How to Select a Star

Viewing Cube star selection with Inset of Data Mode selection.

In the Viewing Cube

The heart of the software is the Viewing Cube. To select a star or change Focus star, make sure you are in Data Mode. In Viewing Cube Controls, click on the "Data" Mode button, the move your green crosshairs mouse cursor to the star you want to select. When the cursor brightens, it means that one or more stars have been acquired. Simply click.

Part of Star Data Display showing Selected Star Count.

Ensuring You Have the Right Star

Frequently, clicking on a star results in only one star selected. Sometimes, though, a chance alignment results in the selection of more than one star. The scroll buttons just to the right of the Star Data Display, Selected Star Count, allow you to finalize your star selection.

Sometimes, when you click on a multiple star, you might see that the count is less than expected. This can happen when "Show Select" in Hood Tools does not include the star type of the "secondary" star you expected. For instance, if you click on Sirius, but do not have "Degenerates" checked in "Show Select," Star Data Display will show a Selected Star Count of only "1." Checking "Degenerates," then selecting Sirius again gives you a count of "2."

Sky Map, Alien Skies, selecting a star.

In Sky Map & Alien Skies

When viewing a Sky Map or Alien Skies view, simply move your green crosshairs mouse cursor to the desired star and click. You can ensure you have the right star by looking in the Star List below the Sky Map. In the Alien Skies example at right, the mouse cursor has acquired Alpha Centauri, a few degrees below our own sun.

Star List Query, selecting new Focus star.

In Star List Query

When you perform a Star List Query, you receive a list of all stars which meet your criteria. If one of them interests you further, you can simply click on the star icon on the left of the list to make it the new "Focus Star."