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Beta Testing SkySafari 6 (iOS Only) - Read This To Participate!

Keiron Smith

November 02, 2017 21:49

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Invitation to iOS Users:

Everyone here in the Community Forums (with an Apple iOS device) is invited to participate in the beta-testing cycle :) 

Your beta-testing feedback, whatever you can contribute, will be invaluable to the success of SkySafari 6!

 

How to Apply:

Please reply here (in a comment below) if you can help us at this time.  Please outline your experience with SkySafari, including what versions of SkySafari you have run previously, what telescopes you are controlling, what kind of astronomy you are involved in, if you are a power user, etc.  Please do not post requests to join the SS6 beta in other forums, as they will not be accepted.  If you're reading this you can reply here.

When you are officially invited to participate you will see and have access to the SN6 Beta Testing forum.  The SS6 Beta Testing forum is hidden until you are invited to participate.  When you are accepted, you will be notified via a TestFlight email and then you will be able to both view the SS6 beta forum and download the SS6 beta app.

Please note, not all applicants will be immediately included in the beta-testing.  So, if you apply and do not hear back please be patient.

*** If accepted to the SS6 beta-testing forum please do NOT report bug/issues on this post.  See below for workflow ***

 

The Process:

As you find bugs/issues in SkySafari 6 please first review the current discussions in this beta-testing forum (which is hidden until you are invited).  If your bug/issue has already been identified please comment on the existing post.  If your bug/issue has not been identified please create a NEW post in the SS6 Beta Testing forum. 

For clarity regarding this bug reporting process please see the Example Bug Report (hidden until you are officially invited)

Please do not submit tickets with bugs/issues.

 

How To Follow The SS6 Beta Forum:

As part of your participation we would appreciate that you follow the SS6 Beta Testing forum.  Following a forum means you will receive email updates when anyone creates a NEW post or comments/replies to one of the existing posts. This is important for two reasons.

1. Following the forum ensures you receive email updates regarding all admin communications to the beta testers.  If admins make a post asking for assistance you will get an email update with that post.
2. Following is also very important so that you have an on-going status report regarding bugs/issues identified, confirmed, requiring further testing, or have been resolved, etc.  This will help you stay on top of the overall process, and ensure you are not duplicating efforts where issues are already known and resolved.

 

To FOLLOW the SkySafari 6 Beta Testing community forum please see here.  Note, you must have been invited first, and have access to the forum before you can follow it.

 

  

Replying to Email Updates:

When you follow the SS6 Beta Testing forum you will receive email updates regarding new posts (and comments, if opted for).  Please do not reply to email updates using the "Reply" function.  Please first use the "View the comment" link to open the community forum post, then reply to the post.  

This point is crucially important - so please understand the image below (this an example of an SS6 Beta Testing email update as seen using my web browser Yahoo email account).

If you use the email update "Reply" function your reply will not be added to the community forum discussion.

 

 

TestFlight:

In order to participate you will need to have TestFlight installed on your iOS device(s).  You can download and install TestFlight from this link here:

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/testflight/id899247664?mt=8

 

How to Use the Community Forums:

For clarity regarding how to use the Community Forums (posting/replying/following) please see here:

How To Sign Into The Community Forums (Required For Posting And Replying To Topics)

Browsers Supported by Simulation Curriculum Community Forums (Cookies Must Be Enabled)

How To Use Your New Community Support Forums

  

Beta Testing Summarized

Please...

1. SIGN IN or create account on this Simulation Curriculum support website.
2. REPLY to this post (in a comment below) in order to apply to the SS6 Beta Testing group.
3. When invited to join the beta testing, download and install the iOS TESTFLIGHT app.
4. FOLLOW the main SS6 beta forum to be kept up-to-date of any new posts (bug reports) and discussions thereafter (you get email updates).
5. REVIEW previous beta testing discussions before posting your bug report.
6. COMMENT on bugs already reported.
7. Create NEW posts for bugs not yet reported.
8. Follow the bug reporting GUIDELINES when reporting or commenting on bugs.
9. Do NOT reply/comment to email updates.  Instead, VIEW the post first, then comment.
10. Post any questions, about anything to do with the beta testing, in the beta forum.  We will reply to you there. 

Thank YOU! 

We are very excited about the up and coming release of SS6 and we're looking forward to working closely with everyone involved in the beta testing.

Again, this is only for Apple iOS devices, at this time.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

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259 comments

• 2
  
  Keiron Smith November 29, 2017 00:52

  ALERT - Tuesday, Nov 28th - Please Update To 6.0.0.17 Before Continuing to Test

  For all current SkySafari beta testers, tonight we are releasing a new version: 6.0.0.17.  It is important that everyone updates to 6.0.0.17 before continuing to beta test.  With this 6.0.0.17 update, previous beta versions will lose compatibility with the LiveSky.Com database.  We don't want anyone to report non-relevant issues.  So, please get the 6.0.0.17 update before you continue testing and reporting.  You will receive an TestFlight email when 6.0.0.17 is live.  Thank you to all our current beta testers for all the hard work - we are making great progress!!

  To everyone who has applied to beta test but has not yet been accepted, please be patient.  We will need you too!

  PS.  Please do not reply here in response to this message.  Send me a direct email if required.  

  ksmith@simcur.com

  Clear skies!

• 1
  
  Mallincamusa November 16, 2017 14:41

  I have been using SkySafari since it first became available and have multiple SkyFi units connected via iPhone and iPAD to my mounts.  I would like to participate in the BETA testing for SkySafari 6

• 1
  
  Siskovski November 17, 2017 11:16

  Hey guys,

  I'm so glad and excited that that the new SS6 is around the corner.

  I’ve used SkySafari Pro 3, 4 and 5 very frequently. Right now I have iPhone 6S (iOS 11) and iPad Air (iOS 9). I also use two iPhones 5 for people that don’t have good devices while our stargazing nights.

  I use it every month for our monthly stargazing trips. I also do beginners courses for using telescopes and SkySafari for sky charts. I’m also using it with HDMI out to present the sky, Solar System, even very useful is showing neighbouring stars in different perspectives and distortion of the constellations at our local Planetarium. I also use it for other public lectures and courses to present the sky and deep sky objects.

  Cheers

• 1
  
  Kyler Rusin November 23, 2017 20:50

  hi Keiron

  I am interested in the beta-testing also

  I have previously had Ski Safari 4 Pro and currently have Ski Safari 5 Pro. I control an IOptron Smart Star telescope. I am also involved in mostly galactic and extragalactic astronomy. I am a power user as I use the most advance version of astronomical apps (Pro) as well as including several advanced feautures. I also keep my eye out for mostly catalogue data for objects both within and outside of our galaxy. I interested to discover any mistakes and report them if needed.

• 1
  
  Lee Gordon November 23, 2017 23:08

  Hi there, I received an email invitation to test Sky Safari 6 and I would love to participate. I've been a Sky Safari iOS user since version 3. I'm using an iPhone 6. I use the app to drive my C14 EdgeHD, which will soon be used for astrophotography. Thank you!

• 1
  
  Simon Klaudt November 26, 2017 23:24

  Good afternoon !  I would be pleased to assist in beta testing for Sky Safari 6.  I do not yet have an automated telescope; I observe with an 100 mm reflector which requires my own personal involvement in guiding its equatorial mount while observing. Daytime observations of the five major planets ( excluding Earth ), out to Saturn, is one of my enjoyable skills. By using Sky Safari, I know where to point my scope. The fun is enhanced by watching planetary conjunctions during the daytime.  I am an armchair astronomer when reading books. If an author writes about an astronomical event as happening, I immediately use my Sky Safari 5 Professional to check the veracity of the event, trusting Sky Safari to be accurate.  Already more than 3 years ago, I was using this app to check whether Carbondale, IL would be the place to be to watch two total eclipses of the Sun in 2017 August 18th and 2024 April 8th. I am already making plans to “eclipse hunt” the 2020 December 14th eclipse in Argentina checking to see what planets will be visible, and where, and where to be geographically for the best presentation of the eclipse.  I also enjoy “ flights of the imagination “ to other planets and other stars, being amazed at what I see, and what I do not see, especially looking towards Sol, our star.  Sky Safari allows this to occur.  I truly enjoyed having Voyager when I was over in China in 2009.  Our eclipse participants ( south of Shanghai ) had the misfortune of being rained upon during the eclipse, so I had Voyager on my iPod showing me what I was missing.  I have used Voyager in its various iterations, and then switched to Sky Safari when it was first issued.  I have upgraded progressively from 3 Pro, 4 Pro, and 5 Pro.  I also have Sky Safari for Mac on my iMac.  So yes, I would be pleased to help you with beta testing.

• 1
  
  Paytongar November 28, 2017 00:35

  Please add me to the beta! I use Sky Safari Pro (v 5.4.1) to control a Celestron Evolution 9.25". I've had lots of wifi problems in the past and recently had my wifi chip replaced with a more up-to-date version. Would love to vet the new app and give feedback.

  Thanks!

• 1
  
  Shuoshi Kan November 28, 2017 12:28

  Hello Keiron,

  I wish i could be a Beta Tester.

  Presently, I use Skysafari5 to control my 8SE with iPhone or Ipad, and i also have APM-APO-152 with Inox theodolite.

  Infact, Skysafari is not very popular in China because of the lauguage although it is the best sky-app i have ever used. I think i can collect the using preference\improment advice\advice about how to be easily operated by fans who can't read english in my local club.

  Skysafari is a great App, I hope all my friends in club can use/enjoy it.

• 1
  
  Simon Klaudt November 29, 2017 00:50

  For Jnelson1078, and your question about eclipse-finding, I divide the northern hemisphere into separate 45 degree wide locations; and the same for the southern hemisphere.  I then look at each hemispheric octet, to see when the next solar eclipse may be in that octet.  It's very primitive, but I use it mainly to see whether Sky Safari 5 Pro finds every solar eclipse that may be listed in an almanac or handbook.  I rely on "Dance of the Planets" software to generate solar and lunar eclipses information.  The RASC Handbook is very useful as well.

  Give it a try; we, as beta testers, can only hope that greater sophistication surrounding eclipses will be a part of Sky Safari 6 Pro.

  Thanks for your question !

   

   

• 1
  
  Karsten Koch November 29, 2017 03:52

  Keiron,

  I would like to be a SS6 Beta Tester. I have been a serious observer since 2012 and have used all versions of SS since version 3. I currently use SS5Pro on my iPhone 7, iPad Air, and MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015). I also have SS4Plus on my Asus Chromebook 14 and SS3 on my original iPad 1!

  I am a dedicated star hopper. I don't use any computer controlled mounts. I use a Celestron C6, several Refractors ≤ 127mm, several Binoculars ≤ 80mm, several Alt-Az Mounts, a Celestron CG-4 mount, and more eyepieces than I should.

  You can find me on CloudyNights as karstenkoch.

  SS has been an essential part of my star hopping routine since the beginning. I love browsing printed charts during the day, but SS is the only chart I've found that is useful and effective for me under the stars while observing.

  I also have and use Sky Guide, Luminos, Redshift, Stellarium, and Cartes du Ciel. However, SS5Pro is my core planetarium app and the only one I take under the stars. I also use Satellite Safari.

  I believe that I can represent visual star hopping observers very well and would like to test fly SS6 as one of them.

  Kind regards,

  Karsten Koch

• 0
  
  Tim Campbell November 03, 2017 20:29

  Hi Keiron,

  I am happy & able to participate in the SS6 iOS beta testing.

  I use SS5 Pro currently on both my iPad and iPhone and used SS4 Pro prior to that and use it to control Meade and Losmandy telescope mounts.  I've done this via the SkyWire cable as well as though the SkyFi II.  I do use the watch integration for ISS & Iridium flare notifications.

  I tend to be more of a power-user and in addition to the telescope control features, I use field-of-view overlays for camera previews, eyepieces, etc.  do syncing of equipment lists across devices via iCloud and use Orbit mode viewing perspectives, etc.  

  As for what type of astronomy I'm involved in... (I'm fairly heavily involved) besides personal viewing and astro-imaging, I'm an active member of a large astronomy club in my area, I do quite a bit of outreach including public viewing nights, speaking to school students, and regularly give planetariums shows.  I do create visual simulations (used in outreach) -- but I use Starry Night for that (not Sky Safari). 

  Kind Regards,

  Tim

   

• 0
  
  Jamie November 05, 2017 21:39

  hi Keiron

  Ill be interested also

  Please outline your experience with SkySafari, including what versions of SkySafari you have run previously, what telescopes you are controlling, what kind of astronomy you are involved in, if you are a power user, etc.

  - bought most / all previous pro versions 5,4,3 etc. Use every time out, use for visual astronomy i.e for observing lists, finding deep sky / double stars / clusters / planets.Own SS5 currently and skyfi 3. Use it with skywatcher AZEQ6 and manual mounts, scope wise 12" newt / 6" refractor. Use many features including descriptions of objects, satellites, setting horizon, controlling mount, satellite finding / identification, simulated paths of objects, star hopping with zoomed in views etc

  I own Iphone7 plus latest IOS, also have ipad mini though use iphone mostly

  regards

  Jamie. 

   

   

• 0
  
  Stuart Glen November 11, 2017 18:27

  I'm interested, Keiron.  I've used SS 3, 4 and 5 and have used it to control two Sky-Watcher mounts - the EQ8 and the AZ-EQ6.  My interests are visual, astrophotography, and sketching and find SS helps me with all three pursuits, though not always the same way.  My main use is for creating nightly object lists, planning starhops, and determining fields of view with various equipment configurations. I wouldn't consider myself a power user, but I am familiar with most of Sky Safari features and would be interested in help test future versions.

  Thanks.

  - Stu

• 0
  
  Nicos Kountouris November 13, 2017 09:14

  I want to help as well. Long time (and very heavy) user of SS since version 3. I use a manual Alt-Az mount and SS made me dump my printed maps, Megastar & ST3, as I only do visual astronomy and rely on SS 100%. Scopes in use are a 5" and 3" refractor. I can also test SS with my Discmounts DM-4 with Nexus for Push-To option.

• 0
  
  Pepe Paco Tarifa November 13, 2017 12:12

  Hi, long long time SkySafari user here. Would love to beta test the new version, especially since Bill Tschumy has told us he is working on some Joystick/tilting control for Skysafari in the upcoming version!...

• 0
  
  Roman Bakay November 13, 2017 13:43

  Hello! I will be glad to become a beta tester.
  I have been using SkySafari for many years. Started with the version of Sky Safari 3.
  I am made a number of suggestions for improvement and reported errors.
  For example here https://support.simulationcurriculum.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/115001243907-Telrad-circles

  Advanced user of astroprograms since 1996. Visual observer.

  Roman

   

  PS. iOS 11, Iphone 6S, iPad Air

   

• 0
  
  Vic Menard November 13, 2017 17:15

  Hi Keiron,

  I’m interested in beta testing SSPv6. I’ve used Sky Safari since it’s inception—was a Voyager user before that. I worked with Tim deBenidictus (sp?) to sort out the wiring (pin out) for the original SkyFi several years ago. I use Sky Safari with my ServoCAT drive and I have the software installed on my iMac, MacBook Pro, iPhone & IPad Pro.

• 0
  
  wtxnitz November 13, 2017 19:30

  I volunteer. I'm a long time Skysafari use and lover. The best, bar none.

• 0
  
  Howard Gao November 15, 2017 03:29

  I'd like to be a volunteer as well. I'm relatively a new user as I only used SkySafari 5 pro before. I'm using it with SkyFi to control my Takahashi EM-200 for my Tak refractors. The 5 pro is installed on my iphone and iMac. Thanks.

• 0
  
  Pierre Paquette November 15, 2017 23:03

  Hello!

  I have been using SkySafari since version 3, which I translated to French (working closely with Agustin Guerrero and somewhat with Tim De Benedictis). I also translated versions 4 and 5.

  The telescope I control is a SkyWatcher SynScan 10″ Dobsonian (goto and track), but I have sometimes used it with other telescopes belonging to friends. I have a SkyFi2 module.

  My mobile device is an Ipad Air, and I also use an iPhone 6.

  Best regards to all,

  Pierre Paquette

• 0
  
  Dave Sopchak November 15, 2017 23:35

  Hi all, I've been using SkySafari since before it was called SkySafari, when Tim first made it. I'm an occasional mac developer, make my own telescopes and control hardware. I have one of the earlier versions of SkyFi. My mobile device is an iphone SE. Death to large screen phones! OK, maybe that was a bit severe.

• 0
  
  George Tang November 16, 2017 01:59

  Hi, I'm using SkySafari5 on my iPhone and iPad, as well as SkySafari 4 on my Mac. Glad to participate in the Beta test:)

• 0
  
  Phiph November 16, 2017 03:57

  Hi, I really love SkySafari 4, SkySafari 5, and I will love SkySafari 6. Thank you.

• 0
  
  Frainiea November 16, 2017 04:14

  Happy to give this the smoke test.  I would be running it on an ipad linked to a SKYFI on my DOB.

• 0
  
  44maurer November 16, 2017 04:20

  I’ve been using SS for 2 years, current version is 5 Pro.

• 0
  
  Jim Warthman November 16, 2017 04:22

  Hi Keiron,

  Although I've owned versions 3 and 5 of SkySafari Pro, I am not a power user, and I do not control scopes with it. My interests are more along the lines of wide-field astrophotography, and SkySafari Pro helps me plan & visualize my shots.

  But I'm pretty good at finding issues with software, and would enjoy participating in the beta test.

   

  Best Regards,

   

  Jim

   

• 0
  
  Vigo79 November 16, 2017 04:38

  Hi, Im using SkySafari Pro 4 and 5. I use it often to see when I can take pictures from deep sky objetcs. I take it to my observing list and make a plan when can I take the photos. A nice feature was to control my telescope mount (Celestron and Skywatcher) with the app. Maybe ther will be a german translation one day :) and hope I can help you to find issues with the sky safari 6 beta

• 0
  
  Rickkeppler November 16, 2017 04:43

  Hi,

  I would certainly like to participate. I have used SkySafari for many years, Pro version only once it became available. The availability of this specific program was one of the main reasons I purchased an iPad - I like the real estate. I do use it from time to time on my iPhone but my main use has been on an iPad, both standalone and linked to my AP mounts via SkyWire. I have setups configured of my various scopes, with overlays for eyepieces, CCD and DSLR cameras both on the scopes and alone with DSLR lenses. SkySafari is an amazing piece of software and I hope it continues to be such well into the future. If I can be of help I would certainly appreciate the opportunity.

  Rick.

   

• 0
  
  Howard November 16, 2017 06:04

  Hi, I'm eager to test Sky Safari 6 for iOS.  I have been a Sky Safari Pro user since Sky Safari 3 and have enjoyed seeing the product continue to improve with each release.  I have submitted a few bug reports for versions 4 and 5 and have been very happy to see the issues fixed so quickly. Currently I use Sky Safari to control two telescope, the Celestron Evolution 9.25 and also the Orion xx14g using the external Skyfi. At least once each month I travel to a dark sky site in Arizona and always look forward to spending hours using Sky Safari.

  Howard

• 0
  
  Nadav Rotenberg November 16, 2017 06:13

  I would like to participate!
  I am the head of the Israeli astronomical association. Observing for more then 20 years and an iOS developer my self.

  Have been using SkySafari since version 3 on iOS