CNebulaX
Project: final release, freeware
"A
deep sky atlas, library, night planner and companion for the deep sky
observer"
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In
this page you will find the software INDEX for Windows, whose final name is CNebulaX ("Celestial Nebulae" -or "see nebulae"- extended).
This program was developed through more than ten years to give response to my
needs of planning deep sky observing sessions. It does not have any commercial purpose and it
is offered to the community of amateur astronomers with an altruistic
intention. Enjoy it if you like it.
The
most important: get the Setup files and all
the complements (EXE updates and additional
databases). In these pages, you will find also the ultimate HTML handbook, with pictures and a lot of
tricks. Have a look to the program features
and some screenshots to have an idea of what
can be made with CNebulaX. CNebulaX was built from an
old MSDOS program in a very slow process. Finally, some common questions are
answered in the FAQ page.
Tell
me your impressions and ideas to enhance it: I really appreciate them. Any
offer to cooperate in the project will be very welcome. This project requires
the cooperation of other people. New databases can be compiled, new
observations can be appended and errors must be located and corrected. Also,
incidental new releases require testing, and the libraries and databases can be
improved. I will contact you in a few days, likely in one-two days. If you do not get an
answer after a week, contact me again:
sadly, I know I have lost messages owing to the anti-spam filter (write in the
message caption "CNebulaX" to allow an easier identification).
● CNebulaX is
FREEWARE. You must have it without paying anything to anybody. I do not want any compensation for this program. For me is enough if you
enjoy it as much I am enjoying the development. Send me a postcard if you
wish.
● The current release is complete and can be used to plot very good maps.
The main aim is the construction of powerful sky maps and lists of deep sky objects, to be studied in our deep sky observing sessions. It also implements a
library, telescope control, ephemerid facilities, prediction of visibility,
overlaying facilities, annotations, and more auxiliary tools for the deep sky
observer. It is an excellent instrument for learning to know the sky at many
levels.
● The same way as the former MSDOS release, CNEBULAX is a full database manager, combined with a star map generator, a reference library and an observing
notebook.
● Currently, it is able to plot 25 million stars
(GSC 1.2). However, smaller star databases are also available (Tycho II, AC2000
and PPM). The full release also includes more than one million deep sky objects, double and
variable stars (all the files required for the
full installation are within this website). The number of databases is
unlimited, and under certain rules, the program can create and manage as much
as one wish.
● Visit
the complements
section to add more databases to the standard
installation, and update the EXE file to the latest compiled one.
● All the information included was found in the internet, and the original
sources when available are indicated. The seed of the project was the Saguaro Astronomical
Club database, with a first MSDOS release in
1994.
● The former 1.02 release was very incomplete and for this reason it was
time limited, but since the 1.03 rs there is no limitation. Update the program
from the complement section to update minor bugs.
● All the main functionalities included in
the former MSDOS release have been implemented in the MS Windows release, and
some other more. Only the batch processing mode has not been implemented yet.
● All this stuff is just a hobby for me, not my real work. I am glad of
sharing the software with you, and I very hope you will enjoy CNebulaX (after
have learned to use it: CNebulaX is powerful, but not so intuitive of using).
The other side: (1) The program follows my design tastes and ideas, since I am
developing a tool mainly for me, and (2) I am not compromised to follow the
ideas of anybody or give support. I will give support, but
as act of kindness to you, not as an obligation.
● I develop the program in my free time, slowly but steadly. Visit, from
time to time, the download and complements pages for updating it. Some changes
in the latter times have been very drastic: accuracy of databases, introduction
of HyperLEDA and others, coloured stars, print-outs, etc.
