Skyhound Forums

So sorry to ask for help before diving into the program myself. I watched all the videos a month ago and the plan was to get this software during summer and carefully learn it...as my current work schedule is very very demanding until summer.

but just yesterday I unexpectedly got into a sold out star party in two weeks (Cherry Springs - this will be my first star party and only second time ever to a dark site).

so I **really** want to get the list generation right for this.

I have been in the hobby for 2 years but observing time has only been a few hours a week from bortle 4/5.

so my main goal is to see "showpiece" objects. my main goal is observing > learning the sky / hunting things down / seeing very very faint things (i'll circle back to all of that later). I'll be using a Nexus DSC, an alt-az mount, and a refractor. I have filters and I'll keep the eyepieces and stuff minimal. just really want to observe a lot.

can someone suggest some settings for me for list creation? I don't think i'll be able to stay up all night but I want to have a list for best objects in case say I wake up at 2am or whatever so I can get up and running right away. 

I'm guessing the sky won't be much different over 3 days so I was thinking of making just one list...like top objects at 15 minutes per observation? or should I do 10 and just take longer if I want and skip stuff? or should I do 5 minutes in case part of the sky is cloudy?

I'm hoping to make the list this weekend and print out all the charts and spiral bind it so I can study it for two weeks when I have a little downtime at lunch or whatever. so any input on settings for me would be great.

thank you for any suggestions / tips!!

Here's what I'd do:

1. Add the Cherry Springs location

2. Enter your Telescope info

3. Enter yourself as an observer. Be sure to set your experience level.

3. Select the middle night of the star party in the Nightly Planner, the location and you, the observer at the top

4. Set the "to" time (way over on the right) to the latest you think you might stay up

5. Click on Get Observing Lists and select Nightly Observing List Generator

6. Start with Showpieces and a normal list size and generate a list of objects to look at

7. Once it had generated that list, select Shallow sky and do the same, but this time appends the objects to the first list you made (it will ask in a popup)

8. Do the same for Double Stars,

9. Back at the Planner, make sure the Plan check box is clear

10. Sort the list by clicking on the Best column heading

This will give you a list of objects to look at that are not too faint. It will include some double stars and possibly even a comet or two

What happens next depends on how you intend to observe, but at the very least you could print the list or copy it to a file and bring it with you.