Deep-Sky Planner 7.1 Release

A free update to Deep-Sky Planner 7 has been released. It contains bug fixes, enhancements and new features. The list of changes is available in the release notes that can be viewed in the Deep-Sky Planner 7 Community (Software Updates page), and in the Readme file that accompanies the update.

This release has some important changes that require some explanation. First, support for ASCOM weather stations has been added. I tested with both the BlueAstro Stickstation and the Astromi.ch MeteoBox. As you may know, the developer of the Stickstation, Per Frejvall, died unexpectedly in July. I had corresponded with Per and worked out communication issues before he passed. I have since worked with Martin Ingold at Astromi.ch on support for MBox. Both Mbox and StickStation are working well with DSP7.1.

MeteoBox (MBox)

Deep-Sky Planner 7 was released with internal support for high resolution displays. The user interface was sufficient where Windows scaling was 150% or less. Because the user interface was not sufficient where scaling was above 150%, I have elected to make internal support for high resolution displays an option within Deep-Sky Planner. I will improve internal support for high-resolution displays as Windows and development tools improve support for high res displays.

Lastly, the database has been updated with new cross reference information for NGC globular clusters. There were incorrect references between NGC and GCL catalogs for globular clusters. If you have created any observing plan documents that include GCL objects, you may want to be sure that the object information is correct. Please look for a new Terzan Clusters plan and an updated Palomar Clusters plan in the Plan Library in a few days. My thanks go to Owen B for reporting this issue.

Generating a Horizon Model for Deep-Sky Planner

A Deep-Sky Planner user has contributed a method for creating a highly accurate horizon model for his suburban imaging location. The location has many obstructions that often interfere with imaging projects. Knightware thanks Deep-Sky Planner user Mark L. for contributing the following method.

At your observing location, set up a camera with a wide angle lens on a tripod.  I used a DSLR and an 18mm lens.  Make sure the date/time is set correctly on the camera.

Level the tripod, then set the altitude of the camera so that the local horizon can be seen in all directions.  This makes the process easier since you don't have to readjust the altitude on each shot.

Determine a proper exposure time.  I used 10 seconds at f/2 and ISO 800 in a fairly light polluted area (NELM 4.8).  I got magnitude 5 and 6 stars with these settings.

Take an exposure, then move the azimuth of the camera about 30 degrees and expose again.  Do this until you have covered the entire horizon around the camera's location.

At your computer, start up your planetarium program setting the date/time to match the photos you just took. I used TheSky6, but other planetarium programs can also be used.

Star information from TheSky6

Examine each photo, looking for a star that can be seen just above key points on your horizon.  Find that star on the planetarium program.  Click on the star to get the azimuth and altitude, then record these values using a plain text editor such as Notepad.

It is important to record the data in azimuth, altitude order with a comma separating the values because this is the format that Deep-Sky Planner expects. TheSky6 produces data in degrees, minutes, seconds format, so I wrote a script that turns the data in the text file into decimal degrees format for Deep-Sky Planner.

Python scripts are available to convert the data taken from TheSky (either TheSky6 or TheSkyX) to Deep-Sky Planner format. You can download these and sample input and output files at http://www.knightware.biz/community/public/dsp6/kb/article-31.htm

Python script that converts data from TheSky 6

Repeat the examination process for as many points as possible around your horizon. The more points you record, the more accurate the model.

Import the list of Az/Alts into Deep-Sky Planner. Open the location in the Location Manager that you want to attach the horizon model to in the Location Editor. Click Import to open the Horizon Model Import dialog box. Choose the Input File that contains your horizon model data, choose Comma Separated Azimuth/Altitude format, and enter a name for the new model. Click Import to pull the horizon into the Deep-Sky Planner database.

Horizon Model Import dialog box

Save the original data file or Export the horizon model to a .horizon data file using the Location Editor in case you need to import the model again in the future.

A Deep-Sky Planer user asked me to create observing plans for objects in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). The data came from 5 catalogs revised by Mati Morel of New South Wales, Australia. I contacted Mr. Morel about the project, and he kindly gave permission for me to use his work. He also sent me the latest updates to his data.

Small Magellanic Cloud. Credit: NASA/CXC/JPL-Caltech/STScI

The data in this series of plans are contained in 5 lists compiled from examining the Hodge & Wright atlas of the SMC (1977). Mr. Morel examined the atlas and consulted various sources for position, magnitude and size information for each object. He also included comments on many objects. I have used the latest published data from SIMBAD for position, magnitude and size. There appears to be little difference between the two sets of data, except that magnitude information is somewhat different. There is photometric data available for most objects in multiple bands. The band used for the magnitude data for each object in the plans is indicated. Magnitude data in the V band is preferred where available. I believe this is more useful to visual observers.

Together, the 5 plans contain 405 objects. Some entries are duplicated among the catalogs, but together these represent a thorough coverage of nebulae and clusters in the Small Magellanic Cloud.

The plans in the Deep-Sky Planner Plan Library are named:

• SMC Henize nebulae
• SMC Hodge Wright clusters
• SMC Kron clusters
• SMC Lindsay clusters
• SMC Westerlund Glaspey clusters

Notes:

1. Morel's comments are maintained in the User text column. These are essential to his work.
   
2. Object types in DSP are not as narrowly defined as those in SIMBAD. For example, 'Open Cluster' is assigned in Deep-Sky Planner to object types 'cluster of stars', 'star association and the like in SIMBAD.
   
3. Lindsay's paper is crucial to understanding the clusters in the SMC. You can read it here.
   
4. Lindsay 106 and 109 are mislabeled on the Hodge & Wright (1977) atlas of the SMC
   

More Improvements to the Knightware Website

More improvements have been published on the Knightware website. Most noticeable are the changes to the menus throughout the site. The old menus were not friendly to mobile browsers - the drop-down capability that exposed subtopic pages didn't work on mobile browsers. The new menus are mobile-friendly so that the entire site can be navigated efficiently on a phone or tablet. The site has been reviewed with 7 & 10 inch tablets, and all appears well. In fact, you can still view an abbreviated version of any observing plan in the Plan Library with your mobile device browser - just log into the User's Community and browse.

New mobile-friendly menus

SQM Reader Pro Community Updates

Plans are underway to provide new tools for users of SQM Reader Pro 2 that contribute data to the SQM Readings Map page. Users have already contributed over 66,000 readings, and the new tools will help users understand their data in new ways. Tools should begin to appear in the SQM Reader Pro 2 user's community soon - please stay tuned.

Getting More Social

You may notice that social bookmarking buttons have been added to the bottom of most web pages. These buttons will help users to bookmark the pages that are most beneficial to them while sharing links to these pages with friends. We have also added a 'Link To Us' page that we hope will encourage users to share information about Deep-Sky Planner and SQM Reader Pro with others. We thank you in advance for sharing links to the website!

Link To Us page

Introducing: deepskyplanner on Google+

Finally, there is a new deepskyplanner page on Google+. We expect to use this page initially like our page on Facebook - to share announcements about new observing plans, new product features, etc. We will monitor the popularity of the Google+ page and consider using the vast array of features that Google+ offers in the future. Please add the deepskyplanner page to your circles!