SkyTools
3 Editions Compared
SkyTools
3 is available in three editions: the Starter Edition, Standard Edition and
the Professional Edition.
The
Real Time tool, which is designed for use at the telescope
and includes telescope control, is included with the
professional edition. It is a separately purchased add-on
for the standard edition.
The
Starter Edition is for the novice backyard observer with binoculars
or a telescope up to 4.5 inches (120 mm) in aperture. This edition
is simple enough for anyone to use and comes with a beginners
observing handbook (as a pdf download).
The
Standard Edition is for the basic visual observer
with a telescope larger than 4.5 inches (120 mm) and less than
14-inches (360 mm).
The
Professional Edition is for the astronomical imager,
experienced visual observers who observe from dark a site, or any
serious observer who wants the very best in observing
software. This edition has a much larger stellar database
on a separate DVD, with stars down to 20th magnitude.
| Edition |
Starter |
Standard |
Pro |
| Level |
For
the novice backyard visual observer with binoculars or a telescope up
to 4.5-inches (120 mm) in aperture |
For
the visual observer with a telescope larger
than 4.5-inches (120 mm) |
For
the experienced visual observer who observes from a dark
site and anyone who does astro-imaging |
| Available
as |
Download
/ Free Trial |
Download
/ CD |
Download
/ CD
+ DVD |
| Stars |
4
million stars to magnitude 12.5 |
16
million stars down to 15th magnitude in some areas |
522
million stars as faint as 20th magnitude |
| Real
Time Telescope Control |
Not
available |
Available
as an add-on |
Included |
| Visual
Nightly Planner |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Custom
Finder Charts for Binoculars and Telescopes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Nightly
Observing List Generator |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Naked
Eye and Overhead Sky Charts |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Auto-download
of current data for comets, novae, and supernovae |
Limited
to brighter objects |
Yes |
Yes |
| Interactive
Atlas |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Visual
Context Viewer (movable eyepiece simulation attached to
Atlas) |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Observing
Logbook |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Sky
Events Planner (eclipses, appulses, Jupiter satellite
events, meteor showers, etc) |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Database
Power Search |
|
Yes |
Enhanced
version |
| Ephemeris
Generator |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Add
notes, images, and web links to objects |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Download
and display DSS images on charts |
|
Yes |
Includes
additional image types |
| Double-star
splittability ratings and search functions |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Thumbnail
Viewer (displays an array of charts for many objects) |
|
Yes |
Yes |
| Imaging
Session Planner |
|
|
Yes |
| Exposure
Calculator / Imaging Laboratory |
|
|
Yes |
| Imaging
Context Viewer |
|
|
Yes |
| GPS
Location Tool |
|
|
Yes |
| Minor
Planet and Comet Search |
|
|
Yes |
Professional
Edition Star Database
The screen below of
NGC 7142 shows how dramatic the difference is in the Pro Edition star
database. Pass your cursor over it.
Pass your cursor
over the image to see the Pro Edition advantage.
|
