In the shops Our pick of the best books, apps, software and accessories for astronomy and space fans
The latest books, apps, software, tech and accessories for space and astronomy fans alike
Software Redshift 8 Premium Cost: From £43.99 / $44.99 From: redshift-live.com
Redshift is an extremely comprehensive guide to the heavens. Redshift 8, similar to the versions before it, allows you to travel across the Milky Way and beyond to give you a close-up view of planets, moons, asteroids and other celestial bodies within our Solar System. The Premium version is one of the most professional pieces of software available on the market. Within a few moments of using Redshift 8, we immediately realised that it was worth paying for over free, less superior planetarium software. However, in our opinion it would be improved if Redshift 8 was compatible with Mac OS X.
Redshift 8’s design is impressive, but given that its interface has changed since versions 6 and 7, it took some time to find information on celestial events. Once we worked this out the software was easy to use. A glossary of astronomy terms is especially useful if you’re looking to expand your stargazing vocabulary. We also discovered that we had to ‘force quit’ the software on several occasions – something that may infuriate users.
On top of a simulation of around 100 million stars, 1 million deep-sky objects and 500,000 asteroids, as well as 40 interactive multimedia tours, telescope control, breathtaking images, videos, animations and more, Redshift 8 offers several attractive extras including maps of solar eclipses.
Book The Consequential Frontier Cost: £25.00 / $26.99 (Hardback)
From: Melville House
This in-depth work of reportage dares to ask what’s at stake in privatising outer space. Earth is in trouble – so dramatically that we’re now scrambling to explore space for valuable resources and a home for permanent colonisation. With the era of NASA’s dominance now behind us, the private sector is winning this new space race. But if humans and their private wealth have made such a mess of Earth, who can say we won’t do the same in space?
In The Consequential Frontier, business and technology journalist Peter Ward is raising this vital question before it’s too late. Interviewing tech CEOs, inventors, scientists, lobbyists, politicians and future civilian astronauts, Ward sheds light on a whole industry beyond headline-grabbing rocket billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, and introduces the new generation of activists trying to keep it from rushing recklessly into the cosmos.
With optimism for what humans might accomplish in space if we could leave our tendency towards deregulation, inequality and environmental destruction behind, Ward shows just how much cooperation it will take to protect our universal resource and how beneficial it could be for all of us.
Binoculars Helios Solana 10x50 binoculars
Cost: £42.99 From: Optical Vision Ltd
Helios Solana 10x50 Porro Prism Binoculars are a lightweight, comfortable, convenient and stylish binocular, ideal for birdwatching, astronomy, nature and general use. With their 10x magnification, they allow you to watch the scene closely and clearly, and the large size 50mm objective lenses increase light transmission and offer viewing even in low-light conditions.
The optical components have anti-reflective properties which assure the maximum light transmission and deliver bright, crisp images in the widest range of viewing conditions. The BK-7 Porro Prism design provides a wider field of view. The specially coated rubberarmoured body makes these binoculars extremely comfortable to hold, with a soft and luxurious feel, and protect them from any damage.
The extra-large centre focus wheel gives an observer very smooth and accurate focusing.
The 10mm eye-relief design offers the viewer an entire 114-metre (374-foot) field of view very clearly. The soft fold-down rubber eyecups make these binoculars ideal for both spectacle users and non-glassers wearers and block peripheral light. They come with a soft, padded carrying case, neck strap and eyepiece cap to keep the binoculars safe during long travelling without any worry.
App NASA Visualization Explorer
Cost: Free From: iOS and Android
With a treasure trove of information, this latest application from NASA is very educational and interactive, providing you with tidbits of information that are digestible so you don’t have to take in too much all at once. Even better, it’s entirely free for all iPad and iPhone users, providing you with the perfect companion to learn all about NASA, its missions, cutting-edge research and spacecraft, as well as general space science facts to keep you updated. New stories are posted up every week, so it’s important that you’re hooked up to WiFi or a suitable data connection on your iPhone.
We got stuck into the new updated version (1.9.11) of the NASA Visualization Explorer as soon as we downloaded it and found that there was no crashing of the movie player – a bug that put off many users of the earlier versions – and that this handy app played audio seamlessly.
With there always being something new to learn, plus stunning illustrations and images along the way, the NASA Visualization Explorer app gets a huge thumbs up!
“It’s full of information that is digestible so you don’t have to take in too much all at once”