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Have The Deep Space Catalogs In Starry Night Pro Plus 8 Been Reduced? (Answer: No - Read On!)

Hi, it seems the Deep Space catalogs are reduced from what was available on previous versions.  For example, the PGC is a subset of the complete catalog.  I am confused by this.  The complete PGC is available on the IOS application.  I would think on Pro Plus that I would at least have the same catalog access.  This is rather disappointing.  The user manual suggests that the folks at Simulation Curriculum created a subset of Deep Space objects to include and I do not remember this limitation on previous versions.

Is there a way to download a more complete set of Deep Space catalogs on this new version...or is there a way to download and install a previous version of Starry Night (e.g., maybe Version 7) that still has this capability?  Or does Simulation Curriculum provide any downloadable catalogs to fill the gaps?  I found a few online but nothing all that complete.  

Thank you

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4 comments

  • 0
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    Keiron Smith

    The catalogs have not been reduced.  In fact, the catalogs have compiled together and expanded.  From page 37 in the SN8 User Guide:

    One of the core databases in Starry Night contains over 2 million galaxies plotted in 3D. This database was compiled by Starry Night staff astronomers, hence it is referred to as the Starry Night 3D Galaxy Database. This galaxy database is very special because it shows the 3D position in space of each galaxy, not just the galaxy’s position as seen from Earth.

    Starry Night is not available on iOS.  So you are comparing Starry Night to SkySafari.  They have been developed independently over the year, the UI is not the same between them.

    Please be specific about what you are trying to find and I will help you.  Nothing is missing that was there before.

  • 0
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    J.Kaufman

    Hi, thanks for taking the time to respond to my question. I appreciate the help.

    I meant the IOS app as the comparison, SkySafari, thanks for clarifying.

    So I was looking for PGC 47274. It does not seem to be in the Starry Night database (it has selections around that number).  It is in the SkSafari database.

    So I started to find out why. In the SN6 manual it says that it includes (for a Full Install) the PGC which is 980K galaxies, yet the SN8 manual suggests
    that the 'Deep Sky Objects' were hand selected and only 36K. This made me think that the database was reduced. See the quotes below.

    I also read about the other galaxy database with 2 million entries, yet I am unclear how to access that exactly. How would you search that database and using what catalog identifier(s)?

    SN6 Manual


    "Starry Night Pro and Pro Plus users
    have the option to select a “Full Install”
    or “Custom Install”. The “Full Install”
    option will install extra star data, with
    stars as dim as magnitude 15 (these
    stars are not visible in your sky without
    a telescope) ***and the Principal Galaxy
    Catalog (PGC) with 980, 000 galaxies
    as dim as magnitude 18.***
    The “Full Install” option in Starry
    Night Pro Plus"


    From SN8 Manual:

    "Deep Sky Objects: Created using more than a dozen source catalogs, ***Starry Night staff compiled the best object positions,
    sizes and types into a single, cross-referenced database***.
    With over ***36,000 targets*** suitable for amateur astronomers, ***it replaces the majority of Starry Nights previous object databases***."

     

    Thank you!

     

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Deep Sky Objects:

    Created using more than a dozen source catalogs, Starry Night staff compiled the best object positions, sizes and types into a single, cross-referenced database. With over 36,000 targets suitable for amateur astronomers, it replaces the majority of Starry Nights previous object databases - an includes all the following catalogs.

    3D Galaxy Database Display Options:

    One of the core databases in Starry Night contains over 2 million galaxies plotted in 3D. This database was compiled by Starry Night staff astronomers, hence it is referred to as the Starry Night 3D Galaxy Database. This galaxy database is very special because it shows the 3D position in space of each galaxy, not just the galaxy’s position as seen from Earth.

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    2,000,000

    +   36,000

    -------------

    2,036,000 Deep Sky objects.

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