Comments on: iPhone App of the Day: Starmap

By: Jason Moniker

Jason Moniker — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:29:48 +0000

Actually, a better choice in the future is the “Star Walk” application. It was started not long ago, but it already meets different criteria of beginning astronomers. I would say that now it’s mostly a reference to the space objects, but made as a very big interactive universe. The main feature to point out is the possibility to watch not only the sky above you at some time set, but also to determine the time span that you wish to watch and select the object you want to be fixed to, and to specify the velocity of the scene development. Very interesting!

By: John Kasianowicz

John Kasianowicz — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 12:52:26 +0000

Mr. Ty,

Check out StarMap’s website. It will answer most of your questions. The current version is fun and well worth the price, but it is not a substitute for Equinox 6 on a Mac or either The Sky or MegaStar on a PC.

That said, the PRO version that the author plans to release in early 2009 is closer to the tool you (and I) want. For example, it will have a much more comprehensive database and show the FOV in telescopes/eyepieces defined by the user. The author notes that the PRO version will most likely not control a telescope because Apple does not want the iPhone to control objects.

The author of the program is also accepting suggestions for the standard and pro versions. I’ve found him to be quite receptive.

FYI, the Moon’s phase is shown in the Ephemeris feature.

Clear Skies,
John Kasianowicz

By: James Kevin Ty

James Kevin Ty — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:19:42 +0000

Dear Sir:

Im planning to get an Iphone 3G in the days tpo come and Im an amateur astronomer like you so my concern on the Starmap software is that
1) if I can input comet and asteroid data into the program? Will it show also the comet and asteroid position in RA/Dec or Alt-Azimuth coordinates when one input the orbital elements?
2) Does the program show me the Central Meridian of planets like Jupiter and Mars as I need them to let me know the features that I will see in the telescope.
3) Does the program show the solar and lunar eclipse?
4) Does it shows Moon phase?
5) Is it possible for you to enter one’s telescope info so that the actual field of view of certain eyepiece/scope combo can be shown to let observe or user get a field of what to view in actual?

Hope you can let me know about the above inquiries. Im using a Pocket PC PDAphone so Im hoping the above concerns are there in your PRO version so that I wont have a hard time transferring my needed astro software into the Iphone so I can also leave my PDA behind just in case and rely on the new Iphone 3G. Lasty, should the program use WIFI or GPRS to run the program?

James Kevin Ty