New Toy for the Forums!

[Grant]

Now we are on our own server I've had chance to build a toy I've wanted to setup for ages:

It creates star charts automatically for you, I've currently got it setup with the messier, caldwell, ngc and ic databases, to use it, just do:

[ img width=567 height=567 ] http://stargazerslounge.com/star_charts/?object=m57 [ /img ]

replacing m57 with: ngc1000, ic2, caldwell25, m33 etc... You also need to take out the spaces around the [ ]

The image will then be generate automatically.

The idea is, if somebody is asking for assistance finding something etc.. then its now very easy to drop star charts straight into forum messages.

Cheers,

Grant

[peeceeTal2M]

Cool

[algol]

well that ain't worked, see as soon as the words quite easy are uttered, things go slightly wrong for me lol

haha worked after all lol

[Grant]

The first time a map is generated, there is a slight delay. After that the map is cached and will load very quickly...

[beamish]

You good lad you !! That will no doubt be a great resource to members, well done .

Karlo

[Sam]

Cool! that's a great new addition! Well Done!!

[Paxo]

Excellent idea Grant, one which will be used a lot I think.

Steve..

[jcm]

Excellent idea , Grant. Should help everyone on the site.

Would it be possible , in the long term , to enter the RA and Dec coordinates of an object?

( bit of a cheek asking this after all Grants hard work )

John

[Grant]

Hi John,

Something like this:

Which is:

[ img width=567 height=567 ] http://stargazerslounge.com/star_charts/?ra=18.824&dec=33.2 [ /img ]

Cheers,

Grant

[dogfish]

Let me see if I understand this.

Hmmm, obviously not. It works if you click the link, but how do you get it to display the image in the reply?

Martin

[Grant]

You can also now change the scale by putting &size=N at the end where N is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...

So M42:

[Grant]

Martin you need to remove the spaces around the [ and ] bits. I had to put them in otherwise the forum would only show the image and not the code.

[Andrew*]

Great tool, Grant, thanks for your forward thinking!

one suggestion - have the name of the constellations on the map. In the example of the M1 map, there is no knowing where it is in teh sky...

cheers

Andrew

[dogfish]

Thanks Grant. Sorted now (doh!).

Martin

[jcm]

erm - I will try putting the coordinates for PK 164.8+31.1

I assume object is in the centre , should be in Lynx.

Obviously this object is not in most catalogues.

Will put in the coordinates for M3.

Brilliant bang in the centre.

John

[jgs001]

Grant, that's a great idea and well implemented. Superb. Thanks

[Xunil]

Grant, this is an awesome feature - did you write it yourself?!

[Grant]

I didn't write the underlying star chart generation program, I merely bolted it all together and sorted out a web interface and a way to convert the vector images it produces to png images suitable for the forum.

The underlying program is a fantastic bit of code: http://pp3.sourceforge.net/

Its used to produce all of the star charts on wikipedia...

[GazOC]

Thats very impressive mate!! :shock:

[Xunil]

I didn't write the underlying star chart generation program, I merely bolted it all together and sorted out a web interface and a way to convert the vector images it produces to png images suitable for the forum.

The underlying program is a fantastic bit of code: http://pp3.sourceforge.net/

Its used to produce all of the star charts on wikipedia...

lol "merely" . . . good stuff mate, well done indeed!!

[Beyond_Vision]

Fantastic work Grant that is really cool

Regards

Kevin

[peeceeTal2M]

By george i think he's got it!!

[Sketchie Kernow]

Excellent stuff! Well done.

[Vega]

Grant, You Da Man!

This is awesome, I had to have a play... Centered on the double cluster... woah Casioppiea is more riddled with DSO's than I thought :shock:

[proflight2000]

Great stuff, how clever is that