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If you are one of those folks who must bring your lap top with you to the Abacos, here is an excuse you can use. After the water, what do we love most about the Abacos? The nights, right, and more specifically the stars. Well, I came across software a couple years back and have been using it ever since. Although it can be used world wide, there is no better place than the Abaco for its Starry Nights. It's apply named Starry Nights and its not only for us Mac folks, there are even PC versions. Anyway it is fantastic. There are 4-5 levels. I have the 2nd named "Enthusiast" version. Simply put there is only three settings: 1. Time, but that's already done by your computer. 2. Location which can be a zip code or in the Abacos the latitude and Longitude (25.50.00 n by 77.00.00 w) 3. The direction you are facing. You will see on your lap top what you see in the sky and all in the same relative brightness, size and location! Of course if it's day time and you want to look ahead, just advance the programs clock to run at 300 X. You see day turn into night before your eyes. The stars will start to appear. Click on a star and it will tell you the stars name, constellation, distance from earth etc. etc. Then soon you will see satellites floating by or occasional comet, You can click on them too and Starry Night will tell you about them also. (You'll see a lot of satellites in the Abacos*). On the other hand if you search for Mars or the Andromeda Galaxy, it might say it is not currently in view and ask you if you want to go to the location where best viewed. Again the sky whizzes by and you are brought to a new location. I could go on and on as there is so much more. I've said enough. Go to their site and check them out. This is the most incredible software I've come across in a long time. If there is any amateur astronomer in you, you love it too. - |
Starry Night Software Back to Sandy's Abaco Guide