Is there a program or website that has an online astronomical starfinder?

Question

Is there a program or website that has an online astronomical starfinder?

I used StarryNight's apple widget the other day and it was an excellent little program to help find things - is there any simple starfinder type program availible anywhere on the internet that can show you what stars are up in the sky at a specific time like this widget for us Vista users?

Answer 1

Planetarium programs like "Cartes du ciel" ( which doesn't work on all PC's) and "Hello Northern sky"( which has always worked for me), are by far the best freeware programs for the purpose you mentioned.
These are very accurate and versatile programs to show you what the sky looks like at any date, any time.
You simply enter your location, the date and time and it will show you exactly what the sky looks like from your House. You can even print out the screen and get an accurate star chart which you can use to take outside to your telescope to help you locate and find objects in the sky.
When you click on an object on the screen, a galaxy for example, it will give you a description of the object such as it's brightness, size, and lots of other info.
The top of the line of these programs are the commercial Planetarium programs which will have tons of objects and info and are capable of comtrolling you Telescope from your laptop and the features go on and on,
Try one of the freeware programs and I think you will find them fascinating and informative.

Adolph

Answer 2

Try: Cartes du Ciel
It's similar to most of the commercial programs, but it's completely free and un-handicapped. This is the program I use.

Answer 3

This for naked-eye objects at the location you enter:

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/skychart/?c=y&page=1

This one for more detailed maps that can be customised in many ways:

http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/

Answer 4

have you tried Heavens above?
http://www.heavens-above.com