How Meticulous is Your Observational Log?

[sabana]

I use Starry Night Pro 6 Plus for logging my viewings. It keeps it all neat and tidy. And i can print it off whenever I need to.

How do others in the group record their sightings? And are you meticulous in detail, keeping everything in a folder with plastic inserts, or a bit gung-ho? eg bits of paper flying about everywhere.

[ronin]

I just cross reference all the clouds I see to the field guide of cloud types. Don't bother to log them.

[umadog]

I use Sky Tools and make pretty short notes. Usually just a sentence. Occasionally nothing but a note that the object was seen.

[David Smith]

Fair amount of OCD involved! All notes are typed up using prefabricated templates. All docs are numbered and cross referenced. All objects logged in a spreadsheet seperately as well as in typed motes, so I can get a quick reference to when I last saw an object. All sketches scanned and then backed up onto an external drive.

I will get a life one day...maybe

Should mention I work as a quality manager so this stuff is second nature to me.

David

[umadog]

You do sign them off in triplicate?

Seriously, though, I wish I were that organised.

[AstroNinja]

Fairly meticulous using Sky Tools 3. Usual data such as date, time, sky conditions, and general notes about the object and the observation, but I also include the star hopping sequence to locate it.

Jon

[Quatermass]

Notes scribbled on bits of paper and left in the shed where I can never find them! tsk tsk

[Carbon Brush]

During a session, bits of paper that I can't read afterwards because I tried to write without light!

Afterwards, a hardback notebook.

The main body is like a diary. On a date, what I did and saw. Handwritten in a warm house either immediately on return, or the next day. A very informal record. It is though useful to look and see whether my skills have progressed, or whether I continue to make the same mistakes!

One page lists Messier objects with dates as I see them.

Another page shows dimmest stars identified with date & kit.

Yet another records close star splitting, with date and kit.

Hopefully the dim/close pages will eventually build to provide a measure of what I can achieve with different kit.

[Andymac79]

Fair amount of OCD involved! All notes are typed up using prefabricated templates. All docs are numbered and cross referenced. All objects logged in a spreadsheet seperately as well as in typed motes, so I can get a quick reference to when I last saw an object. All sketches scanned and then backed up onto an external drive.

I will get a life one day...maybe

Should mention I work as a quality manager so this stuff is second nature to me.

David

Oh my God

[x6gas]

I have a little hard back pocket notebook that I use to record what I was doing. That's coz I'm still very much a learner as far as astrophotography goes so I like to be able to look back and see how I set up, what sub length I used (although this is recorded in the image file) etc., etc. Also, coz often when I come to process the images I would have forgotten what the heck it was I was trying to image if I hadn't written it down!

Also means if I see anything of interest I can make a note of it... Then again, I'm only in my garden so it's easy to nip in and out so long as I don't mind ruining my dark adapted vision!

[x6gas]

Oh and should maybe have said... I have a chronological order at the front of the book, but at the back I have a list of potential targets, by month, and the preferred scope to image them with.

All of this, though, is largely theoretical given the lack of clear skies!

[Pug]

Apart from making (small) inroads on the lunar 100, I'm still at the "ohh, look at the pretty lights!" stage. Plan to get a diary in the new year though, probably keep it pretty informal...

[Cjg]

Is my first year with a scope and I haven't made any notes whatsoever, yet. All I need after a session is a mug of hot tea!

Am not a paper person, but if there's an app for the iPad ?

Chris

[glowjet]

I was always told you should keep a log of what you see, good astronomical practice, I mean look at Sir PM`s records they are a marvelous collection of his achievements, I shall severely chastise myself and add it to my New Year resolutions

[PreludeToADream]

Notes scribbled on bits of paper and left in the shed where I can never find them! tsk tsk

This. Ought to get myself a bit more organised. Perhaps if I get the new scope I want for Christmas it'll motivate me a bit!

[sabana]

If you keep a good log (with a thumbnail image of the find). Then it makes a great 'coffee book' table read for friends and family.

[rory]

great thread. the difference between observers is huge, from the ocd types to scribblers.

im new so i havn't really worked out a system yet. i scribble date ,time and object, usually with a reference to the mag used and very brief description. all done with the purpose of copying up a neat version in a hardbook or some logging report sheets which i printed myself after looking up examples.

as yet ive not filled one sheet in,just have a note book full of ramblings with some awful pictures along the way,lol. but hey its a start.

[umadog]

Now here is some quality record-keeping (scroll down): Astronomy - Brandon Doyle's Aerospace & Astronomy

[pvaz]

Mine is pretty loose. I just log date and what I was able to see. I reckon a better log would be nice but I just don't see the point in getting too much effort in it as it's not likely to be of much use.

I have however given some thought to create a site with the corresponding Android and IOS apps to allow users to log their observations and share them. The idea has been on my mind for a year, but I've had too many paid projects at work taking all my free time to actually get started on freeware.

I think a public library of such a log would be a great resource. Then I would consider making a more detailed log as that work could be of use to the community.

[Dave]

Observing Log???

[Beulah]

I really wish my Observation logs were more meticulously kept. Alas, the are simply notes on a word file and I don't even bother recording the nights where I only find a few objects.

It is a really good idea to record what you see; not just for personal enjoyment and recollection, but if you are able to use different telescopes, you can forget what certain objects looked like. I've moved through different apertures in a short space of time and it would have been good if I recorded what I saw through them - partially for the benefit of being able to tell others who express an interest in purchasing a telescope for themselves.

[Alan_B]

I have to keep a log ???? - nobody mentioned a log , Now I feel like aa amateur, Oh wait a minute , I am an amateur

[cosmological]

I've never kept a log, it spoils the fun.

[sabana]

@cosmo

Thats an interesting way of thinking. I always thought keeping records adds more interest to the pursuit. But spontaneity and free thinking always have a place in enjoyment and is a personal thing for sure. My 11 year old son just looks at anything available and gets his enjoyment that way.

[John]

I don't keep notes either, other than a few when I'm reviewing / comparing equipment so that I can remember how things looked when I come to write them up.

I tend to view my observation style as a sort of "sky tourist" - I like to see the sights