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Astronomy Via Computer

This week I’ve been buried deep in changing over to a new computer and operating system (courtesy of a debt-inducing but quite wonderful early Xmas present from my beautiful wife) and reorganising all my folders and files from over the years into something more comprehensible – hence the lack of regular updates this week! But while browsing around this morning, I came across the perfect post to find while setting up a new computer, and you’ll probably find something of interest in it too:

At Cosmic Log (which is of course bookmarked as one of your favourite links, right?), Alan Boyle has posted a tremendous round-up of virtual telescope software and other related apps available to us average internetin’ folks…pretty much all of them free of charge. From Microsoft’s Worldwide Telescope (which doesn’t run on my new system, unfortunately) to Google Sky, Celestia and Stellarium, Alan provides a bunch of shiny new toys for us space nuts to play with into the wee hours. Muchas Gracias!

Okay, back to sorting out my files and folders on my very sexy new iMac. (Yes Mr Jobs, I am open to payola…and a complementary copy of Final Cut Studio would help my plans for TDG’s global takeover immensely…)

Editor
  1. Spanish 101
    That would be ‘Muchas Gracias’, skipper.

    Sorry to be nitpicky, but one day you might come here to Mexico to give a lecture on Fortean sounds or something, and you wouldn’t want to give the wrong impression, right? 😉

    Besides, that’s what your loyal bilingual Admin is for.

    PS: Maybe you could install Windows on your luscious new computer. Having both OS, you know?

    —–
    It’s not the depth of the rabbit hole that bugs me…
    It’s all the rabbit SH*T you stumble over on your way down!!!

    Red Pill Junkie

    1. You say Muchas, I say…whatever you say
      [quote=red pill junkie]That would be ‘Muchas Gracias’, skipper.[/quote]

      Oy vey, danke mon ami!

      [quote]Sorry to be nitpicky, but one day you might come here to Mexico to give a lecture on Fortean sounds or something, and you wouldn’t want to give the wrong impression, right? ;-)[/quote]

      Actually, I have Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) and am looking forward to learning it with my kids! I’m just working out where the 25th and 26th hours of the day are, and then I’ll be right on it. 😉

      [quote]PS: Maybe you could install Windows on your luscious new computer. Having both OS, you know?[/quote]

      Ew. I’ve spent 10 years escaping it, why invite it back in?

      Kind regards,
      Greg
      ——————————————-
      You monkeys only think you’re running things

  2. New computer
    Welcome to the world of proper computers – once you have got used to it, you will wonder how on earth you ever put up with Windoze.

    You can now rest safe in the knowledge that you are a member of an elite. 🙂

    (Cue those who believe the Emperor is clothed to scream their defence of an ugly, clunky and unreliable operating system)

    1. mystical stuff
      It is ok to experiment with these religious cults. The Mennonites are harmless and peaceful, and they have some good hospices. But boy do they make money in agriculture.

      The Mac people are generally peaceful and vote left of center. And they give all their money to their iGuru.

      Real computer people use Linux. It’s free, you can look at the inside. Also it runs on everything from the smallest computers that you don’t even know are there, to the largest supercomputers ever built.

      —-
      It is not how fast you go
      it is when you get there.

      1. New computer
        So what underlies OSX then?

        As for voting left of centre (or center if you prefer), this Macista certainly does not. This Macista is a Libertarian.

        Mater tua criceta fuit, et pater tuo redoluit bacarum sambucus

        1. OSX
          OSX is Berkeley Unix, for those who don’t know. iApple just put some lipstick on it, so that the Mac crowd will give them more money.

          —-
          It is not how fast you go
          it is when you get there.

          1. New computer
            Mea culpa maxima – got my UXes confused…

            Cvm consensisti cvm plerisque, tempus est ut sistas et cogites.

  3. My iMac …
    Hi Greg,

    My six-year old iMac died on Halloween, so I took it into my local Apple store where it was pronounced well and truly dead. The Genius there called it a “vintage” computer.

    So I plunked down $1200 for a new one — probably the one you got (unless you got the 24-inch screen.

    Bigger, stronger, faster than before, and $800 less than I paid for my vintage model.

    Lots of luck with it — it’s a nice machine.

    Best,

    Jeff

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