Deep-Sky Planner 5
Observation Planning and Logging Software
for Astronomers
Deep-Sky Planner 5 astronomy software for Windows provides the powerful, accurate tools you need to make your time at the telescope more efficient and enjoyable. Whether you observe planets, comets, asteroids, carbon stars, doubles, variables or deep-sky objects, Deep-Sky Planner helps you get more from your visual and photographic observing time. Use it indoors to prepare for observing, or at the telescope while observing. Use it to log and manage your observations. Enjoy open, non-proprietary access to your observing log and exceptional flexibility in reporting.
| Customers often report that Deep-Sky Planner has the best user interface among astronomy planning software. That's no accident: it's a commitment to making your observing as productive and enjoyable as possible. See why. | "I’ve been more impressed by Deep Sky Planner than I have by any astro-soft of any type I’ve tried in a long time."
- Rod Mollise, Spring 2012 issue Amateur Astronomy magazine |
"I love this software and I think you’ve done an outstanding job creating the best logging program I’ve seen to date. It’s highly intuitive and DSP5 has allowed me to be much more productive at the eyepiece, and one of the most important features is the speed at which I can generate an observing list - maybe 1 minute. I love it." - Randy A, Colorado |
"In the past I used XXXX [sic] but that is such a kludgy application that I just had to find something better; and I did -- DSP5. Coupled with TheSky6 it is a great combination. The amateur astronomy community owes you a debt for the enormous time investment you have clearly made."
- Charlie M, Texas |
"I am enjoying Deep-Sky Planner.
It's got the best interface I've come across in all the observation planning programs I've tried." - Mark T, California |
"... a planner should be simple and organized in a way that it is easy to follow. Deep-Sky Planner does that and is one of the reasons I like it."
- Julian P, New York |
Product Highlights
Data |
Support for Sun, moon, planets, comets, asteroids and over 1 million cataloged objects is included. The catalog data is treated differently than any other software in the industry. See why.
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Reporting |
Many report styles are included for planning and logging. Each can be printed, or saved in HTML, plain text or delimited text (CSV) formats. Reports may be customized extensively. See how. |
Logging |
The logging facility is perhaps the most complete logging software available anywhere, and it is fully integrated with all planning features. The software learns which observing session and equipment you are using as you enter observations so that your workflow is optimized. The log is also fully searchable and reports are completely customizable. See how
Your observations are also more portable than ever: Deep-Sky Planner 5 supports OpenAstronomyLog 2.x, an emerging world standard for observation exchange. You can also save your log reports as HTML, plain text, or delimited text (CSV). |
Star Charting |
Deep-Sky Planner interoperates intelligently with leading planetarium software products giving you the very best star charting functions available. Use with TheSkyX Pro, TheSky6, Starry Night, Redshift and Cartes du Ciel. See how. |
Controlling Telescopes |
Telescope control is a standard feature of Deep-Sky Planner and requires ASCOM 6 or earlier (free). |
Ease of Use |
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Check out the the video library and see how to plan and log observations. |
Observing plans can be built containing any of over 1 million objects in the database, or any other that you define. There is also a growing library of pre-built plans online. Plans run in real-time or for any time and place that you select. Plans can be uploaded to Argo Navis & SkySafari. 
Unlike most observing software,
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Purchase NowPlease visit the Knightware Store to make your secure online purchase using PayPal or Google Checkout. Shipping is free. Astronomy clubs and societies can purchase Deep-Sky Planner at a discount. Click here for details.
Deep-Sky Planner 5 has a 30 day money back guarantee. |
The latest Deep-Sky Planner News on Facebook
A plan that accompanies Phil Harrington's Binocular Universe article for May at...
A plan that accompanies Phil Harrington's Binocular Universe article for May at http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=2754 has been added to the Deep-Sky Planner Plan Library. This month Phil explores objects in the far northern sky. The plan is called 'Binocular Universe - May 2012'.
Binocular Universe: The Lion's Den - Article
www.cloudynights.com
Leo the Lion stands proudly among the spring constellations this month. While most constellations bear little resemblance to their namesakes, Leo's standout Sickle asterism, rectangular body, and tail star, are easily imagined as a seated lion eyeing Cancer the Crab.
Posted on 16 May 2012 | 11:08 am
A copy of the latest published review of Deep-Sky Planner is now available at ht...
A copy of the latest published review of Deep-Sky Planner is now available at http://www.knightware.biz/dsp/reviews.htm
The review by Rod Mollise appeared in the Mar/Apr 2012 issue of Astronomy Technology Today magazine.
Deep-Sky Planner Reviews
www.knightware.biz
Deep-Sky Planner product reviews and press releases
Posted on 15 May 2012 | 1:46 pm
Hardware and software requirements:
You need the following hardware and operating system software to run Deep-Sky Planner 5:
- PC with Intel Pentium CPU or later (or a fully compatible and equivalent CPU)
- Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, including the latest Windows Updates from Microsoft
- Internet Explorer 6 or later (version 7 or later recommended)
- 128 MB RAM for Windows XP; 512 MB RAM for Windows 7 or Vista 32-bit; 1.5 GB RAM for Vista or Windows 7 64 bit.
- Installation requires about 255 MB of hard disk space
- XGA (1024 x 768) or better with high color
- CD drive (for installation)
- a pointing device (mouse) is recommended but not required
- Internet connection is highly recommended for license activation, software updates and some product features, but is not required
- Serial port is required for SQM-LR or telescope/DSC connection; data cable is supplied separately by equipment manufacturer
- Ethernet port or wireless NIC is required for SQM-LE connection; data cable is supplied separately by equipment manufacturer
- USB port is required for SQM-LU connection; data cable is supplied separately by equipment manufacturer
This product has been tested with Windows XP (32 bit), Windows Vista (32 bit and 64 bit), and Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit), including installations on multiple user accounts.