The Star Chart
Use the Star Chart, which is shown in dockable window, to visualize the positions of the bodies, available for ephemeris computation, on the celestial sphere. Star charts are generated according to the selected time, which is given in the status bar of the window.
Star chart generation is only available if one of the geocentric and topocentric ephemeris types (see Ephemeris Type Selection) is choosen. Depending on the currently selected ephemeris type the star chart viewer will operate in either the equatorial or horizontal coordinate mode.
Equatorial Coordinate Mode
If the geocentric ecliptical, geocentric equatorial, topocentric ecliptical, or topocentric equatorial ephemeris type is choosen, the star chart viewer will operate in equatorial coordinate mode. In this case all positions are shown in the equatorial coordinate system for the epoch, specified in the Create star chart dialog or in the Epoch dialog. This equatorial coordinate mode allows the visualization of the paths of the currently selected bodies (see Body Selection) regarding to the selected time span.
Horizontal Coordinate Mode
If the topocentric horizontal ephemeris type is choosen, the star chart viewer operates in horizontal coordinate mode and will show all positions in the horizontal coordinate system (as viewed from a given location at a specified time). In this case the apparent daily movement of the celestial bodies and the observer's horizon is taken into account.
When moving the mouse cursor over the star chart, the coordinates corresponding to the position of the cursor are shown in the status bar. When the mouse cursor is positioned near an object (a star, a deep-sky object, a planet, the sun, or the moon) the status bar will display additional information on that object (e.g. its name and apparent visual magnitude).
The appearance of the star chart can be customized in a wide range by use of the Options and the Colors dialog.
A contextual menu is assigned to the star chart viewer. Right click on the viewer and the menu appears. The Nav/Zoom panel allows quick access to often used functions. It can be collapsed and expande by clicking the small arrow in its title bar.
Zooming the Star Chart
To zoom the star chart, use the + and - button from the Nav/Zoom panel, set the field of view in the Nav/Zoom panel, use the View dialog, or select the area to be zoomed by use of the mouse (press left mouse button and move the mouse to select the area).
Centering the Star Chart to an Object
To center the star chart to an object, select
Star chart->Go to from the main menu or click the 
button of the Nav/Zoom
panel. In the appearing Go to dialog select
the object from the list. Check the field Hold centered
to make sure that the object will stay centered when the time of
observation changes.
Centering the Star Chart to a Constellation
To center the star chart to a constellation, select
Star chart->Go to from the main menu or click the button of the Nav/Zoom
panel. In the appearing Go to dialog select
the page Constellation and choose a
constellation from the list.
Changing the Viewing Direction
To change the viewing direction (the coordinates corresponding to the center of the chart), either use the arrow buttons from the Nav/Zoom panel or enter the coordinates in the View dialog.
Using the Clipboard
An image of the star chart can copied into Windows clipboard and then pasted (Ctrl-V) into other applications, as a word processor. To copy an image of the star chart into Windows clipboard select Star Chart->Copy to clipboard from the main menu.
Saving an Image of the Star Chart
To save a star chart as a graphics file (.jpg) select Star Chart->Save as graphics file from the main menu and enter the name of the graphics file in the appearing Save plot as graphics file dialog.
Printing a Star Chart
To print a star chart select Star Chart->Print from the main menu, which brings up the Print dialog. Select the orientation (either portrait or landscape) and click OK. To see a preview of the page to be printed, select Print preview.
For more information see Creating a Star Chart .
Alcyone Ephemeris
Documentation
(C) 2007 Alcyone
Software