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Main
Date: 31 Jul 2006 16:39:46
From:
Subject: Star Projection Software Recommendation
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I'm interested in painting (with glo-in-the-dark paint) a realistic
projection of the night sky on my child's ceiling.
The child's birthdate will be in late February/early March so I'm
trying to use the night sky from the northern hemisphere at that time
as the template.
I need a recommendation for a software package to generate a projection
of the night sky. My intention is to create a custom stencil with the
constellations (including the names of the constellations), nearest
solar twins, other interesting stars, etc., so that in the decade to
come my child will learn the night sky from the comfort of their own
room.
I can imagine there are a number of complicating factors in projecting
the night sky onto a flat surface (the ceiling). Any help in
navigating through these complexities would be appreciated.
Thanks.
= Joseph
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Date: 31 Jul 2006 21:44:57
From: SkySea
Subject: Re: Star Projection Software Recommendation
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You can get a $30 projector from Toy R Us or American Science and
Surplus. It has a globe of the stars with a light bulb in the center.
Place the globe on a table in the center of the room, and mark the
bright stars on the ceiling. Then you can fill in the dimmer stars
from star charts.
> joseph_stiehm@yahoo.com wrote:
>I'm interested in painting (with glo-in-the-dark paint) a realistic
>projection of the night sky on my child's ceiling.
>
>The child's birthdate will be in late February/early March so I'm
>trying to use the night sky from the northern hemisphere at that time
>as the template.
>
>I need a recommendation for a software package to generate a projection
>of the night sky. My intention is to create a custom stencil with the
>constellations (including the names of the constellations), nearest
>solar twins, other interesting stars, etc., so that in the decade to
>come my child will learn the night sky from the comfort of their own
>room.
>
>I can imagine there are a number of complicating factors in projecting
>the night sky onto a flat surface (the ceiling). Any help in
>navigating through these complexities would be appreciated.
>
>Thanks.
>
>= Joseph
=============
- Dale Gombert (SkySea at aol.com)
122.38W, 47.58N, W. Seattle, WA
http://flavorj.com/~skysea
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Date: 01 Aug 2006 05:09:34
From: Eugene Griessel
Subject: Re: Star Projection Software Recommendation
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SkySea <SkySea@aolREMOVE.com > wrote:
>You can get a $30 projector from Toy R Us or American Science and
>Surplus. It has a globe of the stars with a light bulb in the center.
>Place the globe on a table in the center of the room, and mark the
>bright stars on the ceiling. Then you can fill in the dimmer stars
>from star charts.
When I was a wee boy, many decades ago, we went for a low-tech
solution to the problem. A fairly large torch is required, one of
those with a large curved lens. Paint the lens black and then trace
out the constellations with a pin (if you want those) using a tracing
from a small planisphere as the model. Stick the torch in the middle
of the room and project onto the ceiling. These "planetariums" gave us
kids much inncocent amusement back in those days. And possibly led to
a lifelong interest in the heavens. I think we got the idea from one
of those scientific magazines for children.
Eugene L Griessel
Culture is what your butcher would have if he were a surgeon.
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Date: 01 Aug 2006 13:00:08
From: Llanzlan Klazmon
Subject: Re: Star Projection Software Recommendation
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joseph_stiehm@yahoo.com wrote in news:1154389186.084406.71880
@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
> I'm interested in painting (with glo-in-the-dark paint) a realistic
> projection of the night sky on my child's ceiling.
>
> The child's birthdate will be in late February/early March so I'm
> trying to use the night sky from the northern hemisphere at that time
> as the template.
>
> I need a recommendation for a software package to generate a projection
> of the night sky. My intention is to create a custom stencil with the
> constellations (including the names of the constellations), nearest
> solar twins, other interesting stars, etc., so that in the decade to
> come my child will learn the night sky from the comfort of their own
> room.
>
> I can imagine there are a number of complicating factors in projecting
> the night sky onto a flat surface (the ceiling). Any help in
> navigating through these complexities would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks.
>
> = Joseph
>
>
Well you could buy a planetarium projector. You could solve the problem of
the flat surface by putting a dome on the kids room. Seventeen grand for
the projector. Cost of dome? get a quote from a builder.
http://www.digitaliseducation.com/products-digitarium_alpha.html
If the cost looks too much just get a free copy of Cartes Du Ciel and they
can learn the constellations right from their PC's monitor:
http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/
Klazmon.
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Date: 31 Jul 2006 22:33:21
From: Ed Otto
Subject: Re: Star Projection Software Recommendation
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"Llanzlan Klazmon" <Klazmon@llurdiaxorb.govt > wrote in message
news:Xns981284440E752Klazmonllurdiaxorbgo@203.97.37.6...
> joseph_stiehm@yahoo.com wrote in news:1154389186.084406.71880
> @i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
>
> > I'm interested in painting (with glo-in-the-dark paint) a realistic
> > projection of the night sky on my child's ceiling.
> >
> > The child's birthdate will be in late February/early March so I'm
> > trying to use the night sky from the northern hemisphere at that time
> > as the template.
> >
> > I need a recommendation for a software package to generate a projection
> > of the night sky. My intention is to create a custom stencil with the
> > constellations (including the names of the constellations), nearest
> > solar twins, other interesting stars, etc., so that in the decade to
> > come my child will learn the night sky from the comfort of their own
> > room.
> >
> > I can imagine there are a number of complicating factors in projecting
> > the night sky onto a flat surface (the ceiling). Any help in
> > navigating through these complexities would be appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > = Joseph
> >
> >
>
> Well you could buy a planetarium projector. You could solve the problem of
> the flat surface by putting a dome on the kids room. Seventeen grand for
> the projector. Cost of dome? get a quote from a builder.
>
> http://www.digitaliseducation.com/products-digitarium_alpha.html
>
> If the cost looks too much just get a free copy of Cartes Du Ciel and they
> can learn the constellations right from their PC's monitor:
>
> http://www.stargazing.net/astropc/
>
> Klazmon.
For a HELPFUL solution:
Try this: Cartes du Soleil (sp?) is freeware with ample catalogues to meet
your requirements.
You can rent a projector for somewhere in the vicinity of $40 / day; you'll
only need it over a weekend.
Set your PC up with the projector in the middle of the room, and project the
map onto the ceiling, then trace it out and then get some glow-in-the-dark
paint and have at it. I did one for my son once and it took about 8 1/2
hours to complete.
A Hint: Paint the ceiling flat black first, then trace in a white fine
point PAINT marker.
Ed
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Date: 01 Aug 2006 00:14:30
From: Davoud
Subject: Re: Star Projection Software Recommendation
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Ed Otto wrote:
> For a HELPFUL solution:
>
> Try this: Cartes du Soleil (sp?) is freeware with ample catalogues to meet
> your requirements.
>
> You can rent a projector for somewhere in the vicinity of $40 / day; you'll
> only need it over a weekend.
> Set your PC up with the projector in the middle of the room, and project the
> map onto the ceiling, then trace it out and then get some glow-in-the-dark
> paint and have at it. I did one for my son once and it took about 8 1/2
> hours to complete.
>
> A Hint: Paint the ceiling flat black first, then trace in a white fine
> point PAINT marker.
Glad to see someone offer a sensible solution. I would take exception
to only one thing: The "sky" will look better in daylight if the
ceiling is painted dark blue rather than black.
Another possibility for stars -- if access to the ceiling is available
via an attic, e.g. -- is to use fiber optics to simulate the stars. I
saw such an installation once and it was breathtaking. One can envision
an installation in which stars scintillate and may be dimmed.
Unfortunately, I was unable to see the details of the fiber optic
system.
Davoud
--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com
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Date:
From: Martin Brown
Subject: Re: Star Projection Software Recommendation
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Date: 15 Aug 2006 09:15:05
From: Linux Utilisateur
Subject: Re: Star Projection Software Recommendation
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joseph_stiehm@yahoo.com wrote:
> I'm interested in painting (with glo-in-the-dark paint) a realistic
> projection of the night sky on my child's ceiling.
First off, there is no way you will be able to get "realistic" view of
the night sky on a ceiling -- stick with the naked sky.
What you are looking for is called: Space Home Planetarium, or Space
Theatre Home Planetarium.
For your children try:
Space Theater Home Planetarium
http://www.learningthings.com/Items/JII-06400.htm
Star Theater
http://www.smilesallaround.com/Star-Theater-p-682.html
or
Night Sky Projection Kit
http://www.physlink.com/estore/cart/NightSkyProjectionKit.cfm
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