List of Tricks for TheSky

This file just provides lists in a rough order of utility of tricks for making the TheSky do what you want.

At present, there are only tricks for TheSky6. There will be tricks for TheSkyX, sine die.

Note the TheSky is a product of Software Bisque, Inc.. TheSky has its own online TheSky User Guide, but you have register.

  1. TheSkyX:

    Under Construction

    TheSkyX

  2. TheSky6:

    1. NEVER SAVE CHANGES at the end of a session.
    2. Launch TheSky6 software from its icon on the desktop of the lab computers. It's menu-driven like most software you are familar with, and so all need to do is get used to the items. Be warned: it seems that not all versions of TheSky6 are quite the same.
    3. If TheSky6 gets in a weird state for unaccountable reasons: Go Toolbar/File/AST105---and if that doesn't work, Go Toolbar/File/Normal.sky.
    4. If TheSky6 gets locked into some strange mode that AST105 (or Normal.sky) doesn't fix, try shutting TheSky6 down and relaunching.
    5. Change location: Go Toolbar/Data/Locations.
    6. Change time: Go Toolbar/Data/Time. Set date and time using the buttons. Highlight hours, minutes, seconds, AM/PM to make the button operate for them. The clock time can also be set by dragging the hands.
    7. Change projection: Go Toolbar/View/Projections. The Mercator projection, stereographic projection, and orthographic projection get the most use.
    8. To see the horizon: Go Toolbar/Orientation/Zenith up---this is correct however odd---and horizon will be displayed in all projections, except Mercator projection. For Mercator projection: Go Toolbar/View/Display Explorer/Reference objects/Reference lines/Show in Pole in Up orientation---for reasons unknown to Reason. The horizon will then appear if horizon line is clicked on---but it may not be very visible. To turn on horizon line and make it visible: Go Toolbar/View/Display Explorer/Reference objects/Horizon Line/Display Properties and change the Horizon Line to 5 pixels and the color and fill color to white or red or some distinct color.
    9. Scroll in/out using the wheel on the mouse.
    10. Scrolling around requires using the horizontal and vertical scroll bars. They are old-fashioned, but also klutzy and sticky---they don't update the screen instantly. The arrow keys on the key board may also work for scrolling. To turn on scroll bars: Go Toolbar/View/Scroll bars.
    11. It's best just to play around with the Toolbar green arrows and the north,south,east,west buttons to see what they do---they are rather unpredictable.
    12. To change displayed names, lines, etc.: Go Toolbar/View/Display Explorer or right click on the sky map and Go Display Explorer.
    13. To get star names: Go Toolbar/View/Display Explorer/Stellar/Star/label/common names or Bayer designation X's mark on.
    14. To get constellation lines: Go Toolbar/View/Display Explorer/Reference objects/Reference lines/constellation figure.
    15. To get constellation boundaries: Go Toolbar/View/Display Explorer/Reference objects/Reference lines/constellation boundary.
    16. To get constellation names: Go Toolbar/View/Labels/Common name
    17. To get information on an astronomical object: Go left click on the object's icon on the sky map of the TheSky6.
    18. Solar System Tricks: To get the 3D Solar System Mode, go Toolbar/View/View/3D Solar System Mode.
      1. To display or turn off objects, go Toolbar/Display Explorer/expand Solar System.
      2. Use the mouse wheel to scroll in and out as needed.
      3. The horizontal scroll bar rotates the view around the ecliptic axis (an axis perpendicular to the plane of the Solar System and the vertical scroll bar rotates the ecliptic axis itself. Hold down the CONTROL key for fine motion. Go Toolbar/Orientation/look/zenith to point the ecliptic axis straight out of the screen.
      4. If you want the sky backround---but usually you don't---right click on the background and go Show background.