5 replies to this topic

[Mike Phillips]

I really wanted to finish the Herschel 400.  I couldn't find an easy way to get a sequence in NINA so I asked Microsoft Copilot to help me create one.  Here's the result so you don't have to suffer.

 

Herschel400.json = The NINA advanced sequence for opening straight in NINA.
Herschel400_NINA_SingleEntry.csv = Importable to NINA and able to trim entries easiy in notepad.

 

https://github.com/m...4/NINACatalogs/

 

Optionally regenerate your own by just dropping this script (H400.py) in the same folder as the source file of AI Copilot generated Herschel400.csv, run the script, and you’ll get a clean Herschel400_NINA_SingleEntry.csv file

 

Hope it helps someone else!

 

Mike P in NC

 

PS IF this belongs in software, let mods know!  SORRY!

Edited by Mike Phillips, 15 June 2025 - 03:56 PM.

[Alex McConahay]

Why are you collecting the H400?

 

I got mine visually years ago with star hopping. 

 

If you ae collecting them just to collect them, go for it. They are a good list and should be collected.

 

If you are collecting them as part of the Astronomical League program, remember that you cannot count them as part of the visual collection if you are using a camera and goto, etc. 

 

Conversely, you can use a camera if you are collecting the for the Astronomical League IMAGING program. But then, they must ALL be collected with a camera, etc. 

 

At any rate, good luck. 

 

Collecting a whole catalog (Messiers/Caldwells/ etc ) is generally a good accomplishment. And it is important to organize your search as you did before you start out. Much more efficient. 

 

Good luck. 

 

Alex

[Mike Phillips]

Why are you collecting the H400?

 

I got mine visually years ago with star hopping. 

 

If you ae collecting them just to collect them, go for it. They are a good list and should be collected.

 

If you are collecting them as part of the Astronomical League program, remember that you cannot count them as part of the visual collection if you are using a camera and goto, etc. 

 

Conversely, you can use a camera if you are collecting the for the Astronomical League IMAGING program. But then, they must ALL be collected with a camera, etc. 

 

At any rate, good luck. 

 

Collecting a whole catalog (Messiers/Caldwells/ etc ) is generally a good accomplishment. And it is important to organize your search as you did before you start out. Much more efficient. 

 

Good luck. 

 

Alex

I should be trying more visuals, but I'm primarily and imager.

I'm motivated because I finished the Messier catalog and was ready for the next challenge.  I personally didn't add my images but they are still on the Wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.../Messier_object

 

In planning I use the really old Observation Manager for logs, going back to 2005 when I got my 8".  I'm at 16% done for H400 to date and was thinking, HEY I use NINA, why not download a sequence to help get it done faster?  I couldn't find one!  So, hopefully my effort helps someone else, regardless, it was a fun learning exercise in AI!

 

Mike P in NC

[Alex McConahay]

I looked at your sequence, and it looks like it makes sense. It seems to organize around constellations, but coming back to the same constellations the next month or so. Of course whether this makes sense or not is determined by how fast you intend to grab them all. In a Messier marathon or a Caldwell exploration, you need to do this because you will want your next target to be right near the last one. In imaging, where you may only get a few targets a month, this may not matter so much. 

 

But I heartily believe that going to get a whole catalog makes a lot of sense. If so, I would suggest you attack the Caldwell catalog first. In doing so, you are collecting Herschel 400 objects, but the better of them. When Moore chose his objects I think he started with the greatest hits of the H400. Therefore, doing all the Caldwell objects within reach (above your southern horizon) means you will be picking off the brighter and more interesting of the H400.   (By the way, I may be wrong, but I would not be too far wrong.)

 

Alex

[Mike Phillips]

I like the sound of Caldwell, I'll try to play more and post that one here too! Thanks Alex!!!

[Mike Phillips]

Upon further inspection, all the RA/Dec coords were all inaccurate, please don't use until I clean up.  I would suggest that you try what I did and that is to add bulk to telescopius by following these steps:

 

1) Create a new list: "Toolbox" > "Target lists" > "Create a new list"

2) triple dot, menu option in the right of the list name

3) "Add multiple targets"

4) have a clean list of objects from a source formatted like

 

NGC101

NGC202

 

It will take them all such as this list:

 

Here's my Caldwell one already complete!

 

https://telescopius....-lists/d91b9e1e