Using SkyTools to log Texas 45 list objects

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Houston Astronomical Society Using SkyTools to log Texas 45 list objects You can use SkyTools to keep track of objects observed in Columbus and copy the output into the Texas 45 observation log.

1 Houston Astronomical Society Using SkyTools to log Texas 45 list objects You can use SkyTools to keep track of objects observed in Columbus and copy the output into the Texas 45 observation log. Preliminary setup requires intermediate SkyTools skills but once complete, tracking observations is easily managed. Overview of initial SkyTools setup Create a new Observing List Group called Columbus. Groups make observing lists easier to find Create a new observer called Texas 45 to keep Texas 45 observations separate from your other observations Add a new observing location specific to Columbus. You may have done this already Import the Texas 45 observing list into group Columbus. Or, move the Texas 45 observing list to group Columbus if you have already imported it Create a new column scheme to display objects in the Texas 45 list Overview of tracking observations in SkyTools and updating the Texas 45 observation log Log observations (1) by creating a log entry and (2) by setting the observation status Output data from the Log Book to fill in the Texas 45 observation log Setting up SkyTools Note: These instructions were made using SkyTools Pro. Button labels and command text for the standard version may vary slightly Before setting up SkyTools, back up your current observing lists, notes, and other custom settings as shown below: Launch SkyTools and (1) Click Data Manager from the Nightly Planner > (2) Select the Backup tab > (3) Select all data for backup > (4) Browse to your chosen backup location > (5) Click Backup Now > (6) Click Close. 1

Create a New Observing List Group named Columbus 1.

2. Select New Observing List Group from the context menu 3.

Select Columbus from the Group: dropdown menu in the observing list controls area Note:

2 Create a New Observing List Group named Columbus 1. From the Nightly Planner, click the blue menu button in the Observing List controls area 2. Select New Observing List Group from the context menu 3. Type Columbus for the Group Title and click OK 4. Select Columbus from the Group: dropdown menu in the observing list controls area Note: The object list window will be blank after selecting group Columbus as no objects have been added to the group yet. You have created Observing List Group Columbus. Continue to next procedure 2

3 Houston Astronomical Society Create a New Observer named Texas 45 Click the existing observer to open the Observers window 1. Click Add New Observer appears in the Observer List and in the field at the top right of the window 2. Type over New Observer with Texas 45 and customize the form as it applies to you 3. Then click OK You have created New Observer Texas 45. Continue to next procedure 3

Set up Columbus as a new Observing Site location 1. Click the existing site location, shown here as Houston, Texas 2. Click New 3. Click Manual/GPS Entry 4.

Enter time zone values and other settings Change time zone settings to CST and select Daylight Savings Rule if needed. Add other baseline settings for Seeing, etc. 6.

4 Set up Columbus as a new Observing Site location 1. Click the existing site location, shown here as Houston, Texas 2. Click New 3. Click Manual/GPS Entry 4. Complete the Define New Location window with name Columbus, coordinates 96:39:52, +29:37:06, and elevation 12 meters or 39 feet. Then click OK 5. Enter time zone values and other settings Change time zone settings to CST and select Daylight Savings Rule if needed. Add other baseline settings for Seeing, etc. 6. Click OK when finished Note: You will need to update actual seeing conditions on the nights you observe using the log utility, shown later For details, consult the SkyTools Help You have set up Observing Site Columbus. Continue to next procedure 4

computer desktop, download the Texas 45 observing list from the Files & Forms section of the HAS

5 Houston Astronomical Society Import the Texas 45 observing list If you have already imported the observing list, skip this procedure and follow the instructions in the next procedure From your computer desktop, download the Texas 45 observing list from the Files & Forms section of the HAS Texas 45 Observing Program and save it to your computer Switch back to SkyTools and click the Data Manager button 5

In the Data Manager window 1. Click the Import Shared Data tab 2. Verify that Local/Network Files is selected 3. Verify that Columbus is selected in Import Observing lists to this group 4.

6 In the Data Manager window 1. Click the Import Shared Data tab 2. Verify that Local/Network Files is selected 3. Verify that Columbus is selected in Import Observing lists to this group 4. Browse to the location where you saved the object list. The Texas 45 observing list now appears above in the list area 5. Highlight observing list HAS Texas 45: Jan-Dec in RA order and click Import 6. Then click Close You have imported the Texas 45 observing list into group Columbus. Skip the next procedure and continue to Your Nightly Planner 6

Houston Astronomical Society Move the Texas 45 observing list to the Columbus observing group If you have not yet imported the observing list, follow the

Select the group to move the observing list from, e.g. Default 2. Select the group to be moved to, i.e. Columbus 3. Highlight the Texas 45 observing list 4.

7 Houston Astronomical Society Move the Texas 45 observing list to the Columbus observing group If you have not yet imported the observing list, follow the instructions in the previous procedure Use the Observing Lists tab of the Data Manager to move the list to the Columbus group 1. Select the group to move the observing list from, e.g. Default 2. Select the group to be moved to, i.e. Columbus 3. Highlight the Texas 45 observing list 4. Click Move>> 5. Click Close to close the Data Manager and return to the Nightly Planner You have moved the Texas 45 observing list into group Columbus. Continue to the next procedure 7

Your Nightly Planner should now look similar to this Check the values for observing location, Columbus, observer, Texas 45, observing list group, Columbus, and observing list, Texas 45: Jan-Dec in RA

Click the blue button at the end of the row of column headings to configure a new column scheme 2. Click the New button on the Select Column Scheme window 3.

8 Your Nightly Planner should now look similar to this Check the values for observing location, Columbus, observer, Texas 45, observing list group, Columbus, and observing list, Texas 45: Jan-Dec in RA order. The observing instrument is currently set to 7x50 binoculars. Configure the object list columns to display observation status and hide log status 1. Click the blue button at the end of the row of column headings to configure a new column scheme 2. Click the New button on the Select Column Scheme window 3. Click the check box for Observation Status. Clear the Log Entry Status check box if checked. Check other options you want to view 4. Type Texas 45 into the Column Scheme Title and click Save You have configured the object list columns to display observation status. You have also hidden the log status column from view. Continue to the next procedure Consult the SkyTools Help for configuration details 8

Houston Astronomical Society Set Observation Status (the observatory dome icon) to show that no objects have been observed 1. Right click the Observation Status icon 2.

observed. Continue to the next procedure If you have already observed objects on the Texas 45 list at Columbus *, right click the observation status icon for those objects and select Observed.

9 Houston Astronomical Society Set Observation Status (the observatory dome icon) to show that no objects have been observed 1. Right click the Observation Status icon 2. Select Set all objects with no value to > Not yet observed All list objects will now show open observatory domes to indicate observation status Not yet observed You have set all objects to Not yet observed. Continue to the next procedure If you have already observed objects on the Texas 45 list at Columbus *, right click the observation status icon for those objects and select Observed. The icon will change to a closed dome This provides a quick check for objects you still need to observe. * If you do not know the pad log # for your previous observation(s), the Texas 45 coordinator will try to locate the pad log # based on your observation dates. 9

10 Your Nightly Planner with new column scheme should look similar to this Note that the observation status is displayed. This is the column with the observatory domes Also note that the log status column is not displayed You will be keeping track of objects you have observed using observation status, not log status. You will, however, continue to log your observations, as shown in the next section Tracking observations in SkyTools and updating the Texas 45 observation log Once the initial set up procedure above has been completed, you will not need to repeat it. Instead use these procedures to keep track of your observations. Set up the Nightly Planner for tracking Texas 45 objects Before observing, set up your SkyTools Nightly Planner as usual but with Texas 45 settings: Select Columbus as the observing site location Select Texas 45 as the observer Select observing list group Columbus Select list HAS Texas 45: Jan Dec in RA order Select column scheme Texas 45 (using the blue button) You will also want to select the telescope you are using and configure your log pre-set values for the night s observing See the SkyTools Help for detailed information not included in this procedure 10

Houston Astronomical Society Log observed objects in SkyTools 1. After you have made an observation, highlight the object from the object list and right-click the highlighted object 2.

11 Houston Astronomical Society Log observed objects in SkyTools 1. After you have made an observation, highlight the object from the object list and right-click the highlighted object 2. Select Create Quick Log Entry 3. Complete the Observation Log form (shown at top right of the screen shot) 4. Click Close to save the log entry Note that seeing, telescope, eyepiece, and observing notes have been configured. This data will be copied to the Texas 45 log You have logged observed objects in SkyTools. Continue to next procedure 11

Continue to next procedure Use output from the Log Book to update the HAS Texas 45 observation log 1.

12 Mark logged objects as observed Right click the logged object s observatory dome and select Observed The dome changes from open to closed to indicate that the object has been observed You have marked logged objects as observed. Continue to next procedure Use output from the Log Book to update the HAS Texas 45 observation log 1. Click the Log Book icon to open the Log Browser 2. Click the Observer tab 3. Highlight observer Texas 45 Note that two observations have been made so far by observer Texas Click Print/Copy 12

Houston Astronomical Society The Print/Copy Observing Logs window opens 5. Select Matching log entries in browser object list 6. Click Copy to copy output to the clip board 7.

13 Houston Astronomical Society The Print/Copy Observing Logs window opens 5. Select Matching log entries in browser object list 6. Click Copy to copy output to the clip board 7. Copy output to a text file, e.g. Notepad Only info logged by observer Texas 45 at location Columbus is copied using this method. See example output at right 8. Transfer pertinent data from text file to the Texas 45 Observation Log Observing Log Entries for Andromeda Galaxy Date: 2013 August 8 02:21 Observer: Texas 45 Location: Columbus Instrument: Zhumel Z10 Object Type: Galaxy Apparent Position: RA. 00h43m31.3s Dec '33" (And) Magnitude: 4.3 Object Altitude: 56 Conditions: Good seeing: steady air, 4/5. Transparency: clear and dark. Description: Tele Vue Panoptic 41mm, 30x These are my observing notes for this evening about this object. These are my observing notes for this evening about this object. A Word document of the Texas 45 Observation Log is posted on the HAS website Forums under Forums > Interest Areas > Texas 45. Output from SkyTools can be pasted into the Texas 45 log as shown below. Add the observatory pad log # and the aperture of your telescope or binoculars to complete the log. 13

14 You have updated the HAS Texas 45 observation log with output from the SkyTools Log Book Contact Rene Gedaly at with comments or corrections to Using SkyTools to log Texas 45 list objects. 14

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