More Thoughts On Technology 2 - Wednesday, August 16, 2006

I rose early this morning, my window faces east. There hangs Venus in the dawn sky. I know it is Venus. I see it each clear morning, but not evenings. My window faces east.

On a whim I fired up SkyGlobe, and sure enough, SkyGlobe confirmed my view.

But wait!

SkyGlobe told me that little Mercury was close to Venus, and should be visible.

Armed with binoculars I found Mercury. Talk about TINY!

Then I looked for Mercury with my naked and aging eyes. Spotted it!

Triumph!

Can you say you have seen the planet Mercury with the naked eye? I can. Twice!

I saw it about eight years ago when I lived in an apartment facing West. One night I watched Venus set below the distant building skyline. The next night I saw Mercury without the aid of glasses.

So why a Rave about technology?

SkyGlobe is a DOS-based program. Yup!

It is "old" technology.

Not "as old as the stars", but old.

And it still works for me.

http://sidewalkastronomy.tripod.com/skyglobe.html#top

Old technology is not bad, as long as it works, and SkyGlobe, with its myriad locations and help screens is a superb tool. Kudos to KlassM SoftWare, Inc (which sadly no longer exists), but thanks to John Brown for keeping the stars alive for us all.

Download a copy today.

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