Hello all, I've just released a new version of AutoStar for FSX. You can get it here: http://www.kline.demon.co.uk/AutoStarX.zipNew features:1. The brightness of the planets changes as a function of phase angle and distance from the Earth.2. The SAO star catalogue can be imported, thus allowing many more stars to be displayed.3. The appearance of the background stars can be adjusted: brightness, dynamic range and colour strength.4. Brighter stars are automatically displayed as small groups of up to sixteen stars, thus increasing the effective brightness dynamic range by a factor of sixteen.The SAO star catalogue has about a quarter of a million stars going down to magnitude 9 (far fainter than can be seen by the naked eye). The import function allows you to set a limiting magnitude, so you can set the number of displayed stars.In this version you can change the appearance of the background stars, for example by changing the brightness or increasing the star colours. With a high colour and brightness setting the sky will look like a huge Christmas tree!Some screen shots: Comet westhttp://www.kline.demon.co.uk/as4.jpgComet Swan (November 2006)http://www.kline.demon.co.uk/as12.jpghttp://www.kline.demon.co.uk/as14.jpgA comet, some planets - and Pluto!http://www.kline.demon.co.uk/as16.jpgExaggerated star colours and brightnesshttp://www.kline.demon.co.uk/as17.jpgCelestial circles with coordinates let you navigate across the sky (circles don't show in this shot)http://www.kline.demon.co.uk/as19.jpgHave fun and Happy Christmas!Best regards, Chris

Just to let you know it's also available from the Avsim library.Best regards, Chris

There was some talk about Pluto no longer being considered a planet. Now we see why!Thanks, Chris, great contribution and lots of fun.Best regards.Luis

Thank you very much for this! I was not flying at night cause the default FSX stars were sooooooo bad.Jim

Thanks for the original autostar and the update Chris, it does make a difference to night flying.Love the screen shot of Pluto :-lol .Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Where is the original (FS9) version?Can't find it under Chris Wright or autostar.* Orest

You can get it right here:http://www.kline.demon.co.uk/autostar.zipBest regards and happy Christmas, Chris

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. To hear that people are enjoying it is a big encouragement.I've included all the features I originally intended, but if you have any ideas for new features, please let me know. The same applies if you found any bugs or things that need improvement.A very happy Christmas to you all!Best regards, Chris

>Thanks, everyone, for your comments. To hear that people are>enjoying it is a big encouragement.>>I've included all the features I originally intended, but if>you have any ideas for new features, please let me know. The>same applies if you found any bugs or things that need>improvement.>>A very happy Christmas to you all!>>Best regards,> ChrisHi Chris and thanx again! It would be neat to have the stars slightly dimmed down near the horizon. Maybe they already are can't really tell.Jimsee: http://www.fillingthesky.com/id46.html"The more atmosphere a star

Jim, that's an interesting idea. It would certainly be possible. Of course, the stars in FSX are static so you would have to run AutoStar for a specific time and location. Also the stars below the horizon could be filtered out which would save a bit of memory. I'll think about it.Looking at your excellent web site did give me an idea, though. FSX has the ability to display the constellation shapes, but the individual stars have to be specified for each constellation. That's something the program could do, along with adding the constellation names. So now there are two things to think about....Best regards, Chris

Hi Chris,Thanks for considering everything. Your work is appreciated.How bout really pushing the envelope - but this might be a tough one.I would just love to chase the shadow of a total solar eclipseas it proceeds over the Earth at correct day/location/time from a 737 at FL350. That would take a really carefully crafted flight plan to maximize totality.The shadow's been cast I hope.JimPS. Not my site - just found info on Google.

Jim, That would be great, but I would have absolutely no idea how to do that. Don't forget, AutoStar achieves its effects by adding static stars to the sky, so it would be a bit tricky to create a shadow on the earth! I might consider the star dimming idea for any future version. I have added the option to show the constellation shapes.>PS. Not my site - just found info on Google.By chance his name was also Jim, so I assumed....Best regards, Chris

Thanks again Chris for your work. It truely changes the night flying experience. I really like the color variations of the stars, a welcomed upgrade from FS9. I too think the horizon dimming idea would be good for a future update.Just for a fun note from my latest astronomy mag:Size for size (when viewing from Earth with the naked eye) - the orion nebula, andromeda galaxy, and Eta Carinae nebula are all larger (take up more real estate in the sky) than the full Moon ! It's funny how our perception works, as the moon is so dominating you just assume its the biggest.BTW - While were talking space, I always thought a cool fx file would be a meteor shower - that triggers on corresponding dates.Anyways, thanks again Chris !Regards'Garett