Custom Objects Library

[Yoddha]

This is the place to share your Custom Objects lists

To use a file download, the archive and unzip it somewhere. Then in APT open the Object Browser, go to "Custom" tab, then on "Import List" button and select the file

Here are the first two:

All objects from Burnham's Celestial Handbooks vol1 to 3 - without stars, only deep sky objects

Burnham Northern Tour - no stars.zip

All the stars and objects from Burnham's Celestial Handbooks vol1 to 3

Burnham Northern Tour.zip

Many thanks to Peter for providing the files!

[Yoddha]

A new list from Peter

100 Best Astrophotogrphy Objects.zip

[MarcoS]

Thanks for the object list!

[Yoddha]

Hello,

The file "100 Best Astrophotogrphy Objects.zip", had errors in the declination coordinate. All objects are corrected and the file is re-uploaded.

If you have imported this list, get it again...

[Yoddha]

Hello,

The CloudyNights' user Goofi had compiled an list of very interesting objects.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/5166 ... g-targets/

I have converted it to importable file

[Atti79]

Hi Ivo,

I've just imported the list of objects from "Burnham's Celestial Handbooks vol1 to 3". Thank you for providing this

But as for M78, there is a difference in between the default object in APT and the imported one, concerning the coordinates:

Code: Select all

default:
M78 -- RA 5:46:47 // DEC 00:00:50
Burnham:
M78 -- RA 05:46:47.9 // DEC +00:03:30
CdC means:
M78 -- RA: 05h47m 43.7s DE:+00°05' 20"

Which one is correct or is this not so important?

[Yoddha]

Hi Toby,

M78 is quite big object, so maybe it depends on how the center is defined, the coordinates epoch and so on. One minute offset in Ra and five in Dec will still put the object in the FOV so I don't think that it is a problem

[turchinc]

Hi all,
I use APT and PointCraft in the alignment workflow for my Celestron AVX, and I noticed there are a few named stars in the Advanced VX handset that I align on are not in the default APT star list.
So I was searching for them (e.g. in Stellarium) and manually entering the coordinates e.g. for Approx. RA / DEC to do a plate solve. In the cold, in the dark
It worked, but it seemed like this process could be improved, so while it was light out I read the docs and discovered the import function. And I found a post on CloudyNights where someone already compiled this star list from the handset as Excel:
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/4276 ... tellation/
All that remained was to transform this data to the default APT import format and import it. Problem solved!
Hoping this file might be helpful for other APT users else out there, I uploaded it here:
https://gist.github.com/turchinc/afec33 ... 5ad923e00f
True, most of the objects are duplicates to the existing stars (and the coordinates are probably better in the primary list), but having them in the custom list does simplify things for me. Maybe it will help you too.
I only did the first tab of Excel data, anyone wants/needs the other objects (Double stars, variable stars, Asterisms, "tour objects", etc.) just let me know and I could transform those sheets as well.
HTH
Clear skies
-chris

[JST200]

Hi Chris,

If you are using Pointcraft, why do you Align on specific stars? One of the best points of the solving facility is that you just point anywhere in the sky, do a Solve and Sync and that creates an Alignment point. Using specific stars is only necessary when you are aligning by eye. Unless I've missed something about your specific setup?

In fact Ivo has been working on a solution where you can use the #GoToAltAz command to do an automated N Point Alignment. Basically a light plan that goes to the same points in the sky, e.g. Alt 45deg, Az 45deg, then takes, an image and then uses the #SolveSync command. You then move on to the next location. When I have a moment I need to write it up properly!

Cheers, Jim

[vichman]

Hi Jim,

In fact Ivo has been working on a solution where you can use the #GoToAltAz command to do an automated N Point Alignment. Basically a light plan that goes to the same points in the sky, e.g. Alt 45deg, Az 45deg, then takes, an image and then uses the #SolveSync command. You then move on to the next location. When I have a moment I need to write it up properly!
Cheers, Jim

this would be indeed something great!


Cheers
Stefan

[Yoddha]

Hi Chris,

Thank you for building this list! If you don't mind I have made a mirror here:

http://ideiki.com/astro/other/NexStarNamedStarList.zip

Also put a text file with link to your GitHub page.


P.S. Jim is very humble! It would not be possible to get through Alt/Az maze without his cooperation But let discuss this matter in other topic.

[Yoddha]

Hi Brian,

One clean list would be a great, but requires quite a lot of work to check the coordinates, sizes and magnitudes against different sources...

[Yoddha]

We can make it in teamwork then If you can give me Excel file with uniform lines I'll transform it into a file ready to import.

[Yoddha]

As for the format you can take a look on the controls/columns in the Custom tab of Object Browser ;)

[Yoddha]

Hi Brian,

Definitely the size field in APT is in arc-minutes

[Yoddha]

Hello,

Dennys was very kind to build a list with the first 100 Arp objects

If somebody want to join the project, let drop a line

[STEVE333]

Just downloaded the "100 Best" objects, and, followed your instructions for getting them into the Object Browser. Everything worked perfectly. Thanks for making this data available.

Steve

[ShaneH]

Thank you, I just added the best 100 list. Just what I needed

[Spacejump]

Hi All,

Is there a Southern Custom star and object database to import into Platesolving?
I can see Northern but no South? Just finding the current list a bit on the empty side.

Many thanks
Paul

[Yoddha]

Hi Paul,

The stars list contains southern entries too. As for the objects the available option is to use the Extended list on Deep Sky tab.