Software Bisque Support Corner

Hi Tom or Dan,
I stiil use version 5 for Mac and my data disc says level IV for certain projects where I need to look up stars by SAO numbers. But I have gotten a new Mac and it no longer supports "Classic".
1- If I upgrade to TheSky X will I still be able to find stars in the simulated sky by SAO numbers?
2 - If so which version do I need to do this?
3 - I have my original disks and the Manual but I can't find the serial number on either. Where will I find it?
Thanks,
Bill Fletcher

Fletcher:

1- If I upgrade to TheSky X will I still be able to find stars in the simulated sky by SAO numbers?

Yes. Note that TheSkyX is the "Student Edition". See: http://www.bisque.com/SC/forums/post/412.aspx for details about the "more advanced" editions.

Fletcher:

2 - If so which version do I need to do this?

Only TheSkyX Student Edition is currently availalble.

Fletcher:

3 - I have my original disks and the Manual but I can't find the serial number on either. Where will I find it?

TheSky Version 5 for Mac did not include a SN. If you purchased from SB, we'll have it on file.

 

Hi Dan, Thanks for you reply. I went ahead and purchased TheSkyX and it has arrived already. Thanks. I have specific uses for this that I have been using the OS 9 version for, so if you can answer a few questions that I can't figure out and can't find in the user manual, I'd appreciate it. 1 - I can't make the star chart go to the location (SAO number) I type in. It gives me the star info but the chart doesn't go there. It also doesn't go to the constellation that I type in. 2 - Is there a key stroke to rotate the sky incrementally (so I can match the star field of my photographs? 3 - I'm not seeing any stars fainter than 10th magnitude. 4 - When I choose Constellation Outlines in the Display Options, only one constellation border is outlined (Canis Minor) and no constellation lines are drawn. This would help me know where I am on an unmarked field of stars. I have a job waiting for me that requires me to use TheSkyX since I bought a new computer that doesn't support Mac Classic so I hope you can solve these operation issues for me. Thanks very much! Bill Fletcher

Hi again Dan, This is a second part to my Friday 4/25/08 email. I just found out one of my problems was that after I installed the program and opened TheSkyX from my application folder, it was running from the disk and couldn't for some reason draw the constellation outlines. When I took out the disk and ran it again, the outlines show up and I could get around better. The other questions are still valid with an additional question: New question. I am unable to save my location. In fact no file is being saved at all. I get an error message about opening a file after I try to save. I don't care about having a saved file really but I need to save where I left off (location) so I don't have to do all the location work when I open it again. Thanks again, Bill Fletcher

Hi, I received my purchase, thanks. I'm working on a project that requires some clarification. These are all things I could do with version 5 and would like to be able to do now. 1 - I can't make the star chart go to the location (SAO number) I type in. It gives me the star info but the chart doesn't go there. 2 - Is there a key stroke to rotate the sky incrementally (so I can match the star field of my photographs? 3 - How can I see stars fainter than 10th magnitude. Or is that the limit of this version? 4 - I really need to be able to save my location for future sessions. An error message about opening a file appears when I try to save. Thanks very much for your reply! If these are known glitches, please let me know that too. Bill Fletcher

Fletcher:

1 - I can't make the star chart go to the location (SAO number) I type in. It gives me the star info but the chart doesn't go there.

This appears to be a bug. Clicking Edit > Find, Advanced Tab, then navigating to the SAO list should show and center the object.

Fletcher:

2 - Is there a key stroke to rotate the sky incrementally (so I can match the star field of my photographs?

The commands you are after are Orientation > Rotate Clockwise and Orientation > Rotate Counterclockwise. The accelerator keys are different based in the OS, and are shown next to the command.

Or, click Orientation > Navigate, the click the Rotation tab to enter a specific rotation angle, or drag the control to do so.

Fletcher:

3 - How can I see stars fainter than 10th magnitude. Or is that the limit of this version?

The latter. The Student Edition's databases are listed here: http://www.bisque.com/help/theskyx%20student/TheSkyX_Student_Edition.htm#TheSkyX_Standard_Features.htm

(1 million stars from the Hipparcos/Tycho catalog to roughly 10th mag).

Fletcher:

I really need to be able to save my location for future sessions. An error message about opening a file appears when I try to save.

This one's perplexing...

1. Click Help > About TheSkyX (or TheSkyX > About TheSkyX on the Mac). What is the exact version listed?
2. What is the exact wording of the error message?
3. What is the exact procedure to reproduce the error message?
4. Try this: a. From your <My Documents> folder (or Home folder on the Mac), b. Open the Software Bisque folder. c. Delete "TheSkyX" folder. (Warning: serial number will be needed). e. Launch TheSkyX. f. Click File > Save. g. Enter "test" and then click Save. h. Exit TheSkyX. i. Restart TheSkyX. Is the location saved?