Observing database?

[KevUU]

I'm wondering if anyone can help.

I have an observing log I keep electronically, just in basic text form.

I also keep an 'objects observed' list with numerically-ordered lists of the Ms, NGCs, Cs and 'miscs' - Stock, Melotte, Collinder etc - I have observed.

However that is already getting somewhat awkward as many objects are on two of those lists, and I'd like to be able to track, for example, DKDs ABC as well which just makes it worse.

What I really want is a simple app or website which allows me to check things off, has M and NGC lists pre-loaded and interlinked, and allows me to add my own observing lists too. Does anyone know of anything?

If I used my PC regularly I guess a bit of Excel or Access magic would do it, but after a day at a computer at work I tend to avoid it at home and just use my iPad for email and forum checks.

I've looked at iPad database apps but none of them allows queries so I can't easily track progress or count totals...

Any ideas?

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

I am thinking of constructing something like that. For now I keep a simple OpenOffice spreadsheet with columns for Catalogue, Number, Alternative name(s), Constellation, Type, First logged on, Herschel-400 member (yes/no). That seems OK for now. A proper database might be better (PLEASE NOT ACCESS!!)

[acey]

Excel is the best solution - and there's a version of Open Office for iPad.

It's possible that somebody has already created exactly what you're looking for, but maybe you'll need to put it together yourself, which is what I did. My observing record is an Excel spreadsheet that has the whole NGC, with columns for automatically cross-referencing Messier, Caldwell, Herschel 400, Arp and various other lists I keep track of (though not Stock, Melotte or Collinder). I started by downloading the NGC/IC excel spreadsheet from the site below, then built in the remaining lists manually. It took a little bit of time and effort but was worth it.

http://www.klima-luft.de/steinicke/index_e.htm

There are various Excel lists here:

http://www.astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/catalogs.htm

The Collinder catalogue is given as a table here:

http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1843

You could copy that into Excel.

[KevUU]

I was afraid you might say that!

I tried google docs on iPad and it was a royal pain in the wotsit. Hadn't thought of open office, thanks.

It's not that I have the Stock, Collinder lists tracked, just that there are a few objects outside of the other lists which I've observed, which have other references... The coathanger is Collinder 399 for example, and the Coma Star Cluster is Melotte 111, Delta-Lyrae cluster is Stephenson 1, etc.

You'd think there'd be an online resource or app or something by now! Feels like re-inventing the wheel to do it myself...

[acey]

Most DSOs have several catalogue identifications, plus you've got unofficial lists (Caldwell, Herschel 400 etc), plus you've got the fact that historical catalogues like the NGC are not fixed for all time, but get revised as people discover errors, mis-identifications etc. Also, while there are countless amateur astronomers who like to keep track of Messier, Caldwell etc, there aren't necessarily so many who want to keep track of Melottes, Arps, Arakelians or whatever.

The professionals use databases such as these:

http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/Cat

http://vizier.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/VizieR

http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/

http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/

http://aladin.u-strasbg.fr/aladin.gml

[Scooot]

Hi kev, I don't know if this would help but it might be worth looking at. you can create observing lists in Sky Safari and record notes. You can also email them in a .skylist format. Many people also upload observing lists onto a yahoo forum and its a simple process to download them straight into the app from the forum. I've installed quite a few. If I look at an observing list there is also an option to turn on csv text format. Their catalogue s are quite comprehensive depending on which version you get.

[Double Kick Drum]

Kev

If you have Excel but don't want to create your own database, you are more than welcome using this.

I developed it starting from downloaded data from CdC. Columns M to Q are my own ramblings, so you may want to clear those to start from scratch.

There are just over 2000 objects (all the Ms, Cs and Herschels included), all of which are magnitude 12.5 or brighter. There is a summary pivot table if you care to use it and an Asteroid diary.

The key explains the colouring and my rating system but TBH it is still a work in progress.

Enjoy!

Celestial Catalogue 3.xlsx

[rory]

ive also been meaning to get a data base of objects. but im so pants with computers i cant even work out office or exel or any of that malarcy. i just cant do the whole p.c thing apart from google websites and nose on forums. i really am that stupid. .

perhaps i should start learning as theres plenty of spare time with all the clouds we have !

[steveb1977]

The Saguaro Astronomy Club has a pretty comprehensive list of DSO. I have used this in the past as a 'check list' to record when I have found something. I have this in a simple database that I will try and dig out.

http://www.saguaroastro.org/content/downloads.htm

[mdstuart]

Its a nightmare. I agree that the saguro databases are good. I have to confess I used...access.sorry..and then I can merge the saguro with the RC3 galaxy db and my own observations table and then you get this..etc

Seen galaxies.pdf

[Hobbes]

Have a look at this site http://www.davidpaulgreen.com/software.html several databases here.

[KevUU]

Thanks all. DKD, that spreadsheet is a work of art!

I guess I misled by saying 'database'. It's not lists of what's there I'm after: I have various sources, mostly Sky Safari+ and Objects In The Heavens, which will keep me occupied for a fair while!

What I want is a way to keep track of what I've seen, and keep track of how many messiers, Caldwells, (DKDs ). If I want to know what they are I'll go look elsewhere, rather than add complexity to this tool.

I've chucked something together in OpenOffice using rollApp, which is quite nice.

I just have common name (if any) and constellation, whether I've seen it or not, then NGC IC M C DKD numbers. Tempting as it was to add other info, I don't need this to be an object database so I'm trying to keep it simple. I suspect I may want to add object type in future but that's a problem for later, trying to keep it easy for now.

A couple of formulae later, I have total DSOs observed, objects observed per list, and objects observed per constellation. Simples.

I'm still surprised there's no common way of doing this...

(On which note, if anyone's interested in what I have drop me a line, I'm happy to share. OpenOffice and Excel are supported.)