SkyViewer

0.2.4

Introduction

This is an OpenGL based program to display HEALPix-based skymaps, saved in FITS format files. The loaded skymaps can be viewed either on a 3D sphere or as a Mollweide projection. In either case, realtime panning and zooming are supported, along with rotations for the 3D sphere view, assuming you have a strong enough graphics card.

Requirements:

• Qt, >= v3.3.6 Skyviewer does not currently work with Qt 4.
• CFITSIO, A FITS File Subroutine Library, >= v2.440
• HEALPix, >= v2.01
• libQGLViewer, >= v2.2.4

I have developed this on a RedHat Linux-based system, but this should work with Windows and Mac OSX as well. At least all the above libraries claim to be able to be built on them. Let me know if you have any success.

Note: For HEALPix, I do not need the entire package, just the C library. So enter the directory /path/to/Healpix_1.20/src/C/subs/ and make and make install. This should be enough. Not to say the rest of the HEALPix package isn't worth building, just that is all I need.

Installation

Once everything is in place, grab the source code: skyviewer-0.2.4.tar.gz Ungzip and untar the file in a convenient location, qmake and make:

tar xfz skyviewer-0.2.4.tar.gz
cd skyviewer-0.2.4
qmake
make

If everything goes as it should, you should have the binary skyviewer. Put it where you like to keep your binaries and enjoy looking at skymaps in full 3D glory. Please email us with any successes or failures you encounter: Suggestions. We would be delighted to hear of anyone's success in making builds under either Windows or Mac OSX.

Usage

Using this program is straightforward. After starting, you are prompted to select a FITS to load. Once the map is loaded, use the mouse to rotate/pan/zoom and select display options from the buttons on the left. Use the *Help*, , and *WhatsThis*, , buttons for further help.

To select pixel, "Shift" + "Left-Mouse-Button". Information will appear on the left, under the "Sphere Resolution" button.

Nicholas Phillips, phillips@friday.gsfc.nasa.gov, SSAI/NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt MD.

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