Skyhound Forums - How do I do it in SkyTools 4 Visual?

How Do I Start SkyTools Visual After Upgrading?

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 15:00:45 -0400

So you installed SkyTools 4 Visual, or upgraded to it, or installed the bundle. How do you start SkyTools 4 Visual?

This would appear to be trivial, but a lot of people run into problems finding the SkyTools 4 Visual shortcut. Some even open the Programs folder, locate the skytools.exe file, and try to create their own shortcut, which isn't always going to work properly. So what is the solution?

Windows 11 keeps switching things up with regard to the way Apps are listed in the Start Menu, which can make finding them confusing. And not only that, but this problem has happened in Windows 10 too. So here is a simple solution that will work for both Windows 10 and Windows 11:

To the right of the Start menu button is a text search area. Type "SkyTools" and wait a bit. Look for "Apps" in the list that appears, and under that heading you will see SkyTools 4 Imaging (if you have it) and/or SkyTools 4 Visual. To avoid having to search every time, right click on each SkyTools App in turn and select "Pin to Start."

The next time you want to start either version of SkyTools, click the Start button and look for the SkyTools 4 Visual and/or SkyTools 4 Imaging icon. Double-click to start.

Syncronize anotattions

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 16:42:05 -0400

Hello everyone,

I am trying to synchronize the annotations between two computers but the Sync Databases function doesn't copy the annotations even when I am telling it to include them. I am doing something wrong? I tried even to delete some observing lists with annotations and synchronize them again, but still doesn't work. The only way of copy the annotations to the other computer is by copying the observing lists individually and I have a lot of them. Some ideas? I don't know if this is the right place to post this because I don't know if is that I am not doing it properly or is a bug.

Thanks,

Mutual Events of Galilean Satellites

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:27:50 -0400

I've not yet found a method to predict these in the Event Finder. Years ago I used Occcult for this but no longer. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Kenneth Drake

Jupiter Entry in June 15th Observing List

Wed, 13 May 2026 09:55:00 -0400

Hello All,

Christina LeGrand here. I am building an observing list for the June new moon, and have a question. Jupiter is included in this observing list. However, the resulting Sky Tools entry in the observing list for Jupiter shows 4:26 PM as being the "Best" time to view it. It also shows 9:35 AM as the "Begin" time for observing this object. I don't remember seeing results like this before. Has something changed, or do I need to do something differently? I use the Best and Begin column for sequencing the objects to view.

Thank you for any info or ideas.

Christina LeGrand

Best Sort for Observing?

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:47:21 -0400

Hello All,

Christina LeGrand here. With the weather getting warmer, I hear the call of the telescope to get back out there. What have you all found to be the best sort sequence for presenting objects on an observing list? I typically sort on "Best" or "Transit"; but invariably, I miss out on some early or late objects. So I have been trying to sort on "Rise" and maybe "Best" within that. Or "End". Or ... ?

Has anyone found a sort sequence they really like, that helps them see the most objects during a session? Thanks for any ideas - I will be getting the scope out tomorrow night to give it a whirl.

Thank you for any thoughts,
Christina LeGrand

Recover logs from HDD

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:39:58 -0500

Hello,

I have some of my observations logged on SkyTools on a laptop that is not turning on anymore. I extracted the HDD from the computer and I can access them from another one. I tried to recover from the backup but looks that there is some observations missing. There is any way to recover the information on the original files and copy it to another computer to access the missing observations?

Thank you. Clear skies,

Carles

Help with exporting completed AL observing logs

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 17:51:04 -0500

Can anyone tell me how to take a completed Skytools AL observing program and copy it so that it can be placed in a excel spreadsheet? I'm attempting to arrange my H2 observations into a spreadsheet format but I have only been able to generate a paragraph-style word document.

I'm guessing this info is somewhere on the forum, but I can't seem to find it...

Thank you!

Jerry Jones

Adding User Objects to an Observing List

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 13:07:43 -0500

Hello All,

Christina LeGrand here. Question, please. I have just now found out about the Bootes Supervoid and the Cold Spot. Obviously, I have been living under a rock. I found coordinates for these two unbelievable phenomena, and would like to add them to an observing list. I have tried to upload a text file and a csv file, but it is not working. Does anyone have a txt / csv file I can use as an example? I am trying to upload via Nightly Planner --> Get Observing List --> Read from Text File.

Thank you for any info or help!
Christina LeGrand

Night vision mode always

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 12:41:37 -0400

Is there a way to start the program always on Night Vision Mode?

Write note beside double stars

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 20:41:05 -0400

Hi,

I have not use the app for a few years, but I would like to try again.

I remember writing notes beside the item I looked to remember later on.
Like: Easy find or Couldn't separate

Is that capability gone?

connecting telescope to skytools4

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:39:54 -0400

I'm using Sky tools 4 with windows 11 and I am trying to connect it to a Celestron CPC 1100 using a serial port connection. When I hit connect to scope it says telescope connected and immediately gives me a sky tools has performed a fatal error and shuts down. can you help me?

Importing list from Skytools 4 to Skysafari brings only half

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:49:01 -0400

Hello,

I noticed something weird last night, I'll make a list on Skytools 4 of about 300 objects in a constellation. Than when I transfer them over to Skysafari Pro 6, about half the list will only be added.
I always thought it would say unrecognized object for any object added that was not recognizable. Instead, I notice 1-2 unrecognizable ones per list and all the rest aren't there. I noticed
SKytools 4 has different RA/DEC numbers. They are always off by a minute or so. Or perhaps Skysafari's are off, not sure. There's seem to be on date numbers, while Skyttols 4 are J2000 numbers, perhaps that's the issue? In the SKysafari app precession options I have current epoch turned on, says 2000 right underneath. Include nutation, aberration, proper motion, light time are not turned on, dynamic time and refraction are turned on.

No idea what's causing this. On some of these lists even the Berkeley objects won't appear. If I search for Berkeley though, it will appear on skysafari. I don't know, weird.

Alignment Stars List?

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 12:48:29 -0400

If I wanted to create a list of common alignment stars for a specific night, how would I do that? like say June 15th at 10pm?

I tried Database Powersearch and magnitude < 1.7

but I couldn't get it to select a specific night?

I'd like to make a map and print it and study them. going to a star party and want to be prepared.

thank you!

How do I select which finder on finder chart?

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:08:15 -0400

I have a telescope defined with 2 magnifying finders.

When I bring up a finder chart (via View Scope/Binocs) it only shows finder 1.

I cannot find where to select finder 2. I have searched the program help and these forums.

I am on Sky Tools version 4.0.11.14.

How do I do this?

Thank you,

Paul

Exporting observing lists to Skysafari

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 20:40:24 -0400

I've checked all over the internet and I cannot find one single logical explanation how to export to skysafari?

How does that even make sense? Ok Skytools 4, click on share/export list, export (funny thing is I've done this before, even see my files when I click on export skysafari) but than what?????????????????????????????????????

Do I plug my ipad in the pc and click on the folder and find the observing list???????????? What the **** does one do after? I went to skytools 4 entered skysafari not one damn help subject on this.

I remember seeing a video on this I believe, but nooooo, too complicated to have it ready available somewhere. This sucks man.