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Beta Testing Starry Night 8 (New Deep Sky Objects Database + LiveSky Integration) - Read EVERYTHING To Participate!

Keiron Smith

November 13, 2018 19:05

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Invitation To Everyone:

*** If you were approved for the recent SN7.6.4 beta testing (and already created a support account), then you are pre-approved for SN8 beta testing - and can download the beta and access the SN8 beta testing forum now ***

Everyone here in the Community Forums is invited to participate in Starry Night 8 beta testing!

Your beta-testing feedback, whatever you can contribute, will be invaluable to the success of Starry Night 8!

Please read completely through this post to understand what we are doing for this round of Starry Night 8 beta testing (this is a little different again from how we have done it before)

Starry Night 8 officially supports Windows 10 and macOS 10.10+

 

To beta test Starry Night you need 2 accounts!

1. support.simulationcurriculum.com account - for providing feedback, reporting bugs, in the Starry Night beta community forum.
2. beta.starrynight.com account - for downloading the beta.

 

How to Apply - The 2 Part Process:

1. Please reply here (in a comment below) if you can help us at this time.   And please outline your experience with Starry Night (or SkySafari), including what versions of Starry Night (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.  Importantly, your reply shows us that you have registered a support.simulationcurriculum.com account. 
2. Visit the following URL and fill out the application webform: https://beta.starrynight.com/reqreg.php  Complete the registration process, choosing a password, and then you can access the beta downloads.  If you are already a registered Starry Night beta tester then please DO NOT fill out the web form again - you are pre-approved.  However, you must still reply here (in a comment below) if you can help us at this time. 

 

*** IMPORTANT*** In your comment below please state whether you have previously beta tested Starry Night 7; i.e, whether you already have the beta.starrynight.com account.

*** IMPORTANT*** If you're testing the beta on a computer that is also using Starry Night for important astronomy research please be careful, and understand what you are doing - if you are not sure what you are doing, please ask for my assistance first!  

*** IMPORTANT*** I don't want anyone to lose any important research.  So, please back up your work before you begin!

*** IMPORTANT***

• On Windows 10, if you have Pro Plus 7 installed you can not install Pro Plus 8.  You will will encounter a conflict during installation.  So, you must install Pro 8 instead.  If you have Pro 7 installed you must install Pro Plus 8. 
• On macOS, you can install both Pro Plus 7 and Pro Plus 8 side by side (and same for Pro).

 

When you are approved to participate, notified via an email, you will be able to download the beta and also have access to the Starry Night 8 Beta Testing forum.  The Starry Night 8 Beta Testing forum is hidden until you are approved to participate.

 

*** If accepted to the Starry Night 8 beta-testing forum please do NOT report bug/issues on this post.  See below for workflow ***

 

The Process:

As you find bugs/issues in Starry Night please first review the current discussions in the Starry Night 8 Beta Testing forum (which is hidden until you are approved).  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 Starry Night 8 Beta Testing forum. 

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

Please do NOT submit tickets with bugs/issues.

 

How To Follow The Starry Night 8 Beta Forum:

As part of your participation we would appreciate that you follow the Starry Night 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 Starry Night Beta Testing community forum please see here.  Note, you must have been approved first, and have access to the forum before you can follow it.

 

Replying to Email Updates:

When you follow the Starry Night 8 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.

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

Downloading the Starry Night 8 Beta app:

In order to participate you will need to download the Starry Night app from beta.starrynight.com (note, your application approval is required first)

 

About Updating the Beta:

When you run the beta app, it will look for a newer version and notify you if there is a newer version available.

 

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

  

Starry Night 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 Starry Night Beta Testing group.
3. Apply via the https://beta.starrynight.com/reqreg.php web form to join the beta testing.
4. When approved to join the beta testing, download the SN8 beta from beta.starrynight.com
5. Previous Starry Night 7 beta testers are ALREADY pre-approved (you can go get the beta now!) but you must still reply in a comment below.
6. FOLLOW the main Starry Night 8 beta forum to be kept up-to-date of any new posts (bug reports) and discussions thereafter (you get email updates).
7. REVIEW previous beta testing discussions before posting your bug report.
8. COMMENT on bugs already reported.
9. Create NEW posts for bugs not yet reported.
10. Follow the bug reporting GUIDELINES when reporting or commenting on bugs.
11. Do NOT reply/comment to community forum email updates.  Instead, VIEW the post first, then comment in the forum.
12. Post any questions, about anything to do with the beta testing, in the beta forum.  We will reply to you there. 

 

Please also read the "What's New in Starry Night 8 and What We Need Tested" and "About LiveSky" posts here (approval required):

https://support.simulationcurriculum.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360019432514-What-s-New-in-Starry-Night-8-And-What-We-Need-Test-

About LiveSky - Please Read - Very Important

 

Thank YOU! 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

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159 comments

• 0
  
  Andrew MacKay November 22, 2018 01:57

  Hi Keiron.

  Thanks for approving me to this Beta.  I am a current Pro Plus version 7.6.5 user on Mac.  I also use TheSkyX Pro and SkySafari6.  My equipment comprises of a Takahashi EM200 mount with both Serial and WiFi control, TOA130NFB OTA, SBIG for Astrophotography.  

  Regards,   Andy.

• 0
  
  Keiron Smith November 22, 2018 01:59

  Welcome, Andy!  You're support account is approved too!  Thanks!

• 0
  
  vikrant kumar Agnihotri November 22, 2018 03:54

  Thank you SN team for adding me here

   

  Regards

  Vikrant, India

• 0
  
  Claudio Costa November 22, 2018 05:24

  Hi Keiron.

  Thanks for approving me to this Beta.  I am a current Pro Plus version 7.6.5 user on Windows and Sky Safari 6 Pro on Android. 

  Regards,   Claudio.

• 0
  
  Henri-Claude Bignon November 22, 2018 08:09

  Hi Keiron,

  I'm interested in beta testing SNP8. I'm a Starry Night user since SNP 5. Currently I use SNP 7 on two PC W10/64 (desktop and laptop). I also have SkySafari Plus, installed on my iPhone. I use them for visual observing (Stars, planets and satellites). and don't use any more scope for five or ten years.

  Best regards

  Henri-Claude from France

• 0
  
  Bob Riddle November 22, 2018 13:57

  I took part in the version 7 beta test and would like to also participate in this one.

  Just downloaded and in the process of installing Pro 8 as I have Pro Plus 7.

  Thanks in advance.

  Clear Skies...

  Bob Riddle

• 0
  
  Gyula Wendler November 22, 2018 17:12

  Hi Keiron,

  I would like to beta test SNP8. I used a very old version of Starry Night some years back so currently I’d consider myself new to SN.Currently I have SkySafari Pro for IOS and Android and sync between the two with LiveSky. So I would love to test this now with SN. I own a 200P Skywatcher Newtonian with SynScan and mainly do Astrophotography.

• 0
  
  Keiron Smith November 22, 2018 20:39

  Vikrant, Claudio, Henri-Claude, Bob, Gyula, 

  Your support accounts have been approved to access the Starry Night 8 beta forum!  

   

  Please read all the pinned posts at the top of the Starry Night 8 beta testing forum.

  Please post ALL issues in the Starry Night 8 beta testing forum (not here).

  If you haven't done so yet you also need to apply and be approved for a beta.starrynight.com account.  You can do that here:

  https://beta.starrynight.com/reqreg.php

  Thanks sooo much!

• 0
  
  Keiron Smith November 23, 2018 02:10

  ****** Important Message To All Beta Testers! *****

  Starry Night 8 is officially only supporting Windows 10 and macOS 10.10 and higher.

  Please only test on Windows 10 and macOS 10.10 and higher at this time. 

  Only submit bug reports for Windows 10 and macOS 10.10 and higher.

  Again, apologies for any confusion - I should have clarified with the dev team before starting the beta testing!

  Thanks.

• 0
  
  Jon de Pinet November 23, 2018 02:37

  Hi Keiron, you approved me in this thread for the beta test, which i am eager to do several days ago. however i have not been able to download the software to begin testing it due to my account at https://beta.starrynight.com/ not being approved yet. is there any way you could look into his so i can get to testing the software?

• 0
  
  Claude Benoit November 23, 2018 04:23

  How do I access the SN8 Beta test forum? I only see Beta 7.5 forum.

• 0
  
  Keiron Smith November 23, 2018 04:40

  Hi Claude, Jon, 

  Your beta.starrynight.com accounts are approved, as well as your SimCur support accounts.  So, you should both be able to download the beta and access the SN8 beta forum here:

  Starry Night | Beta Testing Starry Night 8

  Jon, please look for another email in your inbox/spam regarding completing your beta.starrynight.com account sign up.

  Thanks!

• 0
  
  dazza gee November 23, 2018 04:43

  Keiron, I initially had the same problem as Claude Benoit reports - I could not (and still can not) see the SN8 Beta test forum link at the top of this page as shown.  Somehow I eventually stumbled across it just as I was about to post a comment saying I couldn't find it.  I then saved the link so that I wouldn't lose it.  In the blue bar at the top of this page, I only see "Announcements (Dev Posts Only)" where it should say "Starry Night : Beta Testing".  I would post the link here but you probably don't want that.
  
  EDIT:  Looks like you just posted the link as I was typing my comment.  Please delete this comment if it is redundant.

• 0
  
  Keiron Smith November 23, 2018 04:49

  With an approved SimCur support account everyone should be able to find this: 

  

• 0
  
  Sagittae November 23, 2018 15:16

  Dear Simulation Curriculum,

  I'm available for beta testing: 

  User Since version 3, 7 Pro user currently.

  Mac OS X 10.9-10.14 currently in use on 5 different Macs. 

  No research or sensitive issues preventing beta testing. 

   

  -Best Regards, Rob

   

• 0
  
  Michael Tweedy November 23, 2018 20:14

   

  Hi Keiron

  i would like to participate please

  Skysafari Pro user for 10+ years with skyfi for public outreach and previous SSP Beta tester.

  I have tried to log into the Beta Testing link but my email is not recognised.

• 0
  
  Robert Ballantyne November 23, 2018 22:56

  Request beta testing of Starry Night 8.

  I have been using a series of Starry Night versions since its development by the group in Toronto... I think that was in the late 90s. As a former planetarium director, SN is my planetarium instrument. My 17" dobsonian telescope is not computer controlled. I'm currently using SN Pro Plus V:7.6.1.1323 on an old iMac (circa 2009) running OS X 10.11.6. Since the spring of 2018 I've had SkySafari on my iPhone 5. These days I am not formally involved in professional astronomy, but people still expect me to know what is happening. I did lead a group to see the solar eclipse in the USA last year. My principle references are SN and the RASC Observer's Handbook (my 2019 edition arrived this week).

• 0
  
  Paul November 24, 2018 00:05

  Hi, 

  I'm interested in beta testing SN8. I've been using SN software since version 3 and use SN Pro to control my LX200R using Windows 10. I use the software often to check out whats happening on certain dates.

  I've never beta tested a SN version in the past, but i am very willing and available to do so

• 0
  
  Cd Lutao November 24, 2018 12:59

  I'm interested in the SN8 beta test. I am running SN7 Pro plus on Mac OS X 10.14.1 

• 0
  
  Keiron Smith November 24, 2018 18:24

  Welcome Sagittae, Michael, Robert, Paul, and Cd!

  Your support accounts have been approved to access the Starry Night 8 beta forum!

  Starry Night | Beta Testing Starry Night 8

  Please read all the pinned posts at the top of the Starry Night 8 beta testing forum.

  Please post ALL issues in the Starry Night 8 beta testing forum (not here).

  If you haven't done so yet you also need to apply and be approved for a beta.starrynight.com account.  You can do that here:

  https://beta.starrynight.com/reqreg.php

  ^^^ This is where you download the beta.

  Thanks sooo much!

• 0
  
  Benjamin Michael Fisher November 24, 2018 18:44

  Hi Keiron! I have enjoyed Starry Night and its features for a while. I am currently running SN 7 on my Desktop. I use a Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope for all kinds of use. I am interested in the Beta testing of the newest Starry Night 8.

   

• 0
  
  Keiron Smith November 24, 2018 19:05

  Thanks for joining, Benjamin!  Both of your accounts have been approved.

• 0
  
  Chris Lewis November 25, 2018 20:30

  I can help.

  I’ve used SNP 4, 7 and 7 plus. I also used Bisque Sky 6 for a while. I’m a computational geoscience major and so I have a strong background in diagnosing computer programs as to the ins and outs of if this do this mentality.

  As for telescope, I use a Meade 14” ACF.

  Windows 10, 16GM Ram, i7.

• 0
  
  David Hunt November 25, 2018 21:06

  I can help out in beta testing. I use both sky safari and starry night 7 pro plus on Mac OS X Mojave.  I use an etx90 Meade telescope.

• 0
  
  George Woodrow November 25, 2018 21:59

  Hi -- I am interested in being a beta tester for SN8. I've been using Starry night for a very long time, and I may have been a beta tester at some point, but not recently/ I am not  power user, and I do not control any telescopes (too close to NYC).

• 0
  
  Connor Bates November 25, 2018 22:45

  I'm a amateur astronomer and avid astrophotographer. I've been currently use Starry Night Pro Plus 7 and have used it since it version 6. I also use SkySafari and enjoy both.

  My rig is currently a Celestron CGX mount.  My scopes consist of a Meade 10" SN, Orion 190mm Mak-Newt astrograph, and finally a Astro-tech 90EDT triplet. I hope Version 8 is as good as the 2 previos versions, and would love to be part of the Beta testing group.

• 0
  
  Keiron Smith November 25, 2018 23:20

  Chris, David, George, Connor, your SimCur accounts have been approved to access the Starry Night 8 beta forum!

  Starry Night | Beta Testing Starry Night 8

  Please read all the pinned posts at the top of the Starry Night 8 beta testing forum.

  Please post ALL issues in the Starry Night 8 beta testing forum (not here).

  If you haven't done so yet you also need to apply and be approved for a beta.starrynight.com account.  You can do that here:

  https://beta.starrynight.com/reqreg.php

  ^^^ This is where you download the beta.

  Thanks sooo much!

• 0
  
  Christopher Borowiak November 26, 2018 01:29

  Christopher Borowiak

  I am an avid stargazer, and would very much like to be a Starry Night 8 beta tester. Currently using Starry Night pro Plus 7.

• 0
  
  Nikolas Chmiel November 26, 2018 06:05

  Hello Keiron,  

  I would very much like to help beta test Starry Night.  I've used SNPP7 for a few years, both as a visual aid to see what's up in the sky at a particular time, and also to control a Stellarvue 80mm refractor on a CGEM DX mount for imaging.  

• 0
  
  Keiron Smith November 26, 2018 16:56

  Christopher, Nikolas, your SimCur accounts have been approved to access the Starry Night 8 beta forum!

  Starry Night | Beta Testing Starry Night 8

  Please read all the pinned posts at the top of the Starry Night 8 beta testing forum.

  Please post ALL issues in the Starry Night 8 beta testing forum (not here).

  If you haven't done so yet you also need to apply and be approved for a beta.starrynight.com account.  You can do that here:

  https://beta.starrynight.com/reqreg.php

  ^^^ This is where you download the beta.

  Thanks sooo much!