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

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.

Date Votes

159 comments

  • 0
    Avatar
    Nikolas Chmiel

    Hi Keiron,

    I applied for the beta.starrynight.com account last night, but when I tried to login a few minutes ago, it says the beta is full (Our beta program is currently full.  Please contact our support team if you need further assistance).   Do I need to reapply now that my SimCur account is approved?  

    Thanks,

    Nik

     

  • 0
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    Bob Christensen

     I would like to assist with the SN8. I am a SN Pro Plus 7 user. I am a casual astronomer and not a power user.

  • 0
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    Christopher Borowiak

    Christopher Borowiak

    I also can not download the beta. When I try to login, it says our beta program is currently full.

  • 0
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    Brett Chandler

    Hi Keiron, 

    I'm interested in being a beta tester for SN8.  I am running SN Pro Plus 7 currently. 

     

    Best Regards, 

  • 0
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    Miguel Montes

    Hi! I would like to beta test Starry Night 8, please! Thank you! I have used Starry Night since version 4, I think. My local astronomy club has purchased versions 4-5-6, but I own 7 for myself.

    I don't connect the software to any telescope, I use it as a virtual planetarium for my stargazing activities and to find out upcoming events and ephemerids.

  • 0
    Avatar
    Craig Bobchin

    Hi, I'm interested in joining the beta test of SNP 8.0.

     

    I run a small astronomy outreach company and we bring telescopes all over southern california for private parties, corporate events, weddings, etc... I use both Starry night Pro Plus 7 to help plan my observing sessions and Sky Safari Pro ver 6 in the field so being able to sync everything between the two programs would be a wonderful thing. I do have a Livesky acount and use it on occasion.

     

    I also do astrophotography and have used SNP to control my Losmandy G-11. 

     

    I've used pretty much every version of Starry night since version 4 or 5. 

  • 0
    Avatar
    George Woodrow

    How can I withdraw from the beta program? I find I have less "copious free time" than I thought (Mathematica beta heated up), and I see that some people are getting the message that the beta test is full. I will be happy to relinquish my spot.

     

    Thanks.

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Bob, Bret, Miguel, Craig, 

    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
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Nikolas, Christopher, 

    Did you complete your beta account sign up by choosing a password for your account?

    Please check your inbox/spam for another follow up email asking you to complete your signup, and follow the instructions.

    Then try again to log into beta.starrynight.com

     

    George, we don't have a limit.  But, if you don't want to participate anymore you're welcome to simply delete the SN8 beta.

    Thanks!

  • 0
    Avatar
    Jamesrichardson

    Interested in the beta.  I have used SN (7 pro plus) for over a decade and have recently picked up a Celestron Nexstar 9.25. I also have Sky Safari Pro.  Happy to participate and provide feedback.

     

  • 0
    Avatar
    Wayne Byrne1

    I would love to Beta Test Starry Night 8. I intend to interface it to my Meade LX600 12" Telescope in my Home Observatory. I have used SN Pro plus v7 with my telescope for about four years. I do not use Sky Safari, but I hope that does not bar me from Beta Testing the new Version of SN. Thank you.

  • 0
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    Christopher Borowiak

    Christopher Borowiak

    Hi Keiron, I still have not received a follow up email to complete my signup.

  • 0
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    Craig Bobchin

    Hi Kerion,

    I'm still waiting for my beta.starrynight.com account to be approved so I can download the SW.

     

  • 0
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    Felix Gross

    Hi Kieron,

    I would love to join the beta testing program. My main interest is Asteroids. I have been using Starry Night Pro Plus 7.6.3 e.g. for obtaining look-up charts and orbit plots. I also use Sky Safari Pro on my iPhone. I am a member of the board of the Wilhelm Foerster Sternwarte in Berlin, Germany.

    Best Regards,

    Felix

  • 0
    Avatar
    Shawn Connelly

    Thank you for this opportunity to beta test and possibly influence the quality of the next Starry Night v8. It's nearly 3 AM and I really should be sleeping, but I woke in a "panic" because I remembered that I hadn't yet applied for this exciting project. 

    I currently own Starry Night Pro Plus v7.6.3, as well as SkySafari 6 Pro for the iPhone. I think I've owned or used your products since the beginning of your existence. 

    I use both the Windows and the iPhone products to control my Celestron CGEM II 800 EdgeHD. I love astrophotography, but due to an abundance of poor weather on the North West Coast, I spend much of my time teaching astronomy. That is why I love your products! I am a true product evangelist. I can't quite decide on what type of astronomy I enjoy more, but I've dabbled in a lot of areas, such as deep sky, planets, or being mesmerized over the moon at high magnification on steady nights; I have even built several radio telescopes (since I was a teenager). Radio astronomy recently became really interesting with SDR receivers. My next goal is to invest in a Ha solar telescope. 

    I have registered for an account at  https://beta.starrynight.com/reqreg.php, but this will be my first time beta testing any of your products. However, I am a seasoned beta tester for many other products over many years. I think, one of my first beta testing jobs was for music sequencer company called Voyetra in the 90's.

    I am available to beta test for both Windows 10 and Mac OSx.

    If it is acceptable, for Windows 10, I will test the v8 beta in a Virtual Machine with VMware. That way, I won't need to install my v7 software.

    I really hope I covered all the application rules... it's really late and you had a lot of criteria... probably checking that your beta testers pay attention to details. I respect that. I probably should have applied during a more sane hour. LOL

    Thank you,
    Shawn

  • 1
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Welcome James, Wayne, Felix, and Shawn!

    We've got about 10 days to go!

    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
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Christopher, Craig, please check your inbox again.  Your beta.starrynight.com accounts are approved.

    Thanks for your patience! 

    10 days to go!

  • 0
    Avatar
    Shawn Connelly

    Thank you. Exciting news. :)

    When you say 10 days. Do you mean that the beta testing cycle ends in 10 days? 

    Sorry, I haven't read the full thread yet, I will do so this evening. 

  • 0
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    Keiron Smith

    Yes, Shawn, only 10 more days of beta testing!  Yes, please read everything in this initial post.

    Cheers!

  • 0
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    Andy Wien

    Hi Keiron,

    I would be more than happy to be a beta tester for SN8. I've looked forward to this new version of SN for a long time. I have been using SNPP6, SNP7, SNPP7 on my personal laptop for 2-3 years. I mainly use them to look at what I was seeing in the sky, asteroids, stars, galaxies... purely visual. I would greatly love the idea that I can use the newest version of Starry Night!!!

    Best regards,

    Wien

  • 0
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    Antonio Reyes Fernández

    I am interested in participating in the beta test. I have Starry Night 7 in Windows 10 and Skysafari pro 6 in iPad

    Thanks

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Welcome Andy, Antonio!

    9 days of beta testing to go!

    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
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Hi Beta Testers!

    SN8 needs your help testing more than ever now.  We are moving into the last full week of beta-testing!  

    If you haven't already please test the app, mash the buttons, see what you can break, and submit your feedback as posts in the SN8 beta testing forum.

    Thank you to all our current beta testers active in the SN8 forum, showing us bugs, highlighting UX issues, suggesting features, and helping one another to optimize the experience.  We are on track for another solid release due to your continued efforts and passion for the successful launch of Starry Night 8!

     

  • 0
    Avatar
    Larry Saunders

    I would be glad to be a beta tester.  I used Starry Night Pro 7 and have used Starry Night since 3.5" disc days.  I use it for public outreach and observation planning.  I use Sky Safari on my iPhone too. Thanks!

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Larry, you're approved for both the SN8 beta forum and the beta download.

    Thanks for joining!

  • 0
    Avatar
    Geoff Wells

    Hi Keiron,

    I know there are only a few days left but I would like to help if you're still after some button pushers. I've been told I'm quite good at breaking software. :)

    I have used SN v5 and now using SNPP7. I am a casual astronomer with a Meade SCT8 on a LXD-75 mount. I won't be able to interface to it until our new home gets finished next year so I'm mainly using the software to see what's up and explore virtually. Anyway, all the best for a new release.

  • 0
    Avatar
    David Bellinger

    I have used Starry Night software since version 5, I currently use version 7 Pro Plus. I have never beta tested SN software but have beta tested other software, (Blizzard Warcraft). I am an amateur astronomer using a Celestron Nexstar 6SE. As a retired IT professional, I am available for Beta testing SN 8. Thank you for your consideration.

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Geoff, David, 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!

    ONE WEEK TO GO!

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Hi Everyone, 

    Just an FYI, the latest update now allows importing V7 data.  Look in Help -> Import V7 Data...

    As a general rule of best practice, always backup your data before testing!  

    Please try the V7 data import, sync everything in LiveSky, have fun, break stuff if you can, and THANK YOU for beta testing SN8!

    We are looking at the home stretch - but still there is, I'm sure, lots of little things we can find to fix before launch!

  • 0
    Avatar
    Dolldyy

    Hi,

    I would like to help test the beta, i know that there are only a few days left. But al little things could help.

    I use SN7 now mainly to see what i am looking at, and help me explore the night sky. Would love to see the SN8 program. 

    Best regards,

    Danny 

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