Beautiful, powerful, easy to use 
I love this. I've played with several desktop planetarium products including Red Shift, TheSky and even other Starry Night offerings, and this is the one. It's simple to use -- like a web browser, really rich, informative. I'm using it with both my 8 year old and my 12 year old and it's just perfect.Note that in addition to the basic astronomy software, a thing called Deep Space Explorer is in there too-- it's like an encyclopedia meets a space-ship simulator. Very cool.
All in all, a great value.
Excellent, Fun, Easy to Use
This is a great product. Super easy to use, friendly interface, and rich, detailed information presented in a fun way.
As one with only a recent interest in astronomy, the product has been completely informative and advanced my knowledge greatly. I particularly like the guided tours which patiently explain all the constellations and nebulaes. A big favorite with my 8 year old is the 'spaceship', where you can travel the solar system and explore.
I liked this so much that I bought a copy for my brother, who has been interested in astronomy for several years. He gives the program high marks as well, despite being much more advanced in the hobby than me.
Overall, this is an excellent product.
Best Way to Learn About The Universe for Adults and Children
What can I say except - The Best!
I bought this for myself as a reintroduction to an old hobby. The package surpassed all other programs I'd ever seen. It was intuitive, informative and included material I'd never seen before. Needless to say, I'm considering buying a telescope now!
The depth of information on deep sky objects was my favorite feature. However, when my 5th grader got his hands on Starry Night, I couldn't get him to go to bed for a week straight.
The best software out there for all users.
Highly recommended!
Great Way to Pass on a Love for Astronomy
I pride myself on being a fairly experienced amateur astronomer and I've been a very happy and enthusiastic user of Starry Night Pro 4.5 for close to a year. My 10-year old niece got her hands on the "Atlas of the Sky" DVD and I was excited to see in her reaction the signs of the astronomer within.
I knew SM Pro was more than she needed, so I got her the Complete Space & Astronomy Pack for her birthday and it fit the bill exactly. The encyclopedia-like content is fabulous to feed her ever-growing curiosity and the visualization powers are just awesome and keep her coming back for more. She's hooked and now I've got a partner in crime.
This product gets high marks from a happy aunt.
Looking for something good for my kids...
I am constantly on the lookout for science software that's fun for my kids. When I saw that Children's Software Revue gave Starry Night Complete Space & Astronomy Pack 4.5 stars out of five and called it "the ideal package for either novice or expert astronomers who want to know a bit more about their backyard view of the universe," it was a must-buy for my household. My kids LOVE this program. They are on the computer all the time now looking at the planets and the sun or doing one of the guided tours. I totally recommend this!
