Display Messier and Caldwell numbers in plan

[Ikon308]

I am using ST4 v4.0.11.02, and imported several AL observing lists.

How to display Messier and Caldwell catalog numbers in the ST4 observing plan to cross-reference Astronomical League checklists, so that ST4 is useful for AL observing projects?

Messier numbers are searchable in ST4, but do not display as the target ID or alternate ID. For some reason Caldwell numbers (recognized by The Astronomical League, published by a respected astronomer) are not searchable in ST4.

All the Best!
David Stokes

[theskyhound]

Hello David,

Select Preferences via the top-level Setup menu, and then the Designations tab. SkyTools uses a designation hierarchy for each class of object. The top designation available for an object becomes the primary designation (displayed in the Primary ID column of the Planner) and this is how SkyTools will always refer to it. The second available designation is the Secondary ID (another column).

So lets look at Galaxies. The default hierarchy is: Common name, Messier, NGC, IC, etc. If an object has a common name, that will be the primary id. Otherwise, if it has a Messier that will be used. If neither then the NGC number, etc. To reliably see Messier as the primary designation you can disable the common names, or re-order the list such that the top designation is Messier, with the common name further down. Repeat for other object types.

So its basically up to you.

As for Caldwell numbers, well, I have to admit that I am biased against them. I know this is controversial, but all other catalog designations come from historical observations, such as the NGC or Messier, or from the scientific literature. The Caldwell designations were created for a handbook. There are hundreds of these handbooks out there. What if every author, say Burnham, invented their own designations? That would be terrible. To make matters worse, the idea was good, but in fact its a pretty bad list. Because of these things I couldn't bring myself to support them as catalog designations.

But, there is a way around it! The Caldwell catalog list, which is available via our web site via the Get Observing Lists menu on the Planner allows you to download the "AL Caldwell Club Observing List". If you enable the Brief column on the planner, it will display the Caldwell numbers there.

[Ikon308]

Hello David,

Select Preferences via the top-level Setup menu, and then the Designations tab. SkyTools uses a designation hierarchy for each class of object. The top designation available for an object becomes the primary designation (displayed in the Primary ID column of the Planner) and this is how SkyTools will always refer to it. The second available designation is the Secondary ID (another column).

So lets look at Galaxies. The default hierarchy is: Common name, Messier, NGC, IC, etc. If an object has a common name, that will be the primary id. Otherwise, if it has a Messier that will be used. If neither then the NGC number, etc. To reliably see Messier as the primary designation you can disable the common names, or re-order the list such that the top designation is Messier, with the common name further down. Repeat for other object types.

So its basically up to you.

As for Caldwell numbers, well, I have to admit that I am biased against them. I know this is controversial, but all other catalog designations come from historical observations, such as the NGC or Messier, or from the scientific literature. The Caldwell designations were created for a handbook. There are hundreds of these handbooks out there. What if every author, say Burnham, invented their own designations? That would be terrible. To make matters worse, the idea was good, but in fact its a pretty bad list. Because of these things I couldn't bring myself to support them as catalog designations.

But, there is a way around it! The Caldwell catalog list, which is available via our web site via the Get Observing Lists menu on the Planner allows you to download the "AL Caldwell Club Observing List". If you enable the Brief column on the planner, it will display the Caldwell numbers there.

Greg,
By Jove...the monocle popped right out of my eye when I saw how well the preferences guidance identified the Messier objects!  However, I could not get the Caldwell numbers to display so I just created a small list with the few C-objects I haven't imaged.  Case closed for me.  

I get a lot ot value out of ST4.  Thanks for your assistance.

All the Best!
Dave Stokes
https://flic.kr/ps/3Qc1Ud