SkySafari 4 Pro App Reviews

This app is as excellent as the iOS version, many data, even fainter stars are in the database. Many options to manipulate the apperance to fit your needs. One thing is missing: iCloud Sync to sync observation list, settings and equipment. Additionally, a dedicated print feature would be nice. keep on the good work...

The best Astronomy Software on the Market. Buying SkySafari 4 Pro for new Customers is highly recommended. Support is world class too. Over the last 5 Years I bought and tested nearly all known Astronomy Skychart Software on the market (spent more than 1000$) - this is my favorite by far. Upgrade from 1.8 Pro to 4 Pro (July 2014) is little expensive for the actual tiny improvements - maybe they work on new features :) i’I hope for: - more equipment types e.g. barlow lens etc. - selecting and adding many objects to an custom observing list at one time - highlighting of more than one custom observing list - different colors for highlighting selectable - options to use different typos for labels - ALL setting parameter in settings file

Loving SkySafari on my iPad, I’m somehow disappointed from the Mac OS version. Functionality is the same, but at least under Yosemite the App is everything else then stable and reliable. Experience random crashes, e.g. when using „Location“. Saving a user-defined location doesn’t work at all, then sometimes choosing from map is not possible, same thing sometimes with choosing from list. So hopefully an update is on the way.

I needed an OSX program to control my iOptron ZEQ25 telescope mount, and this program is perfect for that. I am using it via a cable connection, using the Tripp-Lite / Keyspan USB Serial Adapter - as recommended on the application website - and everything is working just great. (I tried a cheaper USB to Serial adapter, but could not find drivers for it to work on the Mac - live and learn.) Also nice is that the program has native support for the telescope mount, so there is no need to install ASCOM drivers, etc. as required on some other Windows apps. The program is fast and responsive (unlike some open source ones I’ve tried, which seem to have problems zooming with a mouse or trackpad). I love the fact the program uses familiar trackpad gestures for navigation, zooming, etc. Very nice. Some nice “extras” of this program include the ability to display a rectangle that represents the field of view of my various telephoto lens and camera body combinations. (Added via Telescope>Equipment… and displayed on-screen via Telescope > Display…) Very handy to have for framing shots.

I’m a 40+ year amateur with multiple telescopes. I have used Cartes for years but SS caught my eye for my iPad. I though I’d try the same for my MBPr… so I bought SS4 Pro. Hmm. Sorry but there are a lot of bugs in the database. It’s not all obscure stuff either - when in orbit mode, Anilam appears twice (one of which should be Alnitak.) Struve 748 in the Trapezium is also located in two places. My conclusion is that it’s just not up to the “Pro” label and that it should _not_ be relied on for serious work.

I was an early adopter of Sky Safari and am very happy to upgrade to version 4 which has even more features than the prior version 3.8! The “Pro” version not only allows for full telescope control, wirelessly or with RS232 connection but also has a very large database and nearly 1GB in size. This means that you can seamlessly use SkySafari not only as a robust planetarium and oberving planning tool but also as fully automatic telescope remote control application. SkySafari works great not just if you are primarily visual but also is a valuable resource if you are an experienced imager, allowing you to rapidly locate and verify that your telescope is on target. Lastly, the developers are very much attuned to their customers, with an excellent track record of responding to user questions and incorporating many of the most requested upgrades from the user community. A great program and awesome customer service, you can’t beat that. Typically full fledged astronomy planning, planetarium and telescope control programs cost 3-4x what SkySafari costs, so its also an excellent value for your money.

Ive been a big fan of SkySafari 4 on my iPad and this brings the same functionality to my Mac, but with a larger screen. I really like the fact that now I can create my observation lists in advance on my computer and send them to my iPad for in the field. The only thing I wish was easier was syncing observation lists to my iOS devices via iTunes. Right now, each list has to be manually exported/imported.

I’ve been using Sky Safari on my iPad for a little over a year, started with 3, then moved to 4. I resisted getting Sky Safari on my Retina Macbook Pro, since I have a couple other planetarium programs that I use. When the new one was announced I decided to try it out. The first thing I notice is how responsive it is. Panning and zooming around the sky happens at a much faster rate than my other programs (no, I’m not going to name them). Second thing I notice is how easy the interface is to navigate. Each icon has a label underneath, but it’s clear from the icon what each button does. I haven’t tried yet, but I expect that creating observing lists and transferring them to the iPad will be relatively easy (and really, the main reason I got this program, creating observing lists on a small touchscreen is a little more time consuming than I’d like). Having integrated with Apple Maps (such as they are), and S&T’s Week at a glance are handy, however out in the field will be less useful without WiFi (I use Week at a glance all the time on my iPhone at star parties though!). I haven’t tried out the telescope integration, but if it’s anything like the iPad/iPhone versions, I don’t expect any issues. And finally, the developers are very responsive to issues and feature requests. This program is recommended!

I have used SkySafari Pro for years and am asotounded that they could have made it even better. SkySafai 4 Pro isn’t just an upgrade, its a whole new ballgame. New features, like animated meteor showers, more object catalogs, and new search options, like searching for object by type, rather than name are more than users could have hoped for.

SkySafari is the standard bearer of astronomy aps. I have used other programs and aps in the past, but SkySafari fills all my needs for great user interface, exceptional information, great graphics, and ease of use. I am a long time user of previous versions of Sky Safari, and this one just improves upon a great program. I use SkySafari to plan my observing sessions, control my scope wirelessly using this ap with the SkyFi - USB wireless telescope adapter, record my observations, and research the properties of what I am observing. The amount of information available in this program is simply amazing. Using the zoom function one can see exactly how an object will appear in the eyepiece. This is especially critical when hunting down faint objects as one can see exactly how the object should appear in relation to the surrounding star field. This version allows you to view all previous observations of an object. It is interesting to record how one’s views of an object can change under different conditions. Building observing lists is easier than ever. Or one can just choose from the myriad of observing lists already posted in the SkySafari user group. Although I own the Ipad version also, I find the convenience of working and typing in my observatory on a laptop to be much more convenient. I recommend this program highly to any level of user from beginner to expert.

This is by far the best planetarium/star charting app out there for OSX. It beats the competitors to the ground. Easy to use, and chock full of features. I use this app on a regular basis to plan my telescope observing sessions and in the field as a reference. Well worth the $$ Rob Robinson KS

Im hoping its better than the earlier 1.8 version. Im going for the Special Discount Offer. Hope it shows more double stars, as Im into studying doubles and binaries. (It states that the entire Washing Double Star Catalog is included).

Love this app!!! I have been using this app on my iPhone, iPad, and Mac. I plan my observations on my Mac, and then use the iPhone and/or iPad versions to control my scope. So happy version 4 has come out on the Mac. Have been waiting eagerly for this release for some months. Will be using it tonight. Brett

SSP has always been a superb program, and the developers are as responsive as one could hope for. This new version is further improved, and at the intro price is a steal. If you want to control a ‘scope from a Mac, SSP is the way to go.

With the latest version, the desktop and mobile features have merged. I’ve used this at my desk and in the field, at the scope. I don’t use the GoTo or telescope controls, as I don’t need them. As a charting tool/device it is excellent. It has replaced my stacks of charts, including my beloved Harald-Bobroff...

It might not be perfect, it might not have everything anyone could think of included, it’s just better than anything else, by far. Wouldn’t leave home without it. I’m a star hopper and Sky Safari Pro has made my observing far more efficient. I’ve left almost all my paper charts at home. I carry a small star atlas just in case I forget to charge my tablets battery. I also have it on my MacBook Pro for planning observing sessions with a larger screen. So if you don’t have it, get it.

Best interface, best maps, useful for star hopping on my iPhone and also excellent for telescope control with the iPhone or laptop. Logically organized with a massive database and much valuable information. Supersedes all previous planetarium applications.

Using SkySafari Pro 4 on my iPad for controlling my telescope is the only way to go for me. I also use the same version on my Mac Mini (my desktop computer) for both entertainment and research, and when doing presentations at star parties it runs on my MacBook Pro. It does come up slow on the Mini (the Mini has an SSD, so this is surprising), but once it is running. the experience is breathtaking.

Great App for the serious astronomer. If you use SkyFi to wirelessly control your scope you too will have to agree this is hard to beat. The only way you can step up is to fork out 250 for Starry Night Pro Plus, which now has a beta verson which will work with SkyFi.

Best astronomy app available for Mac and IOS. Period.