When did Stellarium become the know all see all of star gazing?

reply to post by jra


Totally agree.
Free and easy. Reliable. I really dig the ability to see what Birds will be orbiting over my location.
And to zoom in on planets to the point where the major moon orbits can be seen.
I've had it on my PC's for a while. And literally installed it on my Mac just last night.
Most of my backyard astronomy of late, has been done with naked eye, Time exposures with camera, and 10x binoculars...No telescope at the moment

I would consider programs like Google Earth and Stellarium baseline tools to understand what we see in the night skies, different locations on earth and beyond, etc..... at the same time I'm not one to put my 150% faith into these programs.... cause these programs are not for the unknown.....

Until the government discloses fully the info that they're covering up (will NEVER happen)... or you witness these unknowns then you cannot rely on programs like Stellarium and Google Earth to give you the "all seeing eye".... just keep them eyes open along with your mind... research.... come to your own conclusions... but remember that what may be perceived today, may not have been perceived yesterday. To put a perception on whats to come with the future is silly.... that's the one TRUE unknown... take life for what it is.... ....along with science because the rules are not written in stone, but rather glass... you can see it clearly but it can be "cracked" and "shattered"... and then replaced with newer, stronger, and clearer glass. We learn/discover something everyday.... and this is just what they drip feed us.. this is not including the countless things that have not disclosed that could probably leap us ahead a century.... BIG MONEY TALKS, and the fat kats are GREEDY.... They also seem to equate unknown with fear.... sad sad misconceptions...

Enough rambling though.....

reply to post by busterbunni

I'm not sure what you mean other than maybe you do think Google Earth is completely honest, nothing ever changes in the universe outside of our limited and dated knowledge (there are no other planets, no new meteors or asteroids, everything is predictable), and maybe even you think that contemplating something you don't agree with is blasphemy.

I don't understand your objection or your comparison. Neither GoogleEarth nor Stellarium is anything more than a map. They only contain the information programmed into their databases. Stellarium can calculate the positions of various objects as seen from different locations at different moments in time. GoogleEarth can locate any point on Earth and provide images of various degrees of magnification at a single moment in time. There are no buildings visible on GoogleEarth that were not yet built when Google's last overflight recorded the images they are using for that location. Stellarium does not show newly discovered objects until you program their ephemerides into the database yourself.

The reason why people suggest using Stellarium if you see a bright light in the sky is because, nine times out of ten, if it's not an airplane, it's probably something already in the Stellarium database, allowing you to identify it. If you use Stellarium and it's not already there, you have discovered something new. Stellarium is a useful tool if you understand what it is for.

Edit to add: I like to use screenshots from Sky View Cafe in posts because of their simple graphic style. It makes the identification much more easily comprehended.

Originally posted by LaughingatHumanity
reply to post by busterbunni

 

What exactly does that concept have to do with an amateur sky watchers piece of software? You keep grasping at straws. The known objects in the sky change daily, amateur and professional astronomers alike make new discoveries daily.

How relevant are such discoveries or objects no amateur would ever see to such a piece of free software. How realistic would it be to incorporate such a mass into a piece of free amateur software.

You are convincing me you are devoid of simple reason and should be left to ponder the inane without attempts at clarity.

Hostile much? It's going to be ok man, not everyone in life is going to agree with you... breathe.

Originally posted by DJW001
reply to post by busterbunni

 

I'm not sure what you mean other than maybe you do think Google Earth is completely honest, nothing ever changes in the universe outside of our limited and dated knowledge (there are no other planets, no new meteors or asteroids, everything is predictable), and maybe even you think that contemplating something you don't agree with is blasphemy.

I don't understand your objection or your comparison. Neither GoogleEarth nor Stellarium is anything more than a map. They only contain the information programmed into their databases. Stellarium can calculate the positions of various objects as seen from different locations at different moments in time. GoogleEarth can locate any point on Earth and provide images of various degrees of magnification at a single moment in time. There are no buildings visible on GoogleEarth that were not yet built when Google's last overflight recorded the images they are using for that location. Stellarium does not show newly discovered objects until you program their ephemerides into the database yourself.

The reason why people suggest using Stellarium if you see a bright light in the sky is because, nine times out of ten, if it's not an airplane, it's probably something already in the Stellarium database, allowing you to identify it. If you use Stellarium and it's not already there, you have discovered something new. Stellarium is a useful tool if you understand what it is for.

Edit to add: I like to use screenshots from Sky View Cafe in posts because of their simple graphic style. It makes the identification much more easily comprehended.

edit on 15-10-2011 by DJW001 because: (no reason given)

I was referring to his/her saying "Good job grasping at straws of paranoia to a laughable degree. ", paranoia to some people is anything they don't believe to be true. I don't believe my point of view is the only legitimate one, I also don't believe everything other people tell me to.

reply to post by busterbunni


Ok we get it. You dislike Stellarium. What do you use? Why (if you use Anything) is it better?

How can you "trust" the info you use? Couldn't it be part of a gigantic worldwide conspiracy too? And all those amateur astronomers and star gazers around the world? -- All conspiring to feed You false info, right?

:shk:

Originally posted by busterbunni
If you aren't even allowed to see everything that is on our planets surface why do people believe they would be allowed to see everything that is outside of our atmosphere?

Because they just have to look up.

The biggest difference is that most people cannot fly over Earth places to compare them with what they see on Google Earth, so while Google Earth (and other products offering similar images) can cover up areas that are considered "sensitive" for some reason, nobody (expect the weather) can cover part of the sky to stop you from seeing it.

You just have to look at the sky and compare it with Stellarium (or any other software like that, or even a paper chart) to see if they look like they should.

Originally posted by busterbunni
Try asking anyone on here a question about the stars and see how many times people respond with check Stellarium...

If you ask "how do I put a nail in a wall" most people will give you the same answer, "use a hammer".

reply to post by busterbunni

I don't believe my point of view is the only legitimate one, I also don't believe everything other people tell me to.

lol what? Just sit down, your thread has been answered, so unless you need anything else, let this die.

reply to post by busterbunni


I believe you are confused about the purposes of both system tools you mentioned in the OP. I also fail to see a point made about using Stellarium in the OP. Maybe you thought you made one but to me it is absent.

reply to post by Chamberf=6


I attempt to use an unbiased outlook, try to use an ever changing mentality and take into account others experience combined with what my government (schools) told me to believe. Somewhere in the middle there is a truth of sorts I guess... debate seems to spark hostility here.. lots of I'm right you aren't so you are all right! Congratulations.

What's going on in here?.
OP get a life, or an education!

reply to post by rigel4


No hostility at all in that one...

reply to post by busterbunni


Again...what? Where have people attacked you? I can see a little bit of trolling but no attacks..

reply to post by busterbunni


ok....

You didn't answer any of my questions....

Plus where is the "debate"?? You asked a question and many people answered you. You don't seem to accept any of those answers, instead inferring that Stellarium is lying to people....

Originally posted by Chamberf=6
reply to post by busterbunni

 

Ok we get it. You dislike Stellarium. What do you use? Why (if you use Anything) is it better?

How can you "trust" the info you use? Couldn't it be part of a gigantic worldwide conspiracy too? And all those amateur astronomers and star gazers around the world? -- All conspiring to feed You false info, right?

:shk:

edit on 10/15/2011 by Chamberf=6 because: (no reason given)

I don't "trust" any specific source, which is why I was suprised to read that so many people rely on one source for all of their information, that seems stranger to me than asking questions to get more info.

Originally posted by Nobama
reply to post by busterbunni

 

Again...what? Where have people attacked you? I can see a little bit of trolling but no attacks..

quote]Originally posted by rigel4
What's going on in here?.
OP get a life, or an education!



No kind of attacking at all happening...

Pfffft

Where are you going with this thread?
It serves no useful purpose.
Ask the mods nicely to delete it from existence.

reply to post by busterbunni

I don't "trust" any specific source,

So you rely on Your eyes only? Or do you not even trust yourself? Is the universe an illusion to you?

Stellarium is FREE AND Informative and easy to use. That is why it is recommended. Why does that bother you?

Delete it, forget it, go on with your life. I didn't realize maybe how unsuited people are to realize different people have different outlooks. All discussions are debates in a way, used to collect new information, of which I am not getting any from this. I do know this, I'll never post a thread on here again.