Starry Night Manual (Tools)

The Tool Palette

You will find the Tool Palette just to the left of Starry Night's main viewing window. From this palette you can quickly access a variety of the program's features and instruments.

The Tool Palette, shown here, contains a number of buttons and display areas. Click on a button to select a tool. When selected the tool's icon will show up on your computer screen in place of the mouse pointer.

Selection Tool: This tool is used to select objects in the sky. If you want to select multiple objects, hold down the shift key as you make your selections. Double-clicking on the tool will open the Preferences window.

Grabber Tool: This tool is used to change your view of the sky. Use this tool to 'drag' the sky to the left or right, up or down, until you reach an area you'd like to see.

Constellation Selection Tool: Use this tool to select constellations -- click anywhere in the sky. The constellation that contains that point will be selected. Double-clicking on the tool will open an options window, allowing you to choose what to show when the constellation is selected.

Location Scroller: Use this tool to change the latitude and longitude you are observing from. Dragging up or down will adjust your longitude, dragging left or right changes your latitude. For example, while viewing from Earth, you can use this tool to quickly travel to anywhere on the Earth's surface.

Tip: This tool is particularly useful if you've lifted off into space and now want to adjust your view of the planet below you.

Angular Separation Tool: Use this tool to determine the angular separation between two objects, as seen from your current viewing position. Select the tool, then drag from one object to the other.

Magnification Tool: Use this tool to magnify your current view. Click anywhere in the window to zoom in that direction. To magnify a specific area of the sky, hold down the mouse button and drag to encompass the area you wish magnified. Holding down the Ctrl key (Windows) or the Option key (Macintosh) while using the Zoom tool will zoom you back out. Double clicking on the tool will return you to a normal field of view.

Picture Selection Tool: You can use this tool to select an area of the sky that you'd like to save as a picture. Choose the tool, then drag it diagonally over the area. Select "Copy" from the Edit menu. The picture can then be pasted into another program. On a Macintosh you can also drag a selected area into another application or onto the desktop. Double clicking on the tool will select the entire window.

Movie Tool: This tool is used to create QuickTime movies. Select the tool, then drag the area of the sky you'd like to make a movie of. By double clicking on the tool, you can adjust several recording settings (compression settings, the frame rate, and quality). For more information about making Starry Night movies, please see Making Movies.

Time Button: This opens and closes the Time palette.

Planet Button: This opens and closes the Planet palette.

Mouse Info Button: This opens and closes the Mouse Info Display.

Display Button: This opens and closes the Display palette.

Location Button: Clicking this button opens up the Location window, from which you can adjust your location.

Current Location Display: This area displays the planet or object where you are currently located, as well as your latitude and longitude. If you have adjusted your location to hover above a planet, your current longitude will be replaced by the word "Hover". See Hovering in the Location chapter for more information on hovering. By clicking in this display you can adjust the latitude and longitude of your current viewing location.

Elevation Buttons: These two buttons act very much like the rocket engines of a space ship. Press the right button to blast off from a planet's surface (to an elevation of up to 700 AU's). Press the left button to lower your elevation, as if using a spacecraft's landing thrusters. To increase the speed of your blast-off or landing, hold down the Shift key at the same time.

Return Home: This button will quickly return you to a normal field of view, at the default home location.

Current Elevation Display: This area displays your current elevation in meters, kilometers, or AU's, whichever is appropriate. If you hold down your mouse button while over this display, a popup menu will appear letting you quickly change your elevation to a number of preset elevations, or to hover above your present location.

Zoom Buttons: These buttons adjust the magnification level of your current window. Press the "near mountain" button to zoom in. This is like looking through an ever-more-powerful telescope. To zoom back out, press the "far mountain" button (on the left).

Normal Field of View: This button quickly brings you back to a normal field of view, approximately 100 degrees.

Current Zoom Display: This area displays your current field of view. Holding the mouse button down over this display will reveal a popup menu from which you can select from several preset fields of view.

Window Display Buttons: These three buttons at the bottom of the tool palette adjust the way Starry Night's window's are displayed:

Click the left button to display a normal window view, with menu bars and scroll bars. (This is the default setting.)

Click the middle button to display a full screen view, but with a menu bar only.

Click the right button to display a full screen view, without a menu bar or scroll bars.

Shortcut: To switch between hiding and showing any open palettes, press Ctrl-B (Windows) or Command-B (Macintosh). You can also use the Tab key to hide and show open palettes (except when a dialog box is selected, where tab takes you from field to field).

			You will find the Tool Palette just to the left of Starry Night's main viewing window. From this palette you can quickly access a variety of the program's features and instruments. The Tool Palette, shown here, contains a number of buttons and display areas. Click on a button to select a tool. When selected the tool's icon will show up on your computer screen in place of the mouse pointer.
			Selection Tool: This tool is used to select objects in the sky. If you want to select multiple objects, hold down the shift key as you make your selections. Double-clicking on the tool will open the Preferences window.
			Grabber Tool: This tool is used to change your view of the sky. Use this tool to 'drag' the sky to the left or right, up or down, until you reach an area you'd like to see.
			Constellation Selection Tool: Use this tool to select constellations -- click anywhere in the sky. The constellation that contains that point will be selected. Double-clicking on the tool will open an options window, allowing you to choose what to show when the constellation is selected.
			Location Scroller: Use this tool to change the latitude and longitude you are observing from. Dragging up or down will adjust your longitude, dragging left or right changes your latitude. For example, while viewing from Earth, you can use this tool to quickly travel to anywhere on the Earth's surface. Tip: This tool is particularly useful if you've lifted off into space and now want to adjust your view of the planet below you.
			Angular Separation Tool: Use this tool to determine the angular separation between two objects, as seen from your current viewing position. Select the tool, then drag from one object to the other.
			Magnification Tool: Use this tool to magnify your current view. Click anywhere in the window to zoom in that direction. To magnify a specific area of the sky, hold down the mouse button and drag to encompass the area you wish magnified. Holding down the Ctrl key (Windows) or the Option key (Macintosh) while using the Zoom tool will zoom you back out. Double clicking on the tool will return you to a normal field of view.
			Picture Selection Tool: You can use this tool to select an area of the sky that you'd like to save as a picture. Choose the tool, then drag it diagonally over the area. Select "Copy" from the Edit menu. The picture can then be pasted into another program. On a Macintosh you can also drag a selected area into another application or onto the desktop. Double clicking on the tool will select the entire window.
			Movie Tool: This tool is used to create QuickTime movies. Select the tool, then drag the area of the sky you'd like to make a movie of. By double clicking on the tool, you can adjust several recording settings (compression settings, the frame rate, and quality). For more information about making Starry Night movies, please see Making Movies. Time Button: This opens and closes the Time palette. Planet Button: This opens and closes the Planet palette. Mouse Info Button: This opens and closes the Mouse Info Display. Display Button: This opens and closes the Display palette. Location Button: Clicking this button opens up the Location window, from which you can adjust your location. Current Location Display: This area displays the planet or object where you are currently located, as well as your latitude and longitude. If you have adjusted your location to hover above a planet, your current longitude will be replaced by the word "Hover". See Hovering in the Location chapter for more information on hovering. By clicking in this display you can adjust the latitude and longitude of your current viewing location.
			Elevation Buttons: These two buttons act very much like the rocket engines of a space ship. Press the right button to blast off from a planet's surface (to an elevation of up to 700 AU's). Press the left button to lower your elevation, as if using a spacecraft's landing thrusters. To increase the speed of your blast-off or landing, hold down the Shift key at the same time.
			Return Home: This button will quickly return you to a normal field of view, at the default home location. Current Elevation Display: This area displays your current elevation in meters, kilometers, or AU's, whichever is appropriate. If you hold down your mouse button while over this display, a popup menu will appear letting you quickly change your elevation to a number of preset elevations, or to hover above your present location.
			Zoom Buttons: These buttons adjust the magnification level of your current window. Press the "near mountain" button to zoom in. This is like looking through an ever-more-powerful telescope. To zoom back out, press the "far mountain" button (on the left).
			Normal Field of View: This button quickly brings you back to a normal field of view, approximately 100 degrees. Current Zoom Display: This area displays your current field of view. Holding the mouse button down over this display will reveal a popup menu from which you can select from several preset fields of view. Window Display Buttons: These three buttons at the bottom of the tool palette adjust the way Starry Night's window's are displayed: Click the left button to display a normal window view, with menu bars and scroll bars. (This is the default setting.) Click the middle button to display a full screen view, but with a menu bar only. Click the right button to display a full screen view, without a menu bar or scroll bars. Shortcut: To switch between hiding and showing any open palettes, press Ctrl-B (Windows) or Command-B (Macintosh). You can also use the Tab key to hide and show open palettes (except when a dialog box is selected, where tab takes you from field to field).

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