Skymap - How awesome is this ?

[anjou]

Ive recently bought an android smartphone and yesterday downloaded the google skymap.

Ive been awake half the night watching the planets moving around.

I would recomend this app to anyone. Ive taught myself more in the last 12 hours about the heavens than in all of the rest of my life

I cant tell you how excited I am. Jeezz im so sad, but at last im easily and cheaply entertained.
I wish I had got into stargazing and astro science when I was a kid cos ive missed out on so much

[mrlassiter]

Anjou, grab your binoculars and have a blast! I could spend hours under bios exploring the stars. Congratulations on finding a new interest!

[robertfraser]

damn these "Smart" gadgets....

it used to be I looked like A Wise and Learned Sage of The Cosmos, when I would announce, "look, Venus, on the horizon...."

Now, SWMBO just takes her DROID out, and checks my facts.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Now you have finished building the boat, maybe start on a rocket?!

[anjou]

Yeah, its so easy to google anything and be an instant expert.

David, ive got two problems, one is collecting enough black powder on my gun licence and the other is the heat shield.

If I delay the mission for a few years, i can accumulate the powder but the Kevlar insulation is going to cost way too much so im gonna work out a new trajectory so I can go at night when the sun isnt shining. That should keep the capsule cooler dont you think?

[Shanaly]

very cool - thanks for the celestial flag!

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by anjou

Ive recently bought an android smartphone and yesterday downloaded the google skymap.

Ive been awake half the night watching the planets moving around.

I would recomend this app to anyone. Ive taught myself more in the last 12 hours about the heavens than in all of the rest of my life

I cant tell you how excited I am. Jeezz im so sad, but at last im easily and cheaply entertained.
I wish I had got into stargazing and astro science when I was a kid cos ive missed out on so much

I agree. The Capt. we recently chartered with in the Windward Islands had the program on his phone. One of the few apps I would definetly get when I give up the Blackberry. IMO learning the stars is always good for a sailor to have in their skill set. At it's worst it's a great way to spend the evening in the cockpit.

[robertfraser]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

Now you have finished building the boat, maybe start on a rocket?!

not a bad idea....
after all she put up with, while I built the boat, I'm pretty sure she'd Be happier launching me into outer space next time.....

[Strait Shooter]

When I first discovered Skymap I was dumfounded. I sat up for half the night on deck watching stars and planets rise and set. The moon that night happened to be full and I watched on the phone as it approached the horizon and appeared over the trees right where and when the app said it would.

Amazing stuff..... Well to me anyway, but I'm easily amused.


John

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by anjou

David, ive got two problems, one is collecting enough black powder on my gun licence and the other is the heat shield.

If I delay the mission for a few years, i can accumulate the powder but the Kevlar insulation is going to cost way too much so im gonna work out a new trajectory so I can go at night when the sun isnt shining. That should keep the capsule cooler dont you think?

I'm no scientist, but sounds ok to me .

Go Now! - Go UP!

[bill352]

Tonight/tomorrow there will be a crescent moon near Jupiter and Venus, and on March 13th a 3 degree Venus/Jupiter conjunction.

[Cormorant]

Does Google's Sky Map work now offline (i.e. without wifi or 3G)? I know earlier versions had to have a connection of some sort to download the constellation info, which was not stored on the phone.

I have a similar Android app called "Star Chart." It stores all necessary information onboard your phone, so you can use it 100 miles out at sea if you wish.

One thing I've noticed with this app is it uses the phone's electronic compass and accelerometers to orient itself to the horizon. Every now and then if it seems a bit off, I go into the settings and recalibrate the compass. Then it's spot-on.

For this I use the "GPS Status" app > Tools > Compass calibration.

[Noname]

I think I'll invent a "sight reduction" app for the android so the electronic generation can do real celestial navigation. We're going to need it soon as I heard on the news today that gps jammers were now available on the internet.
The inexpensive jammers can foul up ships and planes, according to Fox News.

[belizesailor]

Had a guest aboard last year with a similar app on an Ipad -- way cool !

[anjou]

Originally Posted by bill352

Tonight/tomorrow there will be a crescent moon near Jupiter and Venus, and on March 13th a 3 degree Venus/Jupiter conjunction.

Now your talking. Ive also loaded a moon phase app and tonight its a waxing crescent, the first after last nights new moon