References for those who search

Affiliation

American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)

Wed, 03/30/2022 - 17:04

What search references are available online to check transients?

I use Sky Safari Pro and MegaStar 5, both of which are chart-based, but don’t easily render minor planets accurately, and neither show recent comets. Sky Safari has no feature for showing known variables in a field. I’m also unaware of good commercial software for this application.

What do you all use?

Thanks!

John Pickett

PKT

GKI

Affiliation

None

Fri, 04/01/2022 - 13:03

Hello John, I use SkySafari…

Hello John, I use SkySafari also, but have found the following handy on the web:

Minor planet Checker: MPChecker: Minor Planet Checker (minorplanetcenter.net) just enter RA and DEC coordinates

GCVS Query form: GCVS Query forms (msu.su) again, enter coordinates

VizieR for images: VizieR Associated Data (u-strasbg.fr)

Sloan Digital Sky Survey for images: SDSS SkyServer DR12

I hope we get to use these ;-)

Keith.

Deconinck Michel

Affiliation

American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)

Fri, 04/01/2022 - 14:25

My tools for occultations

I use mainly SkySafari pro too

For asteroids, comet and trans neptunian object conjunctions or eclipses, I use :

the PC software OccultWatcher : http://www.occultwatcher.net/
The Edwin Goffin list. to select current year events
And the Worldwide Asteroidal Occultation Observations and Resources here: https://www.asteroidoccultation.com/observations/

Hope this helps

PKT

Affiliation

American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)

Mon, 04/04/2022 - 15:30

Thanks! I’m adding all your…

Thanks! I’m adding all your links to my research list.

I also use Dominic Ford’s webpage at in-th-sky.org for up to date comet information.

I’m hoping the folks at HQ will add to this list if possible. It would be wonderful if the AAVSO webpage had these links available.

Thanks again!