StarChartGL is a modern 3D star chart for Microsoft Windows. StarChartGL is accurate and uses OpenGL to render the graphics, this makes StarChartGL fast and picturesque. StarChartGL uses real pictures of Messier objects and planets to make the viewing experience much more pleasurable.

StarChartGL is designed to be accurate, easy to use and powerful. We have kept clutter and duplicate buttons to a minimum so the program is easy and intuitive to use. The graphics have bee designed to be inspirational and accurate. 

Screen shots

Features

	110,000 stars.
	110 Messier objects.
	All the major planets and moons.
	All the major constellations.
	Realistic graphics
	Animation with lock-on function.
	View from any position on the earth at any time
	Mirror view (so the screen looks like the view from an eyepiece)
	Night vision mode
	Configurable eye piece
	RA/DEC and Alt/Azi charts
	Asteroid viewer with over 2000 asteroids

Functionality

Animation, Playing / Pausing

You can view animations of the stars and planets in StarChartGL by right clicking any where in the view window and select "Play." StarChartGL will play an animation showing the movement of the stars and planets. To stop the animation right click in the viewing windows and click "Stop animation."

Adjusting the animation settings

To change the animation settings click on Animation then Animation settings.

The "Animation settings" window (see picture) will now be displayed. From here you can change the amount of time StarChartGL progresses the scene with each frame. When you have entered the your settings click on the "Play" button and your animation settings will be saved. 

Movement / zooming in

To move around the view of the sky press and hold the left mouse button down and move the mouse in the direction that you want to view. You may also use the directional buttons or the compass buttons at the bottom of the program window, pictured below.

You can zoom into the picture by moving the mouse wheel up and zoom out by moving it down. If you do not have a mouse wheel you can use the A and Z buttons to zoom in and out.

The level of magnification is shown in the zoom progress bar, pictured below.

Finding objects

The Find button opens the "Find object" dialog box. From the "Find object" dialog box you can select a star, Messier or planet to view.

If you would like to observe a star, Messier or planet you can select the object and click on the "Find" button. This will rotate the view so that the selected object is in the centre of the scene.

The "Lock on" button also rotates the view so that the currently selected object is in the centre of the scene. It also keeps the view locked onto the object when an animation is played so you can see where the object travels during the animation.

Settings

To change the settings in "StarChartGL" you click on the Spanner This will open the "Settings" dialog box (pictured below). From the "Settings" dialog box you can change any of the configurable settings in "StarChartGL" such as longitude, latitude or viewing options.

When you are happy with the options click on the Update or Save buttons. The Update button updates the settings but "StarChartGL" will forget them when you close StarChartGL down. The Save button updates the settings and saves them as the default settings.

Setting the time

To view what position the stars and planets are in on a certain time or date you can enter your selected time in the time and date selectors, shown below.

When you have changed the time StarChartGL will update the view window so you can see where the stars are positioned.

Download

you may download a demo version of StarChartGl here

In the demo version only half the stars are visible.

Purchasing

You may buy the full version of StarChartGl for £19.99

Click here to continue with your purchase of StarChartGl