The settings in this view let you control the overall theme or "look and feel" for the app, and sets its use of color in your sky charts.
These settings are quite different in the iOS versus Android versions of SkySafari. Differences are noted below, so make sure you're looking at the correct part of the documentation for your version of the app!
These options are only found in the iOS version of SkySafari. Android SkySafari users will find the equivalent options under the Appearance section, below.
Classic:When selected, the app uses the look-and-feel of standard iPhone controls, which are mostly dark text on light backgrounds. The Classic theme is best for using the app during the day time.
Onyx: When selected, the app uses light text on black or dark grey backgrounds, reversing the standard iPhone look-and-feel.
Night Vision: When selected, the app uses red text on black backgrounds. The Night Vision theme is best used in the dark, out under the stars.
Sound Effects: Controls the use of sound in the app. When turned on, SkySafari plays sounds in response to events such as selecting a new object, connecting to a telescope, and so on. When turned off, SkySafari does not play sounds.
Chart Momentum: Provides smoother panning. When turned on, the chart "glides to a halt" when you remove your finger after swiping. When turned off, the chart stops moving instantly when you remove your finger. Please Note: this feature is only available in SkySafari Plus and Pro.
Chart Animations: Provides animated panning to objects that you select and center in the sky chart. If turned off, the chart jumps instantly to objects when you center them. Please Note: this feature is only available in the SkySafari Plus and Pro.
Show FPS: Displays frames per second as you're swiping or animating the chart (FPS = 1.0 by default when the app is sitting idle.) Please Note: this feature is only available in the SkySafari Plus and Pro.
Prevent Auto-Lock: When turned ON, this prevents the device from sleeping while SkySafari is active. This allows a continuous connection to a telescope. Please Note: this feature is only available in the SkySafari Plus and Pro.
Toolbar Icon Order: Lets you rearrange the items on the main sky chart toolbar. Tap this item to show the list of toolbar items. Tap and drag the "grip" on the right side of an item in the list to rearrange it. Tap Done when finished. Please Note: this feature is only available in the SkySafari Plus and Pro.
These options are only found in the iOS version of SkySafari. Android SkySafari users will find the equivalent options under the Appearance section, below.
Color Chart: Displays stars, planets, and other objects in the sky chart using full color.
Monochrome Chart: Displays stars, planets, and other objects in the sky chart using grayscale, with light objects on a dark background.
Inverse Monochrome Chart: Displays stars, planets, and other objects in the sky chart using grayscale, with dark objects on a light background. This makes the sky chart appear as a photographic negative, and may make it easier to see for those with poor vision.
Screen Brightness: Sets the brighness level of the screen. Turning this down, especially when using the Night Vision theme, may help preserve your visual dark adaptation, as well as save battery life.
When using the Night Vision theme, the sky chart is always drawn with red objects on a dark background (or dark objects on a red background, if you're using Inverse Monochrome sky charts). Again, this is to preserve your night vision - red light affects your dark adaptation much less than white light.
These options are only found in the iOS version of SkySafari. Android SkySafari users will find the equivalent options under the Behavior section, below.
Allow Auto Rotation: When turned on, the main sky chart and other views automatically rotate as you turn your device from portrait to landscape mode. When turned off, all views stay in portrait mode, regardless of how you are holding your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
This setting overrides the hardware rotation lock on the iPad. In other words, if the auto rotation setting is turned off, all of SkySafari's views will remain in portrait mode even if the iPad's hardware rotation lock is disabled. You may want to have other iPad apps auto-rotate, but keep SkySafari in portrait orientation.
Toolbar in Landscape: When turned on, the main toolbar and status bar appear when your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad is held in Landscape mode, as well as in Portrait mode. If this setting is turned off, the toolbar will disappear in Landscape mode, giving you a "full screen" sky chart view.
These options are only found in SkySafari for Android. iOS SkySafari users will find the equivalent options under the App Theme & Behavior section, above.
Color Chart: Displays stars, planets, and other objects in the sky chart using full color.
Monochrome Chart: Displays stars, planets, and other objects in the sky chart using grayscale, with light objects on a dark background.
Inverse Monochrome Chart: Displays stars, planets, and other objects in the sky chart using grayscale, with dark objects on a light background. This makes the sky chart appear as a photographic negative, and may make it easier to see for those with poor vision.
Night Vision: When selected, the app uses red text on black backgrounds. The Night Vision theme is best used in the dark, out under the stars.
These options are only found in SkySafari for Android. iOS SkySafari users will find the equivalent options under the App Theme & Behavior section, above.
Sound Effects: Controls the use of sound in the app. When turned on, SkySafari plays sounds in response to events such as selecting a new object, connecting to a telescope, and so on. When turned off, SkySafari does not play sounds.
Chart Momentum: Provides smoother panning. When turned on, the chart "glides to a halt" when you remove your finger after swiping. When turned off, the chart stops moving instantly when you remove your finger. Please Note: this feature is only available in SkySafari Plus and Pro.
Chart Animations: Provides animated panning to objects that you select and center in the sky chart. If turned off, the chart jumps instantly to objects when you center them. Please Note: this feature is only available in the SkySafari Plus and Pro.
Allow Auto Rotation: Determines whether the sky chart will flip from portrait to landscape mode, or vice-versa, when you rotate your Android phone or tablet accordingly. By turning this option off, you can keep the sky chart "locked" in one orientation or the other. This option only applies to the main sky chart, not globally to all screens.
Show Frames Per Second: Displays frames per second as you're swiping or animating the chart (FPS = 1.0 by default when the app is sitting idle.)