Starmap PRO

Starmap contains more than 25 000 referenced objects, meaning objects with detailed information on their physical parameters, position and ephemeris. The application uses the same display canvas for all these objects.

The detailed information can be reached by pressing the blue arrow near the object name, wherever it is listed — in a search menu, featured list or catalogue. From the Tonight list, touching the visibility bar of the object gives access to its detailed information.

When touching an object on the map a short information panel appears on the screen. Touching the small info button provides its detailed information panel.

On the top of the detailed information panel, you can change the associated graphics with simple finger swipes.

All objects have at least two visibility graphs, showing their visibility and position in altitude and azimuth along 24 hours. The white bar corresponds to the visibility of the object. On the top-left image, Rasalhague will set at 5:55 PM and rise at 5:55 AM. The set, transit and rise times of an object are always calculated for the future. They are ordered by time in the Ephemeris section.
The visibility panel can be slid, giving access to the altitude and direction of the object in the sky. The full height corresponds to 90° from the horizon.
The orange line corresponds to the present time in both views.
Scrolling the information panel provide more information on the object, like its class and SAO id.
Depending on the object kind, more dedicated information and panels are available, as for instance satellites positions for Saturn or images from starmapShare (touch the image for a full screen view).

For stars and deep sky objects, you may complete the displayed information by querying the online astronomical database Simbad. Touch the @ icon on the top left part of the detailed information. The results of the query will then be appended to the default information.

The Saturn satellites view: the horizontal axis corresponds to right ascensions. A close and full view of the satellites increase the readability. The rings orientation corresponds to reality.

For the Moon a small lunar calendar is included in the sliding panel. You might observe a day of difference with some other moon calendars. This is due to different date rounding methods. In Starmap the term New Moon corresponds to a full black Moon, within a five degrees range. This differs from civil calendars where the term “New Moon” corresponds to the exact conjunction of the Moon. The Moon phase calendar indicates when the sky is best to be observed, meaning without to much moonlight. The Moon phase calendar of Starmap is a perfectly valid tool for this purpose.

The Mars satellites view: Mars’ satellites are not displayed on the sky map. The horizontal axis corresponds to right ascensions. The Jupiter satellites view: Jupiter’s satellites are displayed on the sky map. The horizontal axis corresponds to right ascensions.

The Uranus satellites view: Uranus’ satellites are not displayed on the sky map. The horizontal axis corresponds to declination, as the rotation axis of Uranus is very inclined toward the ecliptic plane. Again many deep sky objects will have additional starmapShare images displayed in the slider.

In the bottom menu bar of detailed objects panel, you will find several action icons, serving the following purposes:

	Touching this icon brings back the map and displays the arrow towards the object or directly goes to the object, that depending on your navigation settings.
	With this icon you can add this object to the featured objects list accessible from the main menu. Use this function to plan you observation session.
	This creates a new alarm on this object. See later in this document how to use alarms.
	This icon sets the present object as being the photographed object. Its name will be automatically entered in the logbook header.

In the top menu bar:

When a telescope control is connected to Starmap, this icon is activated. Touching it slews the mount to the right position.