Weasner's Astronomy Software Feedback

ASTRONOMY SOFTWARE FEEDBACK

Last updated: 23 November 2004

This page is for user comments on Astronomy software for the PC, Macintosh, or Palm OS systems. Items that are more "review" oriented will be posted on the Astronomy Software Reviews page. If you have any comments, suggestions, questions or answers to questions posed here, e-mail them to me and I'll post them. Please use an appropriate Subject Line on your message. Thanks.

Mike here: CarinaSoft has finally released their Mac OS X version of the Voyager III planetarium software. I haven't had much a chance to work with it yet but will update my comments on the Accessory Reviews - Software page when I get a chance. Their website has not yet been updated either!

Subject:	etx 125
Sent:	Sunday, November 21, 2004 18:43:51
From:	jshousley (j.s.housley@tcu.edu)
Can I use either the Meade autostar suite or any of the starry night
products on my ETX 125? If either work, do you have an opinion on which
is better for my scope? The starry night pro plus is the one I'm looking
at.

Mike here: The Autostar Suite comes with the Meade LPI or DSI. It does provide some charting capability but dedicated apps like Starry Night perform better at charting. You can control the ETX with many apps or the Autostar Suite.

And:

Are the LPI and  DSI ways of controlling the ETX? Can starry night be
used to control the ETX and create photos with the ETX? Or is there
something else out there that you can recommend that will do both? I'm
just trying to get the best bang for my buck.

Mike here: The LPI and DSI are imagers. See the Helpful Information: Astrophotography page for more on them. The Autostar Suite has a "starmap" function that you can use to control the ETX. Starry Night won't take photos.

Subject:	ETX-125 & Desktop Universe Telescope Control Questions
Sent:	Tuesday, November 16, 2004 21:44:25
From:	jack (jackdmail@yahoo.com)
I have an ETX-125 with Scopetronix GPS and a HP Pavilion laptop with
Desktop Universe.  I use the Meade USB to RS-232 adapter to connect to
the AutoStar.  I can update the AutoStar with no problems.

I was wondering if anyone on the site might know how to control the
ETX-125 with Desktop Universe?  I tried using the Telescope Control
Palette pull down menu as the Desktop Universe manual instructs but no
luck.  The palette gives several options for numerous scopes.  The ones
for Meade are, "Generic LX-200 Type Scopes", "Meade LX-200 and Autostar"
and "Meade Telescope and Focuser".

Desktop Universe suggests that if you get no response it is probably you
are using the wrong COM port, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8 are listed and I tried
all.

Desktop Universe is an impressive program and nice to view but if you
have any ideas Mike or if anyone reads this letter please feel free to
e-mail me at jackdmail@yahoo.com

P.S. With the GPS my ETX hits every object dead center everytime. I did
the calibrate & train motors properly set up the mighty ETX is dead on
accurate.

Jack Dugan
San Diego, CA

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