Well... Because App Lists Are So Cool Right Now!

The March issue of Sky and Telescope has a list of apps that many of their editors like. Well I read over their list and some I agree with some I don’t. So for this bonus blog post for January I thought I would tell you what is on my iPhone 5c as of January 31, 2015.

Sky Safari 4 Basic.... This is my app that I use for when out observing with binoculars or wanting to know where a comet might be before I go out that next morning. I downloaded this to replace Stellarium mostly because this app is way more powerful and frankly I was really miffed that Stellarium started charging money for their app in the App store. Sorry just don’t think it is all that good for the price, though nice if free.

Gas Giants... Basically tells you where the moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are. I like it can be done with telescope orientation. The eyepiece view is a little lacking though.

Jupiter Moons... I got this because Sky and Telescope puts it out, does what Gas Giants does, but I like the presentation a little better. Same goes for Saturn Moons too.

Mars Atlas.... A really cool atlas that will show you what Mars looks like in your scope when it is near opposition. I would say this is essential for figuring out what the dark features one is seeing.

Lunar Atlas.... Same as Mars Atlas but with the Moon. Obviously more useful since the Moon is more observable then Mars.

Satellite Safari... Basically like Sky Safari but focuses on satellites. Really cool, though it can be a little limited to due it’s database.

Sky Week Plus... Another S&T app. Nice. Gives a good event or two each night to observe.

SkyGuide.... Beautiful. Was a free download from Pick of The Week. Really glad I went to Starbucks that week. I use it from time to time.

Star Atlas... Meh, it is okay. I am a little disappointed with it. I was expecting more, but when you need an atlas on your iPhone it is okay.

Orion... All it is good for is downloading their current catalog. It is nice time waster at work though!

NASA... Just get it, keep up with the space program.

ESA... Same as NASA, just applies to Europe. Both apps let you watch launches live though which is cool.

APOD... Astronomy Picture Of The Day. Enjoy the pictures. Sometimes videos won’t play though.

Exoplanet.... Really cool to keep up on discoveries, though the push notifications can get a bit annoying.

Moon Map Pro.... What I like with this is the LRO images. This coupled with Lunar Atlas to me should be a staple for every observer.

iCSC... This is the new version and it is really good. It can be a little slow to update and the set up took it a couple of times to remember my favorites. I so prefer this to Scope Nights which I know S&T has talked up so much. I actually liked Scope Nights when I first got it, however when the developer updated it and most of the features became only available if downloaded for a fee. Sorry but that isn’t the way to run an app and well the comments on the Apple site reflect that! The Clear Sky Clock deserves a good app and this is it.

So those are the apps I use. I am glad for all of them and they all serve a purpose. If you have any specific questions leave me a comment and I will be glad to answer you.

In Praise of The White Light Solar Filter

One of the things I am very thankful for is white light solar filters. They are available for purchase for most types of telescopes. The filter can come in various forms, but all fit on the front of the telescope. Any filters that screw into the eyepiece of your scope you should not use for safety reasons.

I ordered my solar filter from Orion when I ordered the telescope. The one I use is made of Baader Solar Film. The film is cut to size and put into a cell and it just pops on to the front of the telescope. It makes for easy viewing of the sun in what is called white light. The white light image of the sun will show you sunspots which you can track across the disk of the sun. The white light image is the same as that as the solar telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, however that is a dedicated solar telescope that uses a projection method. In white light you will not see flares or mass ejections from the Sun. That requires a dedicated telescope that sees in "Hydrogen Alpha." These dedicated telescopes run over 500.00 for a small basic one and top out in the thousands of dollars for a top of the line rig.

I really think white light solar filters should be in every amateur astronomer’s arsenal. You don’t need a large or expensive scope to use one. The filter themselves are pretty cheap too. The one I purchased was about $50.00. A white light solar filter would be a good thing to get for a old small refractor that you may not being using any more OR to take with you for long multiple night star parties so you have something to do during the day. A smaller scope in my opinion would be best for a solar filter just because the seeing is usually not great in the day time... however you don’t have to deal with dew or really cold temperatures either. To me that is a win-win right there.

There is also a Sunspotter pin from the Astronomical League that you can complete.

In short a white light solar filter to me is one of those things everyone should have, it will get you out using your scope more. I know for me it gets me out there pretty much once a week using the scope!

Oh one last thing, I promised a post a month last November. I am sorry I didn't get one out last month. I was under the weather with the flu for a bit last month... so you readers out there (all 3 of you ha ha) will get a second blog post this month!