Resources/Observations

Thanks for observing with us, “team-astronomy style!” First up – here’s a snippet of code that is featured in the video, “Locating Targets: Plate-solving Hacks (Stellarium/Sharpcap ,Electronically_Assisted Astronomy – EAA)” on YouTube at this link: https://youtu.be/1baqEKsSP9Q . Watch the video for complete instructions. To get started, just copy this code to your clipboard:

// Doug’s SharpCap Deep Sky Annotation Script.
// Stellarium – Select an object and execute the script, copy the DSA output.
// SharpCap – use the Paste Custom Object Info on the DSA dialog in SharpCap to paste the new object.

sID = “Unknown”; sMag = “Unknown”;

function ConvertStelRA2000ToHMS(dblRA) {
if (dblRA < -0) dblRA = 360 – Math.abs(dblRA);

dblRA = dblRA / 15.0; raH = Math.floor(dblRA);
dblRA = (dblRA-raH) * 60; raM = Math.floor(dblRA);
dblRA = (dblRA-raM) * 60; raS = dblRA.toFixed(2);

return raH + "h"  + raM + "m" + raS + "s";

}

function ConvertStelDec20000ToHMS(dblDec) {
sSign = “”;
if (dblDec < -0) {
sSign = “-“;
decD = Math.ceil(dblDec );
dblDec = (dblDec-decD) * 60.0; decM = Math.ceil(dblDec);
} else {
decD = Math.floor(dblDec );
dblDec = (dblDec-decD) * 60.0; decM = Math.floor(dblDec);
}

dblDec = (dblDec-decM) * 60.0;decS = dblDec.toFixed(2);

return sSign + decD + "d" + decM + "m" + decS + "s";

}

objmap = core.getSelectedObjectInfo();

sRA = ConvertStelRA2000ToHMS(parseFloat(objmap[“raJ2000”]));
sDec = ConvertStelDec20000ToHMS(parseFloat(objmap[“decJ2000”]));

if (objmap[“designations”] !=undefined) {
sID = objmap[“designations”];
} else if (objmap[“name”] != undefined && objmap[“name”]!=””){
sID = objmap[“name”];
}

if (objmap[“vmag”] != undefined && objmap[“vmag”]!=99) {
fMag = Number(parseFloat(objmap[“vmag”])).toFixed(2);
sMag = fMag.toString();
}
else if (objmap[“bmag”] != undefined) {
fMag = Number(parseFloat(objmap[“bmag”])).toFixed(2);
sMag = fMag.toString();
}

sDSA = sID + “||” + objmap[“object-type”] + “|” + sRA + ” ” + sDec + “||” + sMag + “|||”;

core.debug(sDSA); // DSA to Log tab
core.output(sDSA); // DSA to Output tab

As of Nov. 4, 2023, you’ve walked with us through the entire Messier Catalogue as well as the entire Herschel 400 list!

Observing the Messier Catalogue of Deep Space Objects in the 2023 Messier Marathon

Updated March 15, 2023

Observing Steve O’Meara’s “The Secret Dark” Catalog of Deep Space Objects

Observing Steve Omeara’s “Hidden Treasures” Catalog of Deep Space Objects

Here’s a progress summary chart of what we’ve observed so far from Steve O’Meara’s “Hidden Treasures” Catalog of Deep Space Objects. We’ll keep it updated real-time so you can follow along.

Observing The Caldwell List of Deep Space Objects

Here’s a progress summary chart of what we’ve observed so far from The Caldwell Catalog of Deep Space Objects. We’ll keep it updated real-time so you can follow along.

Observing The Herschel 400 List of Deep Space Objects

Here’s a progress summary chart of what we’ve observed so far from the Herschel 400 List of Deep Space Objects. We’ll keep it updated real-time so you can follow along. (Updated April 12, 2023)

Cosmic Challenge

Here’s the Equipment We Use at Emerald Hills Skies

Some might be interested in the equipment and software that we use. For whatever it’s worth, we’re relying on the following:

  • Optical Tube Assembly: 11-inch Celestron Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph telescope
  • Mount: iOptron CEM70G
  • Primary Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
  • Camera interface: Octopi-Astro RASA 11 Camera Adaptor
  • Observatory: Pier-Tech Tele-station 2
  • Pier: Pier-Tech Adjustable-Height Pier
  • Dew Shield: Celestron 11 RASA Aluminum Dew Shield
  • Filter: Celestron Light-Pollution Imaging Filter
  • Focus Motor: Celestron Focus Motor
  • Equipment Plate on top the scope by Losmandy
  • Power supply mounted on that equipment plate: Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox Micro, complete with Dew-heating bands on the primary OTA corrector plate and the “Sky-Cam” ASI178 mono camera
  • USB hub mounted on that equipment plate: Pegasus Astro USB Control Hub
  • All-Sky Camera mounted on that equipment plate: ZWO ASI178 mono camera
  • Scope-Cam camera: TP-Link ColorPro Wi-Fi Outdoor Camera
  • The app we use to view the iPhone screen’s view via our Scope-Cam on our Windows laptop: Reflector 4 by AirSquirrels (at https://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/download)
  • Focusing Software: NINA with Hocus Focus plug-in by George Hilios (jokogeo)
  • Streaming software: OSB with a Stream Deck controlling surface
  • Planetarium software: Stellarium, which is open-source (free), at https://stellarium.org/
  • Imaging (EAA) software: Sharpcap by Robin Glover
  • Remote operating solution: iCron USB Raven 3124 USB 3-2-1 Extender operating indoors, approximately 200 feet from the observatory, with data being transported via fiber-optic cable
  • 12V Power distributed by a power distribution by RIGrunner 4005i by West Mountain Radio
  • 12V Power supply homemade using a MEAN WELL LRS-350-12 348W 12V 29 Amp Single Output Switchable Power Supply
  • 110V Power distributed by a Tripp Lite 14 Outlet Network-Grade Rackmount PDU, 15A Surge Protected Power Strip, 15ft Cord with 5-15P
  • Rack at base of scope: Gator Cases Pro Series Rotationally Molded 4U Rack Case with Shallow 13″ Depth; (G-PRO-4U-13)