Hallo northern sky

Hallo northern sky is a Windows application that comprises the SAO, PPM, and Tycho-2 star databases, a wide variety of up-to-date deepsky objects, and Realsky images in order to help you simulate the night sky.

Plus, the utility provides access to the external GSC and USNO CDROM star catalogs, and includes the possibility to control computerised GoTo telescope mounts using the universal ASCOM package, a Realsky viewer DDE controlled from the primary panel, as well as BMP/JPEG to FITS conversion capabilities.

The layout may seem a bit overwhelming at a first glance but this is only because the utility comes packed with a multitude of dedicated parameters. You need to take some time and experiment with the built-in features in case you want to make the most out of this program. You may rely on the tooltips for viewing a short description of each parameter.

You can switch to a full screen mode for a better focus on your work, use the zoom in or out controls for analyzing objects in detail, as well as reset the layout with just one click.

Hallo northern sky gives you the possibility to import data from FITS files (which store scientific images, photometric and spatial calibration), print the current image that is displayed in the primary panel (white or black sky), copy the photo to the clipboard, so you can easily paste it into other third-party tools, as well as save data to HNS file format for importing it in your future projects.

The tool offers support for some built-in text editors for helping you alter the information regarding asteroids and comets. You are allowed to perform basic editing operations (cut, copy, paste, delete), undo your actions, update the preset data from the Internet, search and replace words or characters, as well as customize the text in terms of font, font style, color, and size.

A smart feature embedded in this utility allows you to look for constellations, starts, deepsky objects, planets, asteroids, or comets. You may simply type in the name of the object or use the preset lists for finding out the names of the constellations, asteroids, comets, and others. If you perform a double-click mouse operation on the selected object, the tool automatically displays its position on the map.

Hallo northern sky lets you go to a user-defined position by providing details about the right ascension and declination, flip the map horizontally or vertically, keep the North pole always up, show or hide the RA/DEC grid, altitude grid, constellations, boundaries, and moon orbits, and activate the night mode.

You are allowed to switch to an orthographic projection, allow DDE import/export of objects, and connect to ASCOM telescope.

You can adjust the boldness and density of the starts, reveal or hide the name for all stars, show the stars, activate the GSC and USNO star catalogs, as well as display or conceal the planets, asteroids, and comets.

The utility lets you update the information revealed in the main window according to the system time, current moment or night, or enter a user-defined value (year, month, day, hour, and minute).

Last but not least, you can configure your location (time zone, longitude and latitude), update data at a custom time, and alter the colors for the RA/DEC grid, constellations, horizon, boundaries, asteroids, and other objects.

Hallo northern sky comes bundled with a comprehensive feature pack that suits beginners and professionals alike.