7 replies to this topic

[brida1709a]

A few weeks ago, I captured an image of the star Vega through the Takahashi FSQ Fluorite via Utah Remote Observatory (iTelescope Network). Now I'm working on an exciting project to gather all stars down to visual magnitude 9.50 (as is used in the well-known Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas and input them into the Starry Night Pro Plus 7 interface. My goal is to highlight and label these stars in the capture I had taken, creating a detailed and informative star map.

 

Why am I doing this? Because every star catalogued, and every map created helps us understand the universe a little better. This project allows me to combine my passion for astrophotography and data management, and I'm thrilled to share my progress with you all.

 

Stay tuned for updates, and feel free to share your thoughts or similar projects you're working on. Let's keep exploring the wonders of the night sky together!

[BrentKnight]

Sounds like a very interesting project, and definitely a challenging one.  Why have you chosen to use Starry Night instead of some other more popular planetarium program?

[brida1709a]

Sounds like a very interesting project, and definitely a challenging one.  Why have you chosen to use Starry Night instead of some other more popular planetarium program?

Starry Night Pro Plus 7 has an interface that I am very familiar with, and with the ability to export custom star maps in PNG, I can easily readily create my own databases, identify and catalog the objects in question. The other planetarium software that is out there does not have the UI that I like with SNPP7. What planetarium software do you often use? 

[TOMDEY]

Good project!

 

I imaged the regions around the brightest stars back in the 1980's onto film using my Schmidt Camera --- specifically because most (nearly all) amateur astronomers avoid the brightest stars like the plague. There are often interesting ~deep sky~ treasures in these neglected neighborhoods.    Tom

 

Two sample pictures here ... Vega region taken with my Schmidt and Altair taken with my 12-inch Newtonian.    Tom

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[TOMDEY]

ahd here's Altair taken with the 12.5-incher    Tom

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[BrentKnight]

Starry Night Pro Plus 7 has an interface that I am very familiar with, and with the ability to export custom star maps in PNG, I can easily readily create my own databases, identify and catalog the objects in question. The other planetarium software that is out there does not have the UI that I like with SNPP7. What planetarium software do you often use? 

For data management, I use SkyTools V4.  I know that you can import your own captures to the program and its database is extensive and updatable.  There is an imaging version as well that I have not used, and ST will soon be updated to V4.1 and will include features for EAA.  It cost money as well, and probably isn't extremely popular either - but it is maintained (I think support for Starry Night is pretty spotty).

 

There are also some free programs like Stellarium that might work, but I don't use that one very much...

[brida1709a]

For data management, I use SkyTools V4.  I know that you can import your own captures to the program and its database is extensive and updatable.  There is an imaging version as well that I have not used, and ST will soon be updated to V4.1 and will include features for EAA.  It cost money as well, and probably isn't extremely popular either - but it is maintained (I think support for Starry Night is pretty spotty).

 

There are also some free programs like Stellarium that might work, but I don't use that one very much...

I will have to look into that. SNPP7 is the one I have mostly used most of my cataloging and research projects. It all began in SNP3(.1).

[BrentKnight]

I will have to look into that. SNPP7 is the one I have mostly used most of my cataloging and research projects. It all began in SNP3(.1).

I mean if it works for you, then great.  I have almost 50 years of data in SkyTools and it's quite the task to transfer that to a different program...  I considered Deep-Sky Planner and I had the developer migrate my stuff over (very, very cool), but I found I just prefer ST4.