Software - AstroWorkBench (AWB)
Once downloaded right click the zip file and select the extract menu option and then double click the setup.exe file to install.
AstroWorkBench (AWB) is a consolidated set of applications that I use during my observational sessions. I have written these applications over many years with the following primary goals:
- To display deep sky objects (DSO’s) and solar system objects in such a manner to make it quick and easy to see which objects are viewable at any date, time and location;
- Providing a suite of utility applications to support an observation session.
This application is therefore not designed to be one of the plethora of ‘beautiful’ sky rendering applications; it is designed to be of use before and during your observational session to easily identify candidate DSO or solar system objects for observing and then support the observation of those objects.
AstroWorkBench installs under a Windows Program Group called AstroWorkBench. The installation also checks for the applicable .Net runtime version, and if not already present on your PC it will be downloaded from Microsoft. I currently run my application on Windows 10 and 11 PCs and Laptops.
Stars to magnitude 9 are included with the application, to download the UACA4 star catalogue which gives access to stars down to magnitude 16 click here.
Just in case you are curious, I began writing astronomy software on a BBC micro in the 1980’s and I have migrated through every version of Microsoft’s Visual Studio (and its IDE predecessors) and .Net since their introduction. My AWB application is currently a 64-bit Windows Microsoft .Net C# application.
A few screenshots from the application are shown below:
Terms and Conditions.
Keith Ehren makes make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the software contained on this web site for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information, and the use of the software, is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event shall the author be liable for any claim, damage or other liability arising from its use.