Ver. 8.3 (May 8, 2008): Easily Download Selected Comet and Asteroid Positions Via the Internet.
Quickly find Planets, Messier Objects, Caldwell Objects, NGC/IC Objects, Named Stars,
and > 2,500 Double Stars, by Constellation, Altitude, Magnitude, etc..
Fully-Updated NGC and IC data - errors in standard catalogs fixed.
Real-Time Interactive Windows Software for
Astronomical Observers -
Now with Scripting for Telescope Automation.
"it ROCKS!
It's simple, small, and interfaces to Cartes du Ciel. What more can
you ask for?"
- Astronomy author
Rod Mollise. Read
his review of RTGUI
(Acrobat PDF reader is required).
Copyright (c) 2003-2008 by Robert Sheaffer
Free Windows Program - Controls Most
"Goto" Telescopes
Press a button for "Goto", or for an 'Instant Skychart'
of the selected object!
A Real-Time program, tells what's visible
instantly, using GUI interface or keyboard. No need to prepare
observations in advance. Find deep-sky objects,
double stars, or
other objects by their catalog or common names.
Unusually rich search capabilities - each entry has up to
five different names (Example: M1, NGC 1952, CrabNebula, Taurus,
Planetary)
Create a custom "tour" based on your
own criteria (by constellation and/or object type,
elevation, magnitude) using the Search Wizard, or
let RTGUI+S suggest the "Best" objects
to observe,
based on your location, telescope, sky conditions, and the time.
Save these objects to a file, or print them as a list.
Fully-revised NGC/IC data
(not available elsewhere) eliminating nonexistent or duplicate objects,
"unknown" object types and most missing magnitudes. Over 2,500 double
stars in default catalog, searchable by constellation.
Small and fast - Downloaded self-extracting file is only about 650k.
Read hand-held GPS
Devices or Celestron and Meade GPS
Telescopes to set highly-accurate Location and System
Time. Read object position from most Celestron and Meade
Goto scopes. Upload data from GPS devices to Meade Goto
scopes.
Locate
Sun,Moon, and Planets, with excellent
accuracy. Download Comet and Asteroid positions via the internet,
for easy Goto, Skycharts, etc.
Displays Altitude and Azimuth of Astronomical
Objects, updated in Real-Time, along with Rise, Set, and Transit
times.
Automatically record object, time, & location
information when the Observing
Log is opened
Auxiliary Catalogs allow you to instantly locate
hundreds of thousands of objects, using standard
astronomical nomenclature, a time-saving tool for
observing projects and for research.
Download Self-Extracting Archive Program for
RTGUI+S, Version 8.3
(download size is only approx. 650k).
If updating to this new version of RTGUI+S from an older one,
it is not necessary to unpack the new home location file RTGUI.HOM, saving you the trouble of re-entering your latitude, longitude, and telescope data.
Auxiliary Catalogs:(unzip catalogs into rtgui directory)
Download
Messier Marathon Catalog(3k download, 11k
unzipped. 110 entries). Once a
year, in mid to late March, is it possible to see all 110
Messier objects in a single night's marathon observing
session. This catalog contains all of the Messier
objects, in the order that you need to observe them. Just
search for "M", and keep hitting
"next"! (It's probably also a good idea to print out the
list, for your location & time.)
Download Washington Double
Star Catalog 1.8 Meg Download, 8.4 Meg unzipped. Revised
Jan. 31, 2006 for compatibility with new Search Wizard.
Includes constellation names for every object.
Complete WDS 2001 catalog, 84,468 entries.
Contains virtually every visual double star known.
Don't waste those moonlit nights - observe thousands of double stars!
In addition to the Constellation Names,
I have cross-indexed the WDS with the HR and PPM catalogs, picking up
Bayer (Gam Vir) and Flamsteed (61 Cyg) designations, as well as
SAO numbers, where available. (Entries in the original WDS catalog contain only
the WDS designation, and the DM numbers, so it's hardly user-friendly.)
Separation and
magnitude of companion are given, where available. I know of no other
catalog of double stars so complete yet easy to search.
For more information about this catalog, see
http://ad.usno.navy.mil/wds.
Download PPM.ZIP Positions
and Proper Motions Star Catalog in .RTG format ( 9.4 Meg
download, 46.7 Meg unzipped. 468,861 entries).
Contains all SAO catalog objects,
also has PPM numbers, & HD numbers, now cross-referenced
with data in the Bright Star catalog.
Every entry now has a constellation name.
( For information on the PPM, see http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/W3Browse/star-catalog/ppm.html
). Catalog is in reverse order, starting
with north polar objects and moving southward. This also
places the smaller SAO and PPM numbers at the start
rather than the end.
Download Self-Extracting Archive Program for
RTGUI+S, Version 8.3
(download size is only approx. 650k).
If updating to this new version of RTGUI+S from an older one,
it is not necessary to unpack the new home location file RTGUI.HOM, saving you the trouble of re-entering your latitude, longitude, and telescope data.
