Like you, I have been using Guide since version 4 and also a user of TheSky versions 4 - 6. I am NOT a user of TheSky X.

Have the same situation of a Paramount ME controlled by TheSky 6 at a college public Observatory. You did not indicate which version of TheSky is used to control your scope, ver. 6 or ver X. I do have a lot of expierence using TheSky software, so that was not a drawback for me.

At this time TheSky 6 is used on the Paramount ME with a CCD camera (SBIG) and Orchestrate scripts at this time to image asteriod for astrometry purpose. (When not is use for public observing programs). Importing of asteroids and comets is not as seamless as Guide.

The software I prefer to use is Guide, for asteriods, comets, planets and their moons.

With Guide you can set the longitude of the GRS and show the location of Jupiter's GRS on the graphical display of the planet. Location of all of the moons of the planets on screen and far more information on each object. The rings of Saturn will show the angle of tilt for the current time. As noted Guide import asteroids and comets is much easier.

Importing comets and asteroid may not be a top priorty in your situation.

I allways use Guide to print comets and asteroid paths, and ephemeris lists. Display magnituide of stars on screen and print outs then Guide is my choice.

To most TheSky has a more appealing onscreen appearance than Guide.


John

--- In guide-user@yahoogroups.com, "navillus95472" <joeblow0@...> wrote:
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> I've been a Guide user since version 3. It's on every computer I own (including my Mac using an XP emulation). At the public observatory where I'm a docent we use TheSky for controlling the CCD imaging telescope which is on a Paramount, so I'm reasonably proficient with that.
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> The observatory is now well into a project of building a 1 meter telescope which will use Mel Bartel's ALTAZ tracking system. I suggested we use Guide for pointing the telescope. The response was, "People already know how to use TheSky. Why should they learn a new program? What's so great about Guide?" ... a fair question, and to be fair, the response also included, "We could use both. Just pick your preferred software when starting up."
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> Now I must admit, I dislike TheSky. It seems overly complex and clumsy. It often doesn't have the information I want (or I just can't find it.) I don't like how it looks, and it very expensive.
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> I realize that these objections are (except for expense) either purely subjective or could just be the result of my relative unfamiliarity with TheSky compared to Guide. I've been using Guide so long every that every other planetarium program just looks wrong.
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> Please help me answer their question, "What's so great about Guide?"
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