Deep-Sky Planner 5 features an updated and expanded database of deep-sky and stellar objects. Altogether, the database now contains over one million objects. There is also a wealth of cross reference information. There are over 62,000 cross reference names and over 175,000 other names. A cross reference name is a designation for an object in a catalog contained within the database. For example Messier 1 is also known as NGC 1952, Ced 53, LBN 833, Crab Nebula and Taurus A. The NGC, Ced and LBN catalogs are contained within the database so these designations are considered cross references. 'Crab nebula' and 'Taurus A' are considered common names because they are not designations from a catalog within the database.
Multi-Catalog Searching
Catalog data reporting has been enhanced to permit the searching of multiple catalogs or single catalogs. Single catalog searching still reports data in a catalog-specific way so that the most pertinent details from the catalog are at your disposal. Multiple catalog searching allows you to produce a single report of objects from multiple catalogs, but the report contains data items common to each selected catalog.
Deep-Sky Catalogs
The database contains data for a wide variety of objects, including quasars, supernova remnants, bright and dark nebulae, star clusters and galaxy clusters. It also contains a comprehensive collection of planetary nebulae and galaxies to magnitude 18. The majority of galaxy data is taken from the HyperLeda collection, and therefore contains the latest data available. Catalogs have been updated where possible and the Lynds Bright and Dark Nebulae catalogs have been added by request. There are currently over 820,000 deep-sky objects in the database.
Stellar Catalogs
Extensive updates and additions have been made among stellar object data. Catalogs have been updated where possible and the CCDM and G2V stars from the Hipparcos catalog have been added by request. There are now over 284,000 stellar objects in the database.
Double Stars
Double star observers will appreciate the addition of the CCDM catalog and an updated version of WDS (2009 version.) Together these catalogs place over 154,040 double star
systems at your disposal. In addition to the official nomenclature, these stars are also identified by Discoverer names, Bayer/Flamsteed numbers and proper names as applicable - a total of over 165,000 names. The screen shot above shows a search of both double star catalogs by Bayer designation.
Variable Stars (and suspects)
Variable star observers will enjoy the updated GCVS and NSV data, both taken from the March 2009 version of this dataset. Over 66,000 variable stars are now at your disposal.
G2V
Imagers will appreciate the convenience of having a searchable set of G2V stars taken from the Hipparcos catalog to help with color-balancing images. The G2V dataset can be searched like any other, including for stars near an equatorial position in the sky determined by current telescope pointing position or by looking up another object's position in the database.
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