Planetarium and Observer Software

Abstract

Let me start by saying I have never before sampled a category in which all of the reviewed products were of such good quality.three groups of users will find a garden of heavenly delights in the eightastronomical software programs I reviewed. The first group is beginning skywatchers who want a planetarium-like show from which they can learn the constellations and become acquainted with interesting objects visible with the naked eye or binoculars. A second group would certainly be astronomy students and educators who need a desktop tool for exploring the mysteries of the cosmos. Many moons ago,I taught an introduction to astronomy course and would have been overjoyed to have had any of these programs available as a teaching tool. Finally, some programs are especially well suited to the demands of serious amateur or professional observers who want to plan, control,and log a night's telescope activity.