Knowledge Base

Welcome to the STAR Atlas:PRO™ How-To Documents

STAR Atlas:PRO™ is a sophisticated software application that includes many useful and powerful tools coupled with 2.8 Gigabytes of astronomical data, that you can search, browse, list, sort and chart.

The How-To Docs set out below, aim to allow both beginner and experienced users to gain full benefit from STAR Atlas:PRO™. They are written (by other amateur astronomers using STAR Atlas:PRO™ in the field) to give examples of how to use the software in many situations.

The authors hope that this will enhance the fun of working with STAR Atlas:PRO™ and will allow both amateur and experienced astronomers to fully utilise STAR Atlas:PRO™.

How-to Document Categories

General program use
Locating Celestial Objects & Astrophysical Data
Double & Variable Stars
Comets & Planets
Observation Planning
Astronomical Images
Settings, Options & Configuration
Hardware & Telescope Configuration
Telescope Control
Digital Setting Circles
Program Installation & Requirements

Level

  

General program use
Beginner   When should I use Polar and Horizon views and how ?
Beginner   When should I use the Field of View command ?
Beginner   How should I use the Magnitude Filter ?
Beginner   How do I Identify Celestial Objects and display their Astrophysical data ?
How do I Identify Stars when No Labels are displayed ?
Beginner   Can you change the Font sizes and the Size of Stars on Star Charts ?
Beginner   How Do I Turn On the Alt./Az. Grid ?
Beginner   How Do I Turn On Star Name Labels when displaying the All-Sky Chart ?
Intermediate   How do I use Colour Schemes in STAR Atlas:PRO™ ?
(including Day Mode & Night Mode, Chart Background Colour, and Chart Symbol Colours)
Intermediate   Can I Set the Chart Time and Date to Show the Position of Planets for January 1, 1976
or Any Other Date I Choose?
Intermediate   How much of the Sky will I see through my own Telescope, Eyepieces & CCD Camera ?
Intermediate   What is the setting "Display DSS Image Outlines" and how do I use it ?
Advanced   What is the setting "Distinguish Non-Stellar Objects" and how do I use it ?
     
   

Locating Celestial Objects & Astrophysical data
Beginner   How do I find the location of a known celestial object, like Messier 42 ?
Beginner   How do I find a Star by name ?
Beginner   Was the Star Sirius Called the "Dog Star" ? How Can I find Out ?
Beginner How do I find the "Witch Head Nebula" by name ?
Beginner   How do I Identify Celestial Objects and display their Astrophysical data ?
Beginner   Can I Use STAR Atlas: PRO to List Only Star Clusters or Galaxies
in a certain Constellation and within a certain Magnitude Range ?
Beginner   How do I Print an Ephemeris of the Planets ?
Intermediate   Can I generate Lists of celestial objects ?
Intermediate   How do I find the time that Astronomical Twilight occurs ?
Intermediate   Can I locate an known object, like ESO350-40B, using all Keyboard commands ?
Intermediate   When I choose [Locate] the Astro Database Manager displays dozens of buttons with Astronomical Catalogue Designations. What are these buttons and how to I use them?
Intermediate   I understand Alpha Scorpius has a Hot Companion Star, can STAR Atlas PRO tell me if this is Correct and what Other Information can it tell me about Alpha Scorpius ?
Intermediate   Can I list the individual galaxies that make up each Hickson Compact Galaxy Group?
Advanced   I wish to chart the distribution of Galaxies across the Night Sky to assist in locating large clusters of galaxies, can this be done ?
     
   

Comets & Planets
Beginner   How Can I Obtain Information about Planets to Enhance My Viewing ?
Beginner   Can I print a list of the Planet Rise and Set times ?
Beginner   What time will the Great Red Spot on Jupiter be visible ?
Beginner   How do I Print an Ephemeris of the Planets ?
Intermediate   I'm going planetary observing next week, where will the Moons of Jupiter be ?
Intermediate   What can I learn about Comets in STAR Atlas:PRO ?
How to Find the Brightest Comets
How to Plot the Path of a Comet
How to Download the latest Comet Orbital Elements
Intermediate   How do I update the Longitude of the Great Red Spot on Jupiter ?
Advanced   How do I Print an Ephemeris for the Comet of my choice ?
Advanced   Can I display the positions of Jupiter's Moons in real-time ?
Advanced   Can I animate Jupiter's Moons back and forward through time ?
     
   

Double & Variable Stars
Advanced   How do I search for Double & Multiple Stars that have a particular brightness range ?
Advanced   Can I search for Variable Stars that exhibit particular brightness ranges and variability periods ?
Advanced   Can I list the Stars discovered by Hipparcos to be Variable, and can I list only ones in a certain Magnitude range ?
     
   

Observation Planning
Intermediate   How do I add objects to the Observation Planner ?
Intermediate   How do I use the Observation Planner to find Target Objects for tonight's Observing?
Intermediate   How Can I Use The Observation List Generator And What Can I Obtain From It ?
     
   

Astronomical Images
Intermediate   Can you add your own Images ?
Intermediate   How Do I Attach My Own Pictures To Celestial Objects And How Many Can I Add ?
Intermediate   How to use the Palomar Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) Interface ?
Intermediate   How do I download DSS Pictures of objects that interest me and make them the size that is best for me ?
Intermediate   Can I have more than one DSS picture of an object attached to that object ?
     

Telescope Control
Beginner How do I setup the Telescope driver for my automated Telescope ?
Beginner How do I setup the Telescope Driver Options - Comms Timeout, Chart Update Interval ?
Beginner How do I setup the Telescope Driver Options - COM: Port, Baud rate ?
Intermediate How do I control my automated Telescope using STAR Atlas:PRO™ ?
Intermediate If I know the designation of an object, can I get STAR Atlas:PRO™ to slew my scope straight too it ?
Intermediate How can I slew my scope to individual objects when they are clustered together ?
Intermediate Can I slew my telescope with it's own controls and Track where it is pointing ?
Intermediate   I have entered all my Eyepieces with their respective Apparent Field of Views.  
How do I get the chart to display the actual FOV where the Telescope is pointing ?
     
   

Digital Setting Circles (DSC)
Beginner   How do I set up and use the Argo Navis™ so it will work with STAR Atlas:PRO™ and what can I expect to see ?
Intermediate   How Do I display the Argo Navis™ Internal Temperature & Encoder Step Positions ?
Advanced   I’ve Stored Dozens of Objects in the Observation Planner, Can I Download Them into my Argo Navis™ ?
Intermediate   I have entered all my Eyepieces with their respective Apparent Field of Views.  
How do I get the chart to display the actual FOV where the Telescope is pointing ?
     
   

Settings, Options & Configuration
Beginner   How do I setup the Geographical Location and Time Zone that I am in ?
Beginner   When I installed STAR Atlas:PRO™ said I need to install SAP / INET
Beginner   What is Pixel Mode and How do I use it ?
     
   

Hardware & Telescope Configuration
Beginner   How do I set up and use the Argo Navis™ (NGC-superMAX™) so it will work with STAR Atlas:PRO™ and what can I expect to see ?
Beginner How do I setup the Telescope driver for my automated Telescope ?
Advanced   Where do I find details on making a cable to connect my computer and telescope ?
     
   

Program Installation & Requirements
Beginner   Is 800x600 the best screen resolution to run STAR Atlas:PRO™ ?
Beginner   What type of computer do I need to run STAR Atlas:PRO™ ?
Beginner   What type of computer do I need to run STAR Atlas:PRO™ ADVANCED Edition ?
Beginner   How much Hard Drive space do I require to install STAR Atlas:PRO™ ?
Beginner   Does STAR Atlas:PRO™ run on a laptop computer ?
Beginner   Does STAR Atlas:PRO™ work when it's installed on a compressed hard drive ?