Displaying Pictures of Celestial Objects

TheSky6 comes with a large database of photographs, and can display them in a variety of different ways.

Pictures can be displayed:

As "in place" photographs on the Virtual Sky
On the Multimedia tab of the Object Information dialog box
In a Slide Show presentation
By loading a picture file from disc
In a separate window when associated with an image icon

The table below explains each method.

Method to View Pictures

Example

In Place Image Overlays

TheSky6 displays photographs of many objects directly on the Virtual Sky. The photograph of the object is shown with the correct size and orientation. To see a picture of a specific object, click Edit | Find, enter the name of the object, and then click Center and Frame.

See the Non-Stellar Options dialog box for details about how to turn on in-place Digitized Sky Survey photographs.
See the Image Manager command for details about turning on and managing Image Groups. Image Groups contain color photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope and from the Anglo-Australian Observatory.

In-place photograph of M42 region.

Multimedia tab of the Large Object Information dialog box

Identify any object that has a picture and click the Multimedia tab on the large Object Information dialog box.

From a File

Use the Show Pictures command on the Tools menu to view a picture.

Create a slide show

Create a list of pictures that can be displayed as a slide show using the Slide Show command.

Associate a picture with an Image Symbol

Using the Sky Database Manager, load a Sky Database that contains pictures. After doing so, a small "image symbol" appears on the Virtual Sky to represent objects that have an associated picture. Click on the image symbol to display the picture. Press SHIFT+CLICK to show the Object Information dialog box instead.

	Expanded "image symbol" graphic.
	This sample portion of the Virtual Sky shows an "image symbol" near the object M5. Click directly on the image symbol to display a photograph of M5 in a separate window.
	The window with the color photograph of M5 that appears after clicking on the image symbol.

Many Sky Databases that contain pictures are provided on TheSky6 distribution disc, and you can even create your own SDBs to associate pictures with objects.

You can even add your own photographs to celestial objects.

Image Groups

You can create and manage your own databases or "groups" of images that are displayed on the Virtual Sky using the Image Manager.

Use the Edit | Find command

Want to have some fun viewing lots of pictures?

To quickly view pictures of in-place objects, use TheSky6's Find command. Here's how:

Click Edit | Find.
On the Find dialog box, mark the Frame Object option.
On the Find dialog box, open the Non-Stellar | NGC or Messier list.
Highlight the first object in the list. Notice that the Virtual Sky is adjusted to show the object.
Press the down arrow key to view these fascinating objects.

This same technique can be applied to any of TheSky6's catalogs, including the constellations, double stars, galaxies or the planets.