Customer Reviews

Starry Night Pro Plus 5.0 Astronomy Software Win/Mac [DVD]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

don't buy this yet. it's harder than heck to install--had 3 shots trying to install with everything else (virus programs, etc.) turned off. Oh, it shouldn't be this tough.
Finally once it somehow did install, I see it has lots of foreign locations to designate your home location, but not much good for cities over 100,000 in the US. Want to install in Russia or Kazaksta or Ghana or Egypt or Peru (Talara Peru for example) or Argentina, go right ahead. But, for example, no locations in Indiana US such as Gary, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Terre Haute, Evansville. So they've left out a lot of US people. You can install in Evora in Portugal and Horsens in Denmark (nothing personal, I just wonder how may purchasers there may be in Evora (55,000) or Horsens (55,000), versus Fort Wayne (220,000)or South Bend (160,000) or Evansville (120,000).

This is not a trivial issue, because this product should show the night sky above where you are. So where you are is very important here, unlike other products where nobody cares if you use your vacuum cleaner in Massachusetts or Michigan or Montana--with this product you want the sky where you are. Also, registration of the product is difficult. So US purchasers, be aware that this is not necessarily US-friendly, and it is not easy to install. I had hoped for better understanding of a US customer base, but maybe they are looking up into the skies instead of at who might likely buy their stuff. I have purchased earlier versions of this software but current install issues plus poor US locations (uh, to explain once more, you put in your location so the software shows your own night sky, thus your location is very important for useability, it's not just a trivial registration information type of thing) show this is not yet ready for the big time. It's a shame because they otherwise might have a very good product.

Very comprehensive program w/seemingly countless options. Gorgeous rendering of sky. Lots of detail about virtually anything in the sky, including satellites. Haven't spent the time needed to be a pro with the program, but it has done everything I can think of trying (so far). Great deal w/the rebate (assuming it gets honored). Installation trick: DO NOT attempt free upgrade to v5.8.2 until after you've run and exited the program at least once - otherwise you get a fatal Windows XP error.

This program extensively has everything you could ever want or hope to have, and it is a very easy to use in simple format put together into one setting on the screen. Don't worry if you don't know anything about Astronomy, yes it does all the work, with awe animations and graphics ever so real. It also has BC and AD date ranges. New Software updates are always on the move for the new space discoveries. However, installation was long, I mean very long, the cd said it would take an hour, no problems, but even this was just a brand new average PC purchased, and after that it prompts me a warning about only having the minimum requirements meet particularly that of the graphics card. I got this product a year ago and it has diminished about $100 or more from Amazon. In my opinion overall a fairly good product, and I think it is the deal that is says it is, if you have the money and PC to do so.

Very interactive and cool to see how the stars (and much more) work. Works great with Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Note that there is a newer version available. The newest version is Ver. 6.

This software has everything that you could ever want. It is very useful.