Before my Aussie friends spit the dummy (get upset) over my previous posts, let me set the record straight. Australia has more to offer than ill-tempered kangaroos and duckbilled platypuses - or is it platypi? Having had my fill of death-defying flights and moody marsupials, I decided some star gazing would be a fun and safe way to spend an evening. Even with my track record, I'm not unlucky enough to get hit by a falling star.

Good thing the locals warned me to keep my eyes on the ground while seeking my perfect patch of stargazing beach - it was blue bottle season. Forewarned, I picked my way through gelatinous blue carcasses abandoned by the tide. Lying amid dead jellyfish and listening to the waves on shore, I spent a warm summer night admiring stellar views available only in the southern hemisphere. I emerged sandy, inspired - and unscathed.

Safely home, I miss my star-gazing nights. But when winter temperatures turn my breath to white wisps, the night sky loses some of its shine. Thanks to a nifty piece of software, Starry Night, I can surf the stars from any view point at any time. I can even program it to relive the Australian sky I saw that very night - without the stinging marine life. Available in a Backyard version for beginners and a Pro edition for serious star gazers, this application satisfies even the most cosmically curious. With versions for both Macs and PCs, anyone can brush up on their constellations and impress fellow campers with their astronomical knowledge come mosquito season.

Sirius stuff? Hardly...

Charmian Christie,
Outdoor Adventure Expert