Visual Observing with Large Telescopes
SkyTools
provides the framework for an observing system that allows
experienced observers to spend less time using their software
and more time observing. First,
interesting objects are discovered and added to an observing list. Next
the list is narrowed down to those objects appropriate for your
telescope/location on a specific night. Then each object is
found via a star hopping chart or computer connected
telescope. Finally a log entry is made.
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Step
1: find or create an observing list -- download one of
over a hundred observing lists directly from within
SkyTools. Interesting lists include the AL
Planetaries, Arp Galaxies, the Caroline
Herschel objects, etc. Create
your own list via the Nightly Observing List Generator
or Database Power Search tools. Add your own
objects from magazines or web sites by most any designation.
-
Step
2: filter the list for your conditions on a given night --
use the SkyTools Nightly Planner to narrow your list
down to those visible in your telescope from your site and
those best observed on a given night. Filter out
objects you have already observed. Sort the list by
the optimum time to observe each object. Learn
more...
-
Step
3: Find each object in the sky -- use the Star
Hopping Charts to easily find any object. Learn
more... Or connect SkyTools to your
telescope to go right to it. Learn
more...
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Step
4:Create a log entry for each object -- type your
observations into the Observing Log tool. The
date/time, location, telescope, eyepieces used, and
observing conditions are easily recorded along with what you
saw. Later you can recall the observation, which can
be quickly recreated on a chart. Search your
observation database by telescope, observer, constellation,
etc. Learn
more...
With
the Pro Edition database you can count on the faintest stars to
be there to help you identify that challenging field. Find
faint deep sky objects, distant moons of planets such as Himalia
and Phoebe, Gyulbudaghian's Nebula, newly discovered supernovae
-- it's all there.
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