My favorite Computer Programs:
These are my favorite computer programs which used as observing guides and information references. Also, programs for web site building.
Mars Previewer II
The have to have program for Mars observing especially opposition on July 2001 and the best opposition on August 2003. Mars features & its names can be displayed when mouse point to. it is free ware, down load at Sky & Telescope Magazine
Planetarium Gold
I use this program as a Planisphere. before go out to observe, I check in this program and find out the interesting targets also, its meridian transit time for the best observing condition (minimize atmosphere turbulent and light polluted effect). It is very easy planetarium program.
M++
This program can be used to verify with my sketches as the FOV is 1 degree quite same as my observing FOV at 40x (eyepiece 25mm for 1000mm focal length telescope) ,but stars can't be filtered out to match light polluted sky condition. It can be free down loaded from download.com, size 40MB !
RedShift
It is powerful program, can display stars down to magnitude 11.7 and can be filtered stars to match to sky condition at observing site. I used RedShift to compare/confirm whit my observations.
Starry night
Very nice graphic program but limit to magnitude 8.5 (backyard version) I decided to buy due to its accurate, when I observed M103 and compared with sketch, It showed correct position but RedShift showed error position.

My programs:
Input in yellow cell(s), program will give result in blue cell(s)
Magnitude Calculation for comparing stars luminosity.
Angular Size Calculation for objects apparent size.
Observing record form I modified from STARWARE.
Surface Brightness Calculation for comparing how hard to observe big object such as galaxies.
Telescope & Eyepiece Performance for calculation total performance between telescopes & Eyepieces
Redshift Calculation :Shows relation of Object distance, its Velocity and Redshift.
Moon mountain for observing and calculation its height. Galileo used this same method on 17th century.
Observing window My calculation shows the observing window is 20 degree above horizon which the thickness of turbulent atmosphere layer has no significantly deviate from zenith area.
Great Red Spot movement GRS always drift, the movement is 1,150 Kilometer per 1 degree.
GRS max movement During Jan-Mar'2002, I observed GRS drifting and calculated maximum movement at 4,000 Kilometer
Moonless night The moonless night is estimated as 6 days from new moon. The best time for Deep-Sky Object observing.
Parallax The limitation of distance finding by parallax method is depend on resolution of instrument
Temp-vs-Altitude Temperature profile from sea level to 10 Kilometer altitude. Recorded from a return flight to Bangkok.
Sky Survey A sky survey mission at rate 2 minute / square degree seem to be need 2 years to cover total area of celestial sphere
Under stand why the sun's shadow is 110 times longer than the width of the shadow caster. refer to Computing the Moon's distance by Cambridge Physics Outlet
Computing visual limiting magnitude of a telescope, refer to Sky & Telescope, November, 1989, page 522.
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