Description:
Astronomy is a very popular hobby, and many people find computer software helps them pursue this interest. Software can be very flexible in its approach, helping you identify what you're looking at in the night sky on any particular date and learn more about astronomy in general. RedShift 4 is no exception. Indeed, many have regarded past incarnations of this title as the best astronomy software available. The great thing about RedShift 4 is that it works well for both novice and experienced astronomers. The Sky Diary is on hand for you to look up interesting events for the month ahead, from meteor showers to phases of the moon and eclipses. The program explains each event and when best to look for it. Manipulating the night sky is easy, too. You can add and remove objects simply, and can even plot spacecraft as they track across the sky. If armchair learning is more to your liking, you can browse the photo gallery, with its 400-plus photos taken with some of the most sophisticated telescopes in the world. You can also view the multimedia tutorials that talk you through the history of the solar system, the big bang, double stars, and more. And for a real treat, how about observing the night sky from the surface of Mars, or Jupiter, or the moon? RedShift was always a powerful piece of software. It just got better. --Sandra Vogel
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