Decent Astronomy software

[XabbaRus]

Anyone recommend some decent planitarium or astronomy programs, like Redshift but shareware or freeware that I can download. Something that has flybyes of planets and animations of the solar system would be good.

It's mainly for my daughter as she loves stars and the planets and it would be fun. Also any games that a 4 year old could get to grips with that are linked to this would be good.

[Skybird]

search for a program called Celestial. It is a planitarium simulation. You can fly around freely and zoom freely. A lot of objects also can be collected and inserted (planets, suns, but also science fiction stuff like Babylon-5 space sation, and more).

I only have an old exe, and no link, sorry.

[XabbaRus]

Cheers

[Skybird]

Edit:

http://www.shatters.net/celestia/

screenies: http://www.shatters.net/celestia/gallery.html

[UglyMowgli]

for me it s Stellarium:

http://www.stellarium.org/

Screenshoots:
http://www.stellarium.org/screenshots.html

[lesrae]

Originally Posted by MSgalileo

for me it s Stellarium:

http://www.stellarium.org/

Screenshoots:
http://www.stellarium.org/screenshots.html

Nice bit of software - cheers

[XabbaRus]

How about a script competition. See who can come up with fun stuff.

[Perilscope]

XabbaRus, the link that Skybird gave you is in my opinion the best of the best, I use it myself.

However, watch out, that program should not be used over long periods, as it will overheat your microprocessor. The software calculates in real time the whole galaxy.

When you start that software, you will notice that it uses 100% of your CPU, so try not to stay to long on it, I know it's hard not to stay long, as the software offers the galaxy to explore.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Perilscope

XabbaRus, the link that Skybird gave you is in my opinion the best of the best, I use it myself.

However, watch out, that program should not be used over long periods, as it will overheat your microprocessor. The software calculates in real time the whole galaxy.

When you start that software, you will notice that it uses 100% of your CPU, so try not to stay to long on it, I know it's hard not to stay long, as the software offers the galaxy to explore.

Aua!

Just tried that Stellarium software, and liked it. It, too, is a very nice and tidy toy!

[Skybird]

Task Manager says that Cellestia uses 53-54% of my CPU ressources, but the graphs on the right side (CPU history) indeed spike to the top of the window. Pentium 4 3.0 GHz over here, 1 GB RAM.

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by Perilscope

However, watch out, that program should not be used over long periods, as it will overheat your microprocessor. The software calculates in real time the whole galaxy.

When you start that software, you will notice that it uses 100% of your CPU, so try not to stay to long on it, I know it's hard not to stay long, as the software offers the galaxy to explore.

You can let the program run for years as long as your system is normally cooled. It doesn´t stress the system more than a modern game.

[Perilscope]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Task Manager says that Cellestia uses 53-54% of my CPU ressources, but the graphs on the right side (CPU history) indeed spike to the top of the window. Pentium 4 3.0 GHz over here, 1 GB RAM.

I just downloaded the latest version as I had the 1.3.2. However, same thing happens, when using it, my CPU goes to 100%.
I have an old 2.4 Pentium and 1gig memory, bah, I will see next month when I will change everthing to fit the dual core AM2.

Originally Posted by Gizzmoe

You can let the program run for years if your system is normally cooled.

True, but it would be unwise not to advise.

Originally Posted by Gizzmoe

It doesn´t stress the system more than a modern game.

Well I do not know what you play in general, but me, I do not have any games that continuously use 100% cpu. Excess heat does carry out shorter life span for the CPU, in other words, a premature failure of the integrated circuits. Now how much shorter, who knows? These dam CPU nowadays are extremely reliable?

[TteFAboB]

Great suggestions here.

[3Jane]

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

Anyone recommend some decent planitarium or astronomy programs, like Redshift but shareware or freeware that I can download. Something that has flybyes of planets and animations of the solar system would be good.

It's mainly for my daughter as she loves stars and the planets and it would be fun. Also any games that a 4 year old could get to grips with that are linked to this would be good.

I am still using Redshift 4, but the latest version is probably available. The best I have seen so far.

[Wim Libaers]

If you have Linux/Unix with KDE, Kstars is good.
http://docs.kde.org/stable/en/kdeedu/kstars/
There's also Xephem, however the full system is not free or gratis.
http://www.clearskyinstitute.com/xephem/