

For the current instant in time, or for any other date and time you wish to set, STAR Atlas:PRO will display the positions of Jupiter's four brightest moons and the Transit Times of Jupiter's Great Red Spot.

Preview

Rise, Set and Transit times.

Rise, Set and Transit times are now displayed for all astronomical objects on their information popup window.

Improved Astronomical Databases and Object Location.

STAR Atlas:PRO's Astronomical Database Manager is unparalleled when it comes to locating astronomical objects.

Preview

Astronomical Twilight and Astronomy Clocks.

The time of Astronomical Twilight is now displayed on the new Astronomy Clocks window which also displays Universal Time, Local Time, and also permits you to record an instant in time.

Observer Location Setup.

Now includes the geographical location of hundreds of locations world-wide and also accounts for the Observer's height above sea level when calculating Rise and Set times.

Improved Support for Laptop Computers.

Improved screens for better legibility and an extensive range of keyboard shortcut commands.

New Instruction Manual.

STAR Atlas:PRO's new Instruction Manual now available in Web Browser format (HTML).

Preview

Other Features.

» A new Object Filter is available to only display certain types of Astronomical Objects.
» New additions to the Popular Astronomical Objects list.
» Observer's height above sea level accounted for in planetary calculations.
» Right Ascension (R.A.) and Declination (DEC.) position displayed for pointer position.
» Improved Status display panel with colour coded mode and setting indicators.
» The ESC key now exits from all screens.
» Chart Panning improved.

Editions/Levels.

STAR Atlas:PRO is available in two levels.

» STAR Atlas:PRO STANDARD Edition PC CD-ROM for Telescope Control & Star Charts exceeding Magnitude 11.
» STAR Atlas:PRO ADVANCED Edition 3 x Vol. PC CD-ROM Set for Telescope Control and Star Charts exceeding Magnitude 21.

For more detailed information and screen shots

visit the the new STAR Atlas:PRO Web Site http://www.skylab.com.au