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Knightware released a minor update to Deep-Sky Planner 6 on 22 May 2013.

Users can get it using Help | Check for Updates in Deep-Sky Planner, or log into the Community.

Deep-Sky Planner 6 Trial Edition is now available by digital delivery (download).

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Deep-Sky Planner 6

Observation Planning and Logging Software
for Astronomers

Announcing the latest and best
Deep-Sky Planner yet!

Deep-Sky Planner 6 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.

 Announcing Deep-Sky Planner 6
Photo of M 97 by Mark Lang
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 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
"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
"... 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
"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


Product Highlights

Data

Version 6 has the latest and best deep-sky and stellar data available. Data is taken from the latest professional, peer-reviewed catalogs and now contains 1.25 million objects. Version 6 includes the latest Revised NGC/IC catalog by Dr. Wolfgang Steinicke. Other catalogs have been added and many updates have been made to the database. Stellar data has been added that permit high accuracy double star ephemerides for well-studied visual systems, and predictions of variable star light extrema. Catalog data is treated differently than any other software in the industry. See why.

Accurate ephemerides may be calculated for Sun, moon, planets, comets, asteroids. You can do filtered and sorted searches for asteroids and comets.

SkySafariArgo NavisObserving plans can be built containing any of over 1.25 million objects in the database, or any other that you define. There is a library of hundreds 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, Sky Commander & SkySafari. Learn more.

Reporting

 Many report styles are included for planning and logging. Each can be printed, saved in HTML, plain text or delimited text (CSV) formats. Reports may be customized extensively. See how.

Logging

The logging features are the most feature-complete available, and they are 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

oal20The log supports recording extensive sky and weather conditions data, including direct reading support for Unihedron's Sky Quality Meter models LE, LU and LR. Still images, scanned sketches, video and audio can also be attached to observations.

Your observations are also more portable than ever: Deep-Sky Planner 6 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

ascomEnjoy computer control of your telescope, and receive real-time feedback from your telescope or digital setting circles. See how.

Telescope control is a standard feature of Deep-Sky Planner and requires ASCOM 6 or earlier (free).

Ease of Use

Windows®Astronomy software doesn't have to be hard to use!  Unlike most observing software, Deep-Sky Planner is designed to follow Microsoft's Windows Software Logo product guidelines. The software interacts with Windows in many standard ways that most observing software doesn't. It also works with Windows 8, 7 and Vista without User Account Control security problems. You can even install separate copies on one computer for multiple users. See how.
video library Check out the the video library and see how to plan and log observations.

 

Deep-Sky Planner 5 DL
Available now by digital delivery

Deep-Sky Planner 5 CD
Available now on CD

Purchase Now

Please visit the Knightware Store to make your secure online purchase using PayPal. Shipping is free.

Astronomy clubs and societies can purchase Deep-Sky Planner at a discount. Click here for details.

Solution Graphics

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Deep-Sky Planner 6 has a 30 day money back guarantee.
(See policies.)

The latest Deep-Sky Planner News on Facebook


Melotte Clusters contains the 245 objects cataloged by Philibert J Melotte in 19...

Melotte Clusters contains the 245 objects cataloged by Philibert J Melotte in 1915. The catalog contains objects visible in telescopes at northern and southern latitudes. Many objects are visible in binoculars. The catalog contains 80 globular clusters, 163 open clusters, 1 galaxy and 1 nebula.

Thanks to PJ Anway for contributing this compilation.

Posted on 5 June 2013 | 3:05 pm

New and updated observing plans have been uploaded to the Plan Library for doubl...

New and updated observing plans have been uploaded to the Plan Library for double star and variable star observers.

First, Phil Harrington's "Binocular Universe" article for June covers doubles and variables in Bootes and Corona Borealis. See "Binocular Universe June 2013" in the Plan Library, and read Phil's article at http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=2875

Also, updated plans that accompany James Mullaney's seasonal series on double stars in Sky & Telescope magazine (2011-2012) have been uploaded. Separation angles on some of the pairs have been corrected.


Binocular Universe: Some Crown Jewels - Article
www.cloudynights.com
Above: Finder chart for this month's Binocular Universe. Chart adapted from Touring the Universe through Binoculars Atlas (TUBA)

Posted on 3 June 2013 | 8:59 am

Hardware and software requirements:

You need the following hardware and operating system software to run Deep-Sky Planner 6:

This product has been tested with Windows 8 (64-bit), Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit), Windows Vista (32 bit and 64 bit) and Windows XP (32 bit), including installations on multiple user accounts.