Windows 98, ME, 2000, and XP

In the absence of any Java Virtual Machine, Windows XP users must download and install the JVM version recommended by Microsoft.

• Download JVM for XP users

Note that you may need to activate Java manually once you download and install the JVM. It doesn't always configure itself to start automatically.

Netscape

The Sky Chart applet has been tested extensively with Netscape 7 but may not work properly with earlier versions of Netscape.

• Download Netscape 7 (Version 7.2 as of March 2005)

Internet Explorer

This applet has been tested extensively with IE 6.0 and is known to work properly with IE 5.0 and 5.5 as well.

• Download Internet Explorer 6 (Service Pack 1)

If you get an error message reporting that an ActiveX object is not secure, you need to adjust IE's security options. On your browser's menu bar select Tools > Internet Options...; click the Security tab; then click the "Custom Levels..." button. In the list of options for ActiveX controls and plug-ins, find "Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting" and make sure it is enabled.

Opera

The sky-chart applet appears to run properly in version 6.01 of the Opera browser under Windows 98 and under Windows ME with Sun's Java2 JRE version 1.3.1.

Macintosh OS X

Safari

You probably won't be able to set your observing location successfully unless you are using OS X 10.3 or later.

Other Browsers

It appears that under all versions of OS X, Internet Explorer doesn't support changing your observing location. We haven't tested Netscape or other browsers.

Macintosh OS 9.1

Netscape

Currently, this applet is known to work only in Netscape 4.79 with the Macintosh Runtime for Java Plug-in, also known as the MRJ Plug-in. The MRJ Plug-in is a more stable and recent version of the Java environment. Installing this will generally make all applets run better in your browser. After installation, be sure to check the "Use Java Plug-In" box under the "Preferences...Advanced" menu.

• Download the MRJ Plug-in
• Download Netscape 4.79 for the Mac

Linux

The applet appears to work well in Netscape 4.75 on a PC running Red Hat Linux version 7.

Pop-Up Windows

If you've installed a "pop-up stopper" (or if your browser toolbar already includes one) to block advertisements that automatically open in new browser windows, you'll probably have to turn it off to use our Sky Chart, which needs to open in a new browser window.