Not sure if anyone else has already posted this but I found that https://copilot.microsoft.com/ can be used to digitise screenshots of published charts of filter transmission and camera QE.  Using local versions of copilot wouldn't let me upload the jpg or png files but the web version did and can provide a simple CSV file.
I usesd the following question:   "Digitise an image of a chart and create a csv format file tabulating the values" and then uploaded the image file.  Of course you need to check the values against the chart and then maybe normalise but I think it did a good job.  
Cheers, Les

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CNEOS predicts that the recently discovered NEA, 2026 AH17, will make a close approach on 2026-Feb-20 22:26±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.02893 AU moving with V Relative=7.30 km/sec, H=23.2 magnitude, diameter 61 m - 140 m and 'Rarity'=1. As of February 9 there is a 29 day observation arc, the Condition Code=6 and the Earth MOID=0.0281808 AU. The solution date was 2026-Feb-09 05:20:16 PST. The initial reported observation was by Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala on 2026-01-11. This approach is close to the MOID. It's not quite large enough to make the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools. PHAs have absolute magnitude (H) values <22.0 magnitude.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 February 9 0000 UT, ST 4.1.11.20 Visual Pro predicts that 2026 AH17 will reach a peak brightness of 15.7 magnitude on the evening of February 20 at 2300 EST at a distance of 0.029 AU while traveling through Leo at 20"/minute. The close approach is predicted on February 20 at 1700 EST with the object still at 15.7 magnitude and 0.029 AU traveling through Leo at 21"/minute, but in daylight and below the horizon in Columbus, Ohio.

Here's the Object Info dialog for 2026 AH17:    

The orbit for this NEA is pretty well determined, but observers should monitor the CNEOS website to see if the orbit has been refined further. For the most accurate orbital elements, refer to the 'Important Thread' at the top of this forum section for instructions on how to download the most up-to-date elements to your Minor Planet database.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

Hello,

I have some of my observations logged on SkyTools on a laptop that is not turning on anymore. I extracted the HDD from the computer and I can access them from another one. I tried to recover from the backup but looks that there is some observations missing. There is any way to recover the information on the original files and copy it to another computer to access the missing observations?

Thank you. Clear skies,

Carles

CNEOS predicts that the large NEA, (162882) 2001 FD58, will make a close approach on 2026-Feb-14 14:11±<00:01 UT at a distance of  0.04344 AU moving with V Relative=19.16 km/sec, H=18.8 magnitude, diameter 470 m - 1.0 km and 'Rarity'=2. As of 2025 April 29, there was a 9147 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0325364 AU. The solution date was 2025-Apr-29 06:21:41 PDT. Discovered 2001-03-24 by LINEAR at Socorro. The observation arc was extended to 2000-04-12. This NEA is on the MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools. The next close approach on 2034-Feb-13 15:18 ± < 00:01 UT will be at 0.03254 AU, the MOID distance.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 Jan 28 0000 UT, ST 4.1.11 20 Visual Pro predicts that ((162882) 2001 FD58 will reach a peak brightness of 14.6 magnitude on February 16 traveling through Camelopardalis at 0.047 AU and 31"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2026 February 14 at 0900 EST (1400 UT) with the NEA traveling through Cassiopeia at 15.2 magnitude and 36.9"/minute, but in daylight in Columbus, Ohio. As of January 28 it's 19.6 magnitude in Aquarius.

Here's the Object Info dialog for (162882) 2001 FD58:    

The orbit for this NEA is well defined and it won't pass too close-by so the orbital elements provided by the MPC may be adequate to generate accurate positions for this object. There should be updated orbit calculations shown on the CNEOS website in the next 7 to 10 days as the time of the close approach nears.

Good hunting,

Phil S.

CNEOS predicts the close approach of the kilometer-sized NEA, (500080) 2011 WV134, on 2026-Mar-03 19:43±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.06410 AU moving with V Relative=11.33 km/sec, H=17.2 magnitude, diameter 960 m - 2.1 km and 'Rarity'=2. As of January 27, there was a 7003 day observation arc, the Condition Code=0 and the Earth MOID=0.0184296 AU. The solution date was 2026-Jan-27 05:18:43 PST.  This NEA was discovered 2011-11-30 by CSS at Catalina. This object is on MPC's list of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) that you can download using SkyTools. It won't be this close again for over 100 years.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2026 January 27 0000 UT, ST 4.1.11.20 Visual Pro predicts that (500080) 2011 WV134 will reach a peak brightness of 15.1 magnitude from February 14 (in Orion) to February 21 (in Taurus). On the evening of 2026 February 16 it's predicted to be traveling through Taurus at 4.8"/minute. Close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2026 March 3 at 1500 EST (2000 UT) with the MP traveling through Pisces at 15"/minute and 15.9 magnitude, but in daylight in Columbus, Ohio. It's currently 15.7 magnitude in Orion traveling at 1.8"/minute.

Here's the Object Info dialog for (500080) 2011 WV134:    

This NEA isn't moving very quickly so it should be easy to observe, if it's bright enough for your optical system to pick it up.

Good Hunting,

Phil S.

Is there a way to have a group label for targets in a target list which may be imaged together.  For example I have added M65, M66 and NGC 3628 separately in a target list but together they are commonly known as Leo Triple or Triplets and are often imaged together with a suitable set up.  Another example would be M81 and M82 which are often imaged together.

Hello,

My name is Alin, and I am looking for someone who can help me obtain images of stars. I would like to mention that I do not have experience in astrophotography, which is why I am seeking a complete service using the iTelescope platform.

My list contains 55 stars, most of them with favorable magnitudes. The majority are located in the Northern Hemisphere, but some are in the Southern Hemisphere, which requires access to two different remote telescopes.

If anyone is able to assist me with capturing these images, for a fee, of course, I would be very happy to discuss the details.

Thank you!
Clear skies! 
Alin

Can anyone tell me how to take a completed Skytools AL observing program and copy it so that it can be placed in a excel spreadsheet?  I'm attempting to arrange my H2 observations into a spreadsheet format but I have only been able to generate a paragraph-style word document.

I'm guessing this info is somewhere on the forum, but I can't seem to find it...

Thank you!

Jerry Jones

An update has been released for all SkyTools 4 versions. You will be prompted to install the update when SkyTools is started. 

Updates in Version 4.x.11.20 (2026 January 12)

• New version 4.1 feature: the database Power Search for Minor planets now includes an absolute magnitude parameter (H) filter.
  
• New version 4.1 feature: obstructed horizon data can now be written to a text file.
  
• A bug that was fixed that could cause the Attachment Folder selection to not allow a selection to be made.
  
• When started in Nightvision mode (added in version 19), not all of the red parts were initialized properly.
  
• A bug was fixed for coordinate display in decimals, where the entry of a three digit longitude inadvertantly stripped the first character.
  
• A label has been added to the Overhead Sky Chart that describes the zoom level (or field of view).
  
• A bug was fixed that could cause the edit points to disappear when editing an obstructed horizon directly on the Overhead Sky Chart.
  
• The Visual log window text has been made larger for legibility on higher resolution screens.
  
• A bug was fixed that affected the setting of star size in the Preferences for the classic star style, which is often used on printed charts.
  
• Various minor fixes were made.
  

CNEOS predicts that the newly discovered Apollo class NEA, 2025 YH6, will make a close approach on 2025-Dec-30 04:10±<00:01 UT at a distance of 0.01359 AU moving with V Relative=8.96 km/sec, H=23.4 magnitude, diameter 54 m - 120 m and 'Rarity'=1. As of December 28, there was a 1 day observation arc, the Condition Code=7 and the Earth MOID=0.00909197 AU. The solution date was 2025-Dec-28 05:54:44 PST. The initial reported observation was  by ATLAS-MLO, Mauna Loa on 2025-12-27. There were no additional close approaches predicted as of December 29.

Using MPC's orbital elements for the epoch 2025 Dec 28 0000 UT, ST4.1.11.19 Visual Pro predicts that 2025 YH6 will reach a peak brightness of 15.2 magnitude on the evening of 2025 December 30 ~2300 EST with the NEA 0.015 AU distant traveling through Taurus at 46"/minute. The close approach is predicted (to the nearest hour) on 2025 Dec 29 2300 EST (Dec 30 0400 UT) with the NEA 0.014 AU distant traveling through Taurus at 15.6 magnitude and ~53"/minute. This NEA is predicted to be brighter than 16 magnitude from December 29 (in Perseus) to January 2 (in Monoceros).

Here's the object Info data for 2025 YH6:    

Since this NEA will pass close-by, observers should follow the instructions for downloading the most recent orbital elemets as described in the 'Important Threads' posted at the top of this forum section.

Good hunting,

Phil S.