Interested in group order of SkyTools2 ?
- wkocken
- Posts: 1299
- Joined: Mon May 17, 2004 8:19 pm
- Real Name: Bill Kocken
- Location: McGregor
- Contact:
Interested in group order of SkyTools2 ?
Skytools 2 - Observation planning and charting program
I heard about this one, but haven't seen it myself. I know it was in use at Okie-tex. From the reports, it's an excellent tool at your desk for planning or out in the dark with your scope. It can be configured to show a wide view, a finder scope view and an eyepiece view simultaneously. These charts can be printed, or used in the field. Us starhoppers love this sort of thing. There are tons of features.
http://www.skyhound.com/skytools.html
Price is $99 + $39 for the real-time addon, which updates the view continuously and integrates with computerized scopes. They also have a 40% club discount on the $99 base product for orders of 10 or more. I am SERIOUSLY thinking about getting an order together for those interested. If you're interested, let me know, so I can gauge the interest. If I get enough interest, I'll put an order together.
I heard about this one, but haven't seen it myself. I know it was in use at Okie-tex. From the reports, it's an excellent tool at your desk for planning or out in the dark with your scope. It can be configured to show a wide view, a finder scope view and an eyepiece view simultaneously. These charts can be printed, or used in the field. Us starhoppers love this sort of thing. There are tons of features.
http://www.skyhound.com/skytools.html
Price is $99 + $39 for the real-time addon, which updates the view continuously and integrates with computerized scopes. They also have a 40% club discount on the $99 base product for orders of 10 or more. I am SERIOUSLY thinking about getting an order together for those interested. If you're interested, let me know, so I can gauge the interest. If I get enough interest, I'll put an order together.
Last edited by wkocken on Sat Jan 05, 2008 4:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Bill Kocken
16" f4.5 - home built truss design
8"f6 home built dob
102f7 Explore Scientific APO with Ioptron ZEQ25GT mount
4.5 Orion Starblast
60mm Meade ETX
Homemade equatorial platform
w m kocken at gmail dot com
16" f4.5 - home built truss design
8"f6 home built dob
102f7 Explore Scientific APO with Ioptron ZEQ25GT mount
4.5 Orion Starblast
60mm Meade ETX
Homemade equatorial platform
w m kocken at gmail dot com
- Bill Bynum
- Posts: 443
- Joined: Tue May 18, 2004 7:13 pm
- Location: Brooklyn Park, MN
- Contact:
- Kurt A. Casby
- Posts: 766
- Joined: Wed Jun 09, 2004 11:32 pm
- Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Hi Bill,
Please add my name to the 'interested' list.
Thanks,
Kurt
Please add my name to the 'interested' list.
Thanks,
Kurt
Kurt A. Casby
Kurt.Casby@comcast.net
Kurt.Casby@comcast.net
- SEmert
- Posts: 1802
- Joined: Mon May 31, 2004 2:48 pm
- Real Name: Steve Emert
- Location: White Bear Lake, MN
Put me on the list too. I've looked at it in the past and it looks like a pretty good program. I've just never sprung for it before. With the club discount, it looks like a good deal.
Steve Emert
MAS Membership Coordinator
12.5" f/4.7 Obsession Clone Homemade Truss Dob, sometimes equipped with Celestron StarSense Explorer app
Celestron C8 SCT OTA on AVX GEQ mount
Astro-Tech AT72 ED Refractor OTA usually on Explore Scientific Twilight 1 mount or tripod with Benro geared head
Celestron 5" SCT OTA on Explore Scientific Twilight 1 Alt-Az Mount, usually equipped with StarSense Explorer app
Orion 150mm Mak OTA and Orion EQ-G computerized mount
MAS Membership Coordinator
12.5" f/4.7 Obsession Clone Homemade Truss Dob, sometimes equipped with Celestron StarSense Explorer app
Celestron C8 SCT OTA on AVX GEQ mount
Astro-Tech AT72 ED Refractor OTA usually on Explore Scientific Twilight 1 mount or tripod with Benro geared head
Celestron 5" SCT OTA on Explore Scientific Twilight 1 Alt-Az Mount, usually equipped with StarSense Explorer app
Orion 150mm Mak OTA and Orion EQ-G computerized mount
- John Charboneau
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:29 am
- Location: Crosslake, MN
- wkocken
- Posts: 1299
- Joined: Mon May 17, 2004 8:19 pm
- Real Name: Bill Kocken
- Location: McGregor
- Contact:
I'm up to 6 people expressing interest . We need at least 4 more. to get the group discount. Unfortunately, the discount applies to the base package only, not the real-time add on.
It's a great package. It fits somewhere in between Cartes du Ciel and "The Sky". But it probably doesn't go as deep as MegaStar. It has great charts along with good observation planning tools.
Who else want's in?
Bill
It's a great package. It fits somewhere in between Cartes du Ciel and "The Sky". But it probably doesn't go as deep as MegaStar. It has great charts along with good observation planning tools.
Who else want's in?
Bill
Bill Kocken
16" f4.5 - home built truss design
8"f6 home built dob
102f7 Explore Scientific APO with Ioptron ZEQ25GT mount
4.5 Orion Starblast
60mm Meade ETX
Homemade equatorial platform
w m kocken at gmail dot com
16" f4.5 - home built truss design
8"f6 home built dob
102f7 Explore Scientific APO with Ioptron ZEQ25GT mount
4.5 Orion Starblast
60mm Meade ETX
Homemade equatorial platform
w m kocken at gmail dot com
- lhoen
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:16 am
- Location: Delano, MN
one more, please
Bill - add me to the list.
Lauren Hoen
Lauren Hoen
- Huggy
- Posts: 657
- Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2005 8:37 pm
- Real Name: Ken Hugill
- Location: St. Anthony, MN
- Contact:
Bill - add me to the list.
LLCC Committee Chair
Key Holder - All
Primary gear:
20" F4 DOB Galaxy Mirror
C-11 Hyperstar and CGX-L
ZWO ASIair Pro 294C cooled
25x100 Bino
kenhugill@comcast.net
Key Holder - All
Primary gear:
20" F4 DOB Galaxy Mirror
C-11 Hyperstar and CGX-L
ZWO ASIair Pro 294C cooled
25x100 Bino
kenhugill@comcast.net
- John Charboneau
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:29 am
- Location: Crosslake, MN
- wkocken
- Posts: 1299
- Joined: Mon May 17, 2004 8:19 pm
- Real Name: Bill Kocken
- Location: McGregor
- Contact:
- John Charboneau
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:29 am
- Location: Crosslake, MN
Sounds like we're close so I will wait a bit longer before ordering this myself so that hopefully I can get it at the group discount.
I was just reviewing the program capabilities again and it's definitely a program that I'm interested in still. (Especially since I have a new 11" Celestron scope and a new front yard to observe from that's nice and dark, only 50 minutes from LLCC.)
I was just reviewing the program capabilities again and it's definitely a program that I'm interested in still. (Especially since I have a new 11" Celestron scope and a new front yard to observe from that's nice and dark, only 50 minutes from LLCC.)
- Chris White
- Posts: 433
- Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:53 pm
- Location: Bloomington, MN
- Contact:
I currently use astroplanner which is somewhat similar and I already own, when I get a chance I will take a peek at skytools. Astroplanner has a couple of features where you can upload your observing plan into a couple of different formats (i.e. a autostar tour, etc, or direct control). It was $25 for the download version. A 40% discount is pretty heafty but, I don't see myself upgrading unless it has significantly more/better features.
Has anyone tried both?
Has anyone tried both?
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Chris White
Chris White