by Cinegram Media
Platform:
Windows NT / 98 / 2000 / 95
(9)6 used & new from $10.25
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Astronomy is a very popular hobby, and many people find computer software helps them pursue this interest. Software can be very flexible in its approach, helping you identify what you're looking at in the night sky on any particular date and learn more about astronomy in general. RedShift 4 is no exception. Indeed, many have regarded past incarnations of this title as the best astronomy software available.
The great thing about RedShift 4 is that it works well for both novice and experienced astronomers. The Sky Diary is on hand for you to look up interesting events for the month ahead, from meteor showers to phases of the moon and eclipses. The program explains each event and when best to look for it. Manipulating the night sky is easy, too. You can add and remove objects simply, and can even plot spacecraft as they track across the sky.
If armchair learning is more to your liking, you can browse the photo gallery, with its 400-plus photos taken with some of the most sophisticated telescopes in the world. You can also view the multimedia tutorials that talk you through the history of the solar system, the big bang, double stars, and more. And for a real treat, how about observing the night sky from the surface of Mars, or Jupiter, or the moon? RedShift was always a powerful piece of software. It just got better. --Sandra Vogel
RedShift 4 offers a presentation of our universe, created by experts and filled with scientifically accurate information. Penetrate millions of light years into space, plot out the constellations, analyze dramatic cosmic events, and print accurate star maps. RedShift 4 has been designed for both novices and professionals. The easy-to-learn and user-friendly interface helps beginners navigate around the heavens. The advanced astronomer can rely on accurate and in-depth information from comprehensive catalogs, including the new Tycho-2 Catalog, the Hubble Space Telescope Guide Star Catalog, and the General Catalog of Variable Stars.
Features include the following:
- Multiple windows allow simultaneous views of events from multiple locations. For example, you can watch an eclipse from the earth, moon, and sun all at the same time.
- RedShift's real-time celestial mechanics engine plots the positions of over 18,000,000 stars, allowing you to see the universe at any point from 4713 B.C. to A.D. 9999.
- The movie recorder feature lets you create videos of your own journeys through space and time.
- Plan the best time for observations with the Sky Diary and Visibility reports.
- Integrated multimedia Story of the Universe.
- Over 80,000 other objects, including 7,000 deep sky objects, such as star clusters, nebulae, and non-optical sources.
- A comprehensive and newly updated Dictionary of Astronomy.
- A direct connection to the RedShift Web site for downloading new discoveries, upgrades, and tech support.