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Deep-Sky Planner
  Observation Planning & Logging Software for Astronomers

Features

Links By Observing Interest:

■ deep-sky objects
■ variable stars
■ double stars
■ carbon stars
■ comets
■ minor planets (asteroids)
■ planets/sun/moon
■ darkness

■ observing log
(photo & visual)
■ star charting
■ telescope control

Links By General Interest:

■ User interface
■ Custom reporting
■ Documentation
■ Accuracy
■ Tech Details

Product Information

Deep-Sky Planner is an astronomy software package for Windows that helps visual observers and astro-imagers plan their observations, and to log and manage the results.  Deep-Sky Planner was released initially in 1994; the current version (4) was released in August 2005.  The current version is already in use all over the world - from New South Wales to Manitoba, Hawaii to the Channel Islands.

Deep-Sky Planner can meet the needs of any astronomer, from beginner to professional, because ease of use, high accuracy and reliability have been engineered into the product.

• Telescope control and real-time feedback from telescope/digital setting circles using ASCOM.  Learn more...
  Click here to see a slide show demonstration.
• Star chart interoperability with leading planetarium software packages.  Learn more...
  Click here to see a slide show demonstration.
• Time Service function to synchronize your computer's clock to an accurate Internet time server. 
• Night vision (red) mode.
• Approved for use with Windows Vista.  Read more in a Deep-Sky Planner White Paper

Currently supported planetarium software products include:

Why Deep-Sky Planner is different ...

• Astronomical software doesn't have to be hard to use.  Deep-Sky Planner packages it's power behind familiar Windows presentation techniques - catalog search reports, ephemeris reports and logged observation reports are all treated like documents that can be saved, re-opened, printed or exported.  Observations and observing locations are managed like Windows Explorer manages files.  Although the product has a relational database, users need no special database knowledge to harness its power - it's all seamlessly integrated.  Finally, the product includes thorough user documentation that is both fully searchable and printable, and technical support is free.  There is also a discussion group where registered users can ask questions.
   
• The observing log is specifically designed for convenient workflow at the telescope or anytime thereafter - the software learns which observing session and equipment you are using as you enter observations so that your workflow is optimized.  Keeping a log of your observations requires a big investment in your time, but the benefits of being able to search and report them any time is at least as great.  If you are concerned about investing a lot of time building an automated log that is locked away in a proprietary database, have no fear!  The observing log in Deep-Sky Planner 4 is electronically portable in 2 ways: either as HTML or text reports, or as import/export files.  The log management feature helps you to select observations for exporting, and conversely, files for importing.  The definition of import/export files is stored inside each file so that they can be understood by many other programs, including Microsoft Excel 2003, for example.  Technically, these are XML files with embedded schema.
   
• Deep-Sky Planner focuses on planning and logging features, giving them primary development and support attention.  Now Deep-Sky Planner can interoperate with several leading planetarium packages giving you extensive planning capability and the very best star charting and planetarium functions working together.

Other typical concerns about any software:

• lack of (or inaccurate) documentation - Deep-Sky Planner includes comprehensive, context sensitive, online help, and a getting started tutorial.  Both are delivered as fully searchable HTML help and as Adobe Acrobat files (pdf).  The help is thorough and up to date.  You can print it or search it any time. (Note: Windows Vista does NOT support the older WinHelp help system, but will support HTML Help.  Does your existing astronomy software use WinHelp?)
   
• customer NO service - you can expect to get replies to help requests directly from the author, usually within 24 hours of submission.  Feature requests are gladly received and considered.  Orders are usually processed and shipped within 24 hours of receipt.  Excellent customer service is a commitment you get with Deep-Sky Planner.

And finally, some recent comments about the software and customer service/ support:

"This software is a tremendous value and represents development time,
effort, and innovation that I can't begin to imagine."
- John O, Pennsylvania

"I am using DSP for about a month now, first to prepare my CCD sessions: my scope
being installed beneath a roof window, I have a very narrow field of view and
careful planning is critical especially in spring, when the nights get shorter
and galaxies quickly move out of my shooting frame.
But I use it also -and mostly- to log my observations and thus keep a data base
of my CCD images. Finally, I use it to prepare the htm pages for my web site.
The software is quite complete for my purposes..."
- Michel B, France

"Thanks again for your great program, your help and your patience."
- Andrew S, Australia

"Thank you for your very fast response.  You really do have a good product and your service is "stellar." "
- Chuck A, Iowa

Deep-Sky Observers

(Click to see a list of deep-sky catalogs)

Deep-Sky Planner allows you to search through a database of over 155,000 deep-sky objects from 23 catalogs and report results in a tabular format.  In addition to essential object data, the contents of a report can be configured to include or exclude common names (over 1,500 included), catalog cross references (over 94,200 included), chart references from 5 supported atlases, altitude and azimuth at a requested date & time,  rise/set/transit/best time to observe for a requested date, and whether or not the object has been observed.

Deep-sky catalog search criteria include:

• object designation, including range of object numbers or object name with wildcard pattern matching
• common name of object, e.g., search NGC for 'Owl nebula'
• whether ever viewable at your latitude
• magnitude range
• angular size range
• object type(s)
• constellation(s)
• sky position (on a chart from 5 supported atlases, within a range of altitudes and azimuths, or within a radius of an equatorial position)
• viewing time (up during the date's astronomical darkness or during a user-specified time period)
• whether observed

The results can be sorted by any one or more of these search criteria.

You can also:

• compute altitude and azimuth of objects at specified date & time
• slew your GO TO telescope to the object (or sync the telescope position with the object)
• show a star chart centered on the object (using TheSky, Starry Night or Cartes du Ciel)
• view a graph of any reported object's altitude over time on the specified date
• view all common names and cross references for any reported object
• view your logged observations of any reported object
• add an observation to your log for any reported object
• print or save reports as formatted text or HTML

Click to see a slide show demonstrating planning for a Messier Marathon

  Example report in HTML format shows a search of Caldwell objects above the horizon during astronomical darkness on the evening of 04 July 2005 and sorted by best observing time.

Star Observers

(Click to see a list of stellar catalogs)

The database contains over 148,200 stellar objects from 3 catalogs - carbon stars, binary/multiple stars and variable stars.  Searching stellar catalogs works very similarly to deep-sky catalogs except that the search criteria do not include angular size and object type, but instead include:

• angular separation for binary & multiple stars
• spectral type(s)
• variable type(s) - includes major types (e.g. pulsating) and all subtypes (RR Lyrae, etc)
• variability period

The database includes:

• over 2,500 cross references between stellar catalogs
• over 1,800 common names of cataloged stars

You can also:

• compute altitude and azimuth of objects at specified date & time
• slew your GO TO telescope to the object (or sync the telescope position with the object)
• show a star chart centered on the object (using TheSky, Starry Night or Cartes du Ciel)
• view a graph of any reported object's altitude over time on the specified date
• view all common names and cross references for any reported object
• view your logged observations of any reported object
• add an observation to your log for any reported object
• print or save reports as formatted text or HTML

Click to see a slide show demonstrating a search for Variable Stars

Click to see a slide show demonstrating a search for Double Stars

  Example report shows a search of bright red variable stars above the horizon during astronomical darkness on the evening of 04 July 2005 and sorted by best observing time.

Comet and Minor Planet Observers

Orbital Elements Manager 

Up-to-date orbital elements are required to compute accurate data for comets and minor planets but getting correct orbital elements is often tedious or confusing.  Deep-Sky Planner addresses this with an innovative data management feature that acquires and maintains orbital elements.  You can download updated orbital elements for groups of objects, or enter elements manually for any object, including newly discovered ones.  You can also determine when you last updated an object's elements.  Read more in a Deep-Sky Planner White Paper

Reports

Deep-Sky Planner provides 2 reporting capabilities for comets and minor planets: ephemeris calculations for selected objects over time, or searching for objects that meet your observing criteria for a specified date .  The reported data includes position, predicted magnitude, solar elongation, phase, rise/set/transit and best time to view.

You can also:

• add an observation to your log for any reported object
• view your logged observations of any reported object
• view a graph of any reported object's altitude over time on the specified date
• slew your GO TO telescope to the object (or sync the telescope position with the object)
• show a star chart centered on the object (using TheSky, Starry Night or Cartes du Ciel)
• print or save reports as formatted text or HTML

Example report shows an ephemeris for Comet C/2006 P1 (McNaught) during the week of opposition.

Example report shows a search for minor planets brighter than magnitude 10 visible during astronomical darkness on the evening of 10 January 2007.

Planetary Observers

Deep-Sky Planner provides planetary ephemeris calculations (meaning position, magnitude, size, etc.) and 2 styles of reporting for the major planets, sun and moon.  The verbose style is useful for viewing detailed information for an object at a specific time, e.g., physical ephemeris data for sun, moon, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn; the other more compact style is useful for reporting changes to an object over time, e.g, motion, magnitude or size.

You can calculate these ephemerides for an interval that you define over any range of date & time, but calculations lose accuracy in the distant past or future.  Motion of each object over time is also calculated and reported.

Similarly, you can calculate and report the date & time of planetary phenomena (events) over a range of date & time.  These phenomena include solar & lunar eclipses, lunar phases, greatest elongations (inferior planets), conjunctions/oppositions, aphelions/perihelions, equinoxes/solstices (sun).

You can also:

• add an observation to your log for any reported object
• view your logged observations of any reported object
• view a graph of any reported object's altitude over time on the specified date
• slew your GO TO telescope to the object (or sync the telescope position with the object)
• show a star chart centered on the object (using TheSky, Starry Night or Cartes du Ciel)
• print or save reports as formatted text or HTML

  Example report shows a detailed ephemeris of Saturn near opposition in January 2006.

  Example report shows a brief ephemeris of Mercury near greatest elongation in September 2007.

Darkness Analysis

You can calculate and report the times of astronomical darkness (meaning that the sun is at least 18° below the horizon and the moon is down) over a range of dates.  Times of sun rise/set, moon rise/set and moon phase are included.  Darkness reports may be presented in either tabular text or graphically  .  You can print or save reports as formatted text or HTML.

Many astronomical software products incorrectly report that the moon rises or sets on dates when in fact it does not.  Deep-Sky Planner accurately reports no moon rise or set for these dates.

  Example report shows darkness text report for the month of July 2005.

Observation Logging

An Observer's Log is provided that is integrated with the deep-sky, star, comet, minor planet, planet ephemeris and planet events reports.  You can click on any object in a report and show past observations of the object or add a new observation of the object to the log.  The deep-sky, star, comet and minor planet search reports permit searching for observed and unobserved objects.

About the Observing Log

• log entries include name of observer, name of object, date & time of observation (local or universal), observing location, sky conditions, equipment (instrument, eyepiece, optical filter, barlow/tele-compressor, camera, device-assisted), rating, optional image, and observation notes.  Add, delete, edit, and view all data in the observing log.
• Observation Browser    shows essential catalog data for any observation of an object that appears in the database
• search the observing log   by object name, observer, equipment, date and time of observation, observing location, rating, and whether an image is attached
• specify multiple sort options for a single search
• search results may be printed or saved as formatted text or HTML
• magnification and true field are calculated for visual observations
• field of view and image scale are calculated for photographic observations

Observing Project Manager  

The new Observing Project Manager helps organize your visual and photographic observations.  The Observing Project Manager allows you to manage your observations much like the Windows Explorer allows you to manage your files, supporting drag & drop, cut & paste, etc.

• visually organize your observations into projects
• share an observation among one or more projects
• delete projects without disturbing observations
• import observations from a file
• select observations and export to a file

The observation import/export facility allows you to share your observations with other users, use them in other software, or store them elsewhere for safekeeping.  You can also use the Export to HTML feature to post observations to the Web.

Updating or upgrading Deep-Sky Planner maintains your observing log and equipment information automatically.

Telescope Control

You can slew your telescope to any reported object in Deep-Sky Planner or synchronize the coordinates of your telescope or DSC to the position of any reported object.

Deep-Sky Planner gives you more than just GO TO telescope control.  You can:

• view the real-time position, time and local sidereal time reported by your telescope/DSC
• synchronize your telescope's latitude & longitude with your favorite location in Deep-Sky Planner (or vice versa)
• synchronize your telescope's time with your PC's system time (or vice versa)
• park, un-park and set telescope parking position
• home your telescope
• abort a slewing operation
• start and stop tracking

Star Chart / Planetarium Product Interoperability

Deep-Sky Planner interoperates with several leading planetarium software products giving you the very best star charting capability available.  You can center any supported planetarium product's display on any object reported by Deep-Sky Planner.  The reported object does not have to be in the database of the planetarium product for the display to move to the object's position.

Supported products include:

• Cartes du Ciel version 2.7 or later, by Patrick Chevalley
• Redshift™ version 6.0 or later, by Maris Technologies
• Starry Night® version 4.5 or later, by Imaginova
• TheSky6™ by Software Bisque

Standard Windows User Interface

Because usability is critical for software, one of the most important features of Deep-Sky Planner is it's user interface.  It is designed following Microsoft's logo guidelines for Windows products, so it has the consistent look and feel that you expect of Windows products.  Using it is easy and straightforward.

In Deep-Sky Planner, you open a document which displays the parameters you might need to request a calculation for planetary information or to search deep-sky and stellar catalogs.  Different types of documents accommodate different types of requests.  Once you have set the parameters, you perform the search or calculation and the result is presented in the same document window.  You can edit the parameters and repeat the process as desired, and the parameters can be saved to a file for future use.  You can print the document (including the reported data), save it as formatted text or formatted HTML.  You can even open multiple documents at once which is nice for researching more complex situations.  In fact, you can open and use multiple copies of the same document so that you can explore what-if scenarios.

There are many convenience features included that are typical of Windows products: a customizable tool bar, tool buttons for nearly every product function, tool button tips, re-sizeable multi-pane document windows, most-recently used file list, and context-sensitive HTML help.  The product interacts well with the Windows Explorer, providing document drag and drop, and support for Windows Explorer document commands* (open, print, Export to Text, Export to HTML).  The product may be installed on a single machine for all users or for individual user accounts. Each user account has its own set of data files.

*Explorer document commands are the actions that appear on the context menu for a file item in Windows Explorer when you right click it, or run when you double-click a file item.

Customized Reporting

Deep-Sky Planner permits customization of reports whether the report is displayed on screen, printed or exported to HTML or formatted text.  Customizations include data formatting, report content formatting and report layout formatting.

Report Content Formatting

Many data items can be excluded from reports.  For example, Deep-Sky Planner includes chart cross references for Sky Atlas 2000, Uranometria 2000 (first and second editions), Millennium Star Atlas and Herald-Bobroff AstroAtlas.  Any of these may be excluded from reports.

There is also a Print Saver feature that omits page headings from all printed reports.

Report Layout Formatting

Most reports are presented as tabular text.  The columns can be resized individually for optimal viewing and printing or you can use the Optimize feature which calculates the minimum column size necessary for each column's content (resizing does not affect HTML and plain text reports.)

Documentation

Deep-Sky Planner provides a Getting Started Tutorial help file and a comprehensive main help file.  The tutorial is designed to get new users started as quickly as possible.  The extensive main help file is a full user's reference.  Both help files are provided in HTML Help format which allows you to use the Full Text Searching facility.  Both are also included in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format.

Deep-Sky Planner provides context sensitive help for all menus, dialog boxes, and document windows.  These are accessed by pressing F1 or by pressing the Help button in each document or dialog box.

Astronomical Algorithms and Accuracy

Deep-Sky Planner uses the software library that accompanies Jean Meeus' Astronomical Algorithms.  A few problems in that software have been found and fixed in Deep-Sky Planner.

The accuracy of deep-sky and stellar data relies on the original catalogs: size, magnitude, etc are taken directly from the catalogs; positions are precessed to epoch and mean equinox of J2000.0 where necessary.

The accuracy of calculated data has received special attention. Calculated data include planetary events and ephemerides, and rise, set, transit times and angles for deep-sky and stellar data.  The accuracy of each type of calculation is documented so that users can be confident in the quality of the calculations.

Technical Details

DSP was designed from the beginning (1991) using object-oriented techniques, and takes extensive advantage of object-oriented design patterns and programming.  Requirements analysis, UML design and automated testing round out the engineering effort.  Automated bug tracking and source code control help to manage the fallout.

Version 4 is a complete re-write of the previous version.  The redesign makes use of several newer technologies that will enable further growth of the product.  For example, the flat custom database used in previous versions has been replaced by a relational database.  Even though the new database offers increased power and flexibility, there is still no need for users to use SQL in the program.  In fact, a primary design goal was to obscure the presence of a relational database by making the user-interface interact with it seamlessly.

The DSP application has been developed over a period of 18 years and contains nearly 100,000 lines of C++ source code.  Python scripts and the DUnit framework support development and testing.

Most development occurs on a 3 GHz Pentium 4 machine running Windows XP.  In-house testing occurs on this machine, an 800 MHz Pentium 3 notebook running Windows XP, a 667 MHz Celeron machine running Windows 2000 and a 1.73 GHz Core 2 Duo notebook running Windows Vista.  The test team uses a variety of desktop and notebook computers.