Astronomy Software - Professional Recommendations

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for professional astronomy software, focusing on features for visualizing celestial bodies and events, including historical positions of planets and the sun. Participants explore various software options and their capabilities for both casual and professional use.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks software to visualize planets as they appeared centuries ago, emphasizing the need for precise date and time inputs.
  • Another suggests that a simple planetarium software package would suffice, indicating that professional-grade software may not be necessary for the stated needs.
  • Several participants recommend specific software, including Starry Night and Stellarium, with one expressing dissatisfaction with Starry Night and favoring Stellarium for its user-friendliness and open-source nature.
  • World Wide Telescope is mentioned as a favorite for its capabilities in viewing various wavelengths and providing actual images of celestial objects.
  • Participants inquire about the ability to recreate astrological events and whether specific software can display the sun's position in constellations by degrees.
  • There is discussion about the limitations of certain software in terms of going back in time and the ability to see coordinates of planets at specific times and locations.
  • One participant raises a question about the Earth's position in the zodiac, leading to a discussion about the precession of the equinoxes and its effects on astrological interpretations.
  • TheSkyX is mentioned as a powerful software option that allows users to input historical dates for star chart visualization.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on the best software for astronomy, with no clear consensus on a single recommendation. Some favor Stellarium for its accessibility, while others advocate for World Wide Telescope or TheSkyX for more advanced features. Disagreements arise regarding the necessity of professional software versus simpler options.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations in software capabilities, such as the ability to accurately calculate planetary positions over long periods due to gravitational effects and the historical context of astrological signs not aligning with current celestial positions.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for amateur astronomers, students of astronomy, and anyone interested in software for visualizing celestial events and positions.

  • #31
mreq said:
Why the Earth is in Gemini constelation. Shouldn't be in Cancer ?


I assume that you mean why is the Sun actually in Gemini rather than Cancer as according to the Horoscope?

Due to the precession of the equinoxes, The Sun drifts through the Zodiac at a rate of 1.4° per century. The Horoscope signs where named 2500 years ago when this was not known, and the Astrological dates have not been adjusted to match it.

The precession of the equinoxes is caused because the Earth wobbles slowly like a top as it spins on its axis. This causes the Tropical year(spring equinox to spring equinox) to be a slightly different length than the sidereal year (the time it takes for the Sun to return to the same position relative to the stars). This in turn causes the Seasons(and the calendar date) and the position of the Sun relative to the Stars to slowly drift with respect to each other.
 
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  • #32
If you want astronomy software that's quite powerful, and good to look at too, you might research TheSkyX from Software Bisque.
http://www.bisque.com/"

[Edit: If time is important, this software package allows you to "Input any date from 4,712 B.C. to A.D. 10,000 and any time to show a beautiful star chart for your location." (source: http://www.bisque.com/help/theskyx%20pro%20info/welcome.htm" , in the upper left hand corner click on "TheSkyX Professional Edition Website," then "Standard Features and Sample Screens," then on the right panel scroll down to the "Control the Date and Time" section.)]
 
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