Observation notes / logs

[Steve1976]

In an effort to become a more organised and generally better observer i've decided I really need to start making notes during each session!

Is there some standard templates I can use or am I just being ultra lazy?!

What do you usually include in your notes?

[eddy]

Observing Forms and Templates - Belt of Venus

Just found that, try it Maybe something your after there

All the best

Eddy

[Doc]

I include in the heading:

Date

Time

Instrutment being used

If moons out if yes liberation

Temperature

Seeing magnitude

In my notes I include:

Objects looked at

Size

Colour

Shape

Details seen

Time observed

[Steve1976]

Eddy and Doc spot on thanks!

[Capricorn]

Check out The Astronomical League

They have observation sections and list criteria for the various awards. A consequence of this is that they have sheets (pdf) for observation records.

You may find one for the application that you intend.

[Nick P]

I usually include a small sketch of the object and the view through the eyepiece, I find this helps in re location and judging effects of magnification - as well as making me take more time over each observation.

[Llamanaut]

Ive thought long and hard about my observing log and i have refined the info to what i think is useful.... here's an extract from my logbook

The square above left is a printout from Nightcal and shows moon phase and libration angle, date, any conjunctions, astronomical twilight, moonrise and set and sunrise and set. The actual log page shows session number, start and finish time, location, weather conditions, transparency, seeing and Bortle dark sky scale. Ive recently started recording session start and finish temperature and humidity. Finally The scope in use is added. The text is a breakdown of what i did, what i saw, what i used, whats targets if any, any problems and anything unusual that happened. Ive been maintaining my log in this way pretty much since i restarted astronomy back in April and its interesting to see what standard i was up to then and how my knowledge and skills have increased. Its also brought home how pants the summer has been for observing. Hope this helps

[Steve1976]

Thanks a lot guys!

[Sirius_Starseed]

Try this - http://www.astroleague.org/files/astronotes/03anote%20ObsDataSheet.pdf