Astronomy Software

Astronomy is a popular subject.  Some are serious scientists  who study it for a living, or who even teach it.  Others are regular people who enjoy it as a hobby.  A number of amazing discoveries have been made by amateurs.  It used to be that astronomy required a telescope or at least binoculars.  But now thanks to astronomy software, everyone with a computer can take part in this interesting and at times exciting endeavor.  The list of programs is almost endless.

One of the most well known programs is SETI@Home.  the point of this software was to use all the idle time on peoples home computers.  Before SETI@Home the SETI  radio telescope, SETI meaning Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, scanned the heavens for radio signals that would indicate a pattern, an intelligence behind them.  Supercomputers on site were used to analyze the data.  But now it's all being done during the spare cycles on people's computers at home and the office.  There won't be some kind of alert if intelligent life is found.  But if SETI does find alien intelligence then there are going to be a lot of happy people.

A simple type of astronomy software is the 3D screen saver.  With this software during idle time your computer can show vivid 3D worlds.  This can be as simple as an image or an actual 3D representation you can navigate.  A search engine like Google can help you locate one of these programs.

F.I.T.S is something not many people have heard of.  It's Flexible Image Transport System, which is a NASA and IAU endorsed format to store and deliver not only images but spacial data and multi-dimensional arrays such as 2-D and 3-D images.  There are a variety of programs that can read and display this type of data.  there's freeware such as FITSview and professional programs like AstroArt.  A wide selection of FITS viewers can be found with a simple Internet search.  Some are listed at Duke University's web site: http://www.phy.duke.edu/~kolena/imagepro.html .

There is even software that helps adjust for imperfections in telescope lenses.  By comparing the image seen through the telescope with the image displayed in the software, the user can make adjustments to gain the best possible view of these vastly distant objects.

Astronomy software is as varied as the universe.  Web search for it, you'll be pleasantly surprised.