Deep Sky Browser Lite
| Category | Price | Seller | Device |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reference | Free | Astro Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
Now it also functions as Digital Setting Circles. Just connect it to Astro Devices' Nexus or one of supported encoder interface boxes, do a two star alignment and Deep Sky Browser will show where to move the telescope to locate the selected object. Or use it with Nexus and ServoCAT for full GOTO functionality.
Deep Sky Browser Lite is an invaluable tool for observations planning and identifying objects at the eyepiece. The displayed object's position can be used to locate the object using telescope's setting circles.
The images are loaded from a DSS server and cached automatically. The built-in database of Deep Sky Browser Lite contains objects from two popular catalogues: Caldwell and Messier.
Object lists can be adjusted to only show objects that have magnitude brighter than the specified magnitude. Image field size can also be adjusted.
Deep Sky Browser Lite also displays the current position of the selected object in the sky that is updated in real time. Additional information is also displayed for the selected object:
- Rise time
- Set time
- Transit time
- Today's visibility graph
- Yearly visibility graph
- Page number for Uranometria 2000, 2nd edition
- SIMBAD id
- surface brightness
Proper 'night mode' can be activated during the night observing.
*Please note that an Internet connection is required to download DSS images.
Reviews
Cache Does Not Work
Bozocity
Still after March 2014 update, must reload images every time app is opened. App can not load images from cache after closing and reopening, despite 8MB cache meter suggesting they remain installed. Renders WiFi only devices useless in the field. Eats airtime over cellular connection, or similarly renders phone useless at remote site out of range of towers. Why? Prior Review: Too Slow Every Time * The app installs without any images. These are downloaded from a server, either individually or in bulk. Either way, the images are far oversized and slow to install. Worse, the are not saved upon quitting, so one must endure the download every time the app loads. Astronomy apps with far larger databases of images download complete and ready for use. This app might be interesting if it followed that model. It's too bad, because the pictures are good. None of this flashy false-color stuff, but actual black-and-whites showing what you might see at the eyepiece.
