Visual Observing with Small/Medium Telescopes
SkyTools
provides the framework for an observing system. First,
interesting objects are discovered and added to an observing list. Next
the list is narrowed down to those objects appropriate for your
telescope/location on a specific night. Then each object is
found via a star hopping chart or computer connected
telescope. Finally a log entry is made.
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Step
1: find or create an observing list -- download one of
over a hundred observing lists directly from within
SkyTools. Popular lists include the Caldwell
Catalog,
RASC best of the NGC/IC, Arp galaxies, objects from Burnham's,
etc. Create
your own list via the Nightly Observing List Generator
or Database Power Search tools. Add your own
objects from magazines or web sites by most any designation.
-
Step
2: filter the list for your conditions on a given night --
use the SkyTools Nightly Planner to narrow your list
down to those visible in your telescope from your site and
those best observed on a given night. Filter out
objects you have already observed. Sort the list by
the optimum time to observe each object. Learn
more...
-
Step
3: Find each object in the sky -- use the Star
Hopping Charts to easily find any object. Learn
more... Or connect SkyTools to your
telescope to go right to it. Learn
more...
-
Step
4:Create a log entry for each object -- type your
observations into the Observing Log tool. The
date/time, location, telescope, eyepieces used, and
observing conditions are easily recorded along with what you
saw. Later you can recall the observation, which can
be quickly recreated on a chart. Search your
observation database by telescope, observer, constellation,
etc. Learn
more...
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