Can RTGUI+S find Solar System objects?
Of course. To locate the Sun, Moon, or one of the major planets, just find its name on the scroll bar at the bottom right, and click. It gives you the constellation name for all solar system objects’ positions. It’s easy to locate comets and asteroids. Just click on Get Comet/Asteroid, and enter the name of the object you want to observe. RTGUI uses the internet to contact the Minor Planet Ephemeris Service at Harvard, and loads 60 days’ worth of positions for that object. (Click on Visible Comets/Asteroids to find out what objects can currently be seen.) The appropriate RA and Dec is automatically loaded each time the object is requested. Even if you take your laptop out to a remote observing site with no internet connection, you will still have precise positions for the next 60 days, for as many comets and asteroids as you care to observe.
