Starry Night Backyard

Few things are more frustrating for amateur astronomers than to be told of some extraordinary celestial event only for it to be obscured by a cloudy sky. Starry Night Backyard is a CD-ROM package that will allow enthusiasts of the night sky to explore it whenever they want to and whatever the overhead conditions.

The package has some superb visuals and is remarkably wide-ranging--the moving graphics, as you travel through the solar system and past the edges of planets and moons, are quite otherworldly. Complete beginners should note, though, that it is designed for those who have already gained a little knowledge of the stars--a sister package, Starry Night Beginner, is designed for novices.

The first step is to select a home location, whereupon you will be shown a snapshot view from that spot on earth at the time you are using the package. Of course, if it happens to be daytime where you live, you can select another point anywhere on the globe and view the stars from there. If you have never seen the Southern Cross (or the polar star), now there is nothing to stop you.

But what really distinguishes this CD-ROM is that it allows you to explore the constellations that you see from home as well as voyage into the solar system. With the range of viewing locations, you can experience the utter darkness of Pluto and the searing heat of a sunny day on Mercury. You can also view interesting events in the past, including many solar and lunar eclipses, and get an impression of the passage of comets and asteroids.

The range of this package is what will really attract those with an interest in the stars. It gives a sense of the unity of this planet, and the possibility of viewing the sky from anywhere on earth is a real enhancement and embodiment of the modern global village. --Toby Green

This software makes learning about the night sky accessible to your entire family. With a few simple steps, you can watch a sunset from the surface of Mars, hitch a ride on a comet, and learn about the stars and planets shining over your house. Or travel through time to marvel at night skies as seen from anywhere on Earth, from the distant past to the far future. It is suitable for both those who own a telescope and those who don't.