Now with ASCOM Client /Server!
- Plan, Plot, Chart and Log your observations using over 200,000 objects and 70 Million stars!
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NGCView 6.2 Now with ASCOM Client /Server! |
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New to version 6.2
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Control your LX200 Telescope and access the NGCView data engine directly using Visual Basic or other COM capable program using NGCView's ASCOM interfaces. |
What is NGCView?
NGCView is a software tool for the astronomical observer. If you own a telescope, you'll want to own NGCView.
Why use NGCView?
Many planetarium programs are great for armchair astronomy and will show you detailed descriptions of what is in a particular portion of the sky, but does this really help you to decide what to look at with your telescope or binoculars?
If you already own or use planetarium software or are considering a purchase, ask yourself the following questions:
NGCView can do all these things and more. It can work with your existing planetarium software, like TheSky from Software Bisque, or by itself. You can use it at the telescope, with or without the CD-ROM, or simply print your observing list, complete with finder charts, and leave your computer at home.
Specifications:
With CD-ROM in drive (or 550MB file transfered to Hard Drive):
Without CD-ROM in drive:
Please review our Product information (below) and quick tour for further information...
NGCView version 6 was released in May, 1999, and is the sixth release in as many years. Since 1993, Rainman Software has continued to provide astronomical tools that fill the holes left by the plethora of planetarium programs. You'll find many features that aren't available in any other program, great customer support and a company that is responsive to your needs.
While NGCView can be installed on a 486 class machine with minimal RAM, we think you'll find this a bit too sluggish. We recommend the following minimum configuration for comfortable use:
Regarding customer service-
"You did it again, Rainman; tops in user friendly deep sky observing software and unparalleled in support for your product. Muchas gracias, amigo,"
--S. Andreski 1/28/99Regarding the latest version 6 features...
"I'd like to thank Rainman Software for donating a copy of NGC View as a doorprize at RTMC. Why? Because I won it, and I've been working with it over that past couple days! I think the program is great, and is actually quite helpful to me. While I can't quite see most galaxies or other NGC objects with my own personal telescope (a 3.5" Maksutov, the expensive kind), I volunteer for the Telescopes in Education program on Mt. Wilson and routinely interface with classes who are supposed to have a viewing list created before they start imaging with our remotely operated 24" telescope.
If students and teachers had this program to help them make their viewing lists, they could filter objects for time of night, altitude, type, size, magnitude, constellation and then sort the objects by rising/setting, which is what we want them to do before they come on line (and never do). Using this program to define their observing list would greatly increase the number of images they could get during their session! Right now, a class typically slews to one part of the sky, images, then slews to the opposite side, meanwhile we have to move the dome into a new position, which chews up their valuable imaging time! I'm going to recommend this software package to the teachers that come on-line with me, and I'm going to let others know about it within our group.
Thanks again for your donation, it found its way to the right person."
--B. Bartosh 6/2/99
Regarding Version 5...
"I've been a user of NGCView since mid-1996 and have been enjoying it and its upgrades ever since. I'm wondering what you have planned for the next
version (6.0 perhaps?).The main reason I chose NGCView over the other planning/logging programs out there at the time is that it had the Herschel 400 list built in as I enjoy working toward the Astronomical League's observing awards. I am hoping that in the future some of the awards lists (Urban Club, Binocular Deep Sky, Herschel II) could be added to NGCView in addition to the already present Messier, SAC 110, and Herschel 400 lists.
In addition to the Herschel 400 list, one of the main reasons I continue to use NGCView is I absolutely love its interface. I love having the object's data, altitude info, and a Telrad chart on the same screen (not to mention how much time those save at the scope printed out)."
--M. Rapp 5/23/99
"Very comprehensive manual....The software very easy to use...
A MUST for seasoned amateur astronomers as well as beginning astronomers."
--Mackey Brasher 2/8/99"I think it is great. It is something I have been looking for for a long time. One of the things I especially like is the "Telrad" target. I my opinion the greatest contribution to amateur astronomy was the "Telrad" at least for me. All things considered I am completely happy."
--G Donnely 11/30/98
The Demo is available for both versions 5 & 6.
Version 6 has too much data to place in a downloadable demo (unless you routinely download 600MB!). However, by removing the stellar data from mag 8-16.75, and removing the Washington Double Star catalog, we were able to reduce this down to 5 MB.
Version 5 demo is about half the size of the version 6 demo. This demo program is based on the previous version 5, and does not contain the PGC or large stellar data set. It is fairly easy to download (only 2.8MB) and will give you a good representation of NGCView's function. Unlike Version 6, the Version 5 demo is fully functional, and can be enabled after the trial period using a digital key. Not only is version 5 less expensive, you can save even more if you choose Internet distribution.
Send your email comments to ngcview@rainman-soft.com.