Quote:
Originally Posted by ngcles
Moving a tad off topic, I proceed on the apparently well-founded assumption that you've seen all these in the 600
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Yes !!
Quote:
Originally Posted by ngcles
and from that also assume that your " observing log" -- should you keep one, must be a very impressive size.
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No !!
We digress, but let me expand on those rather short answers a little, as some might find a humorous side to it
When I put the list together I hadn't observed all the targets. I had probably observed all of them except about 20 or 30 only, so I had in my head a fair idea of what I was likely to want to include.
I then used a conglomerate process to create a database. I combined countless other lists and source material into the database including what I thought was worth including and leaving out what I thought a waste of time. Some of the sources I consulted were Hartung, Burnham, OMeara and a host of other smaller specific target type lists put together by others. eg. With the double stars I combined several different peoples double star lists and included the targets I had observed and liked. I eliminated the targets I felt less worthy of inclusion and those I hadn't observed. The 20 or 30 targets I included in the overall list which I hadn't observed, were based on comments and advice from others, including Andrew Murrell. Once I had completed the list I made a point of observing everything on the list I hadn't previously looked at.
My Observing Logs. Hmmmmmmmmm, that is a long story in itself. I started observing on a casual basis in the early 70's whilst in high school, with a 70mm Tasco refractor. Didn't have time for observing notes in those days as my observing time was limited due to schoolwork. Had a hiatus from astronomy in the late 70's to early 80's due to women, alcohol, the racetrack and completing a university degree part time at night, in no specific order. With the pending arrival of Haleys' comment in 1986, I got keen again in 1985, having recently finished my studies. I built a 6" dob around a Parks mirror and got to some serious observing. Notwithstanding that I had completed a university degree without taking one single lecture note, I decided I should start taking observing notes as this was far more important than university. At the time I was living with an Irish woman (yes she was mad), who worked as a legal secretary. She suggested the taking of my observing notes would be infinitely easier using this wonderful piece of technology called a "dictaphone". She suggested that I could just hold the "dictaphone" and talk into it whilst standing at the eyepiece and she could type my notes up neatly in her spare time. Isn't love blind. I proceeded to make my observing notes on little magnetic dictaphone tapes for the next 3 or 4 years. I ended up making some brilliant observations all wonderfully recorded on these little magnetic tapes stored in a box in the cupboard. Unfortunately she never got much spare time and the boxfull of tapes expanded and the beautifully typed observing logs never appeared. In 1989 we decided love wasn't so blind and we parted company, me taking all my magnetic dictaphone tapes and my 6" dob, with me. Dissillusioned with life, I started pursuing other spare time pastimes outside astronomy like women, alcohol and the racetrack, all of which I was already familiar with, in no particular order. In early 1994 with the pending arrival and impact of Comet Shoemaker Levy 9, I decided that I really should get back to astronomy, and so I did. I consulted a secretarial service to see what it would cost me to get all my observing notes typed up. She said it will be free because all the tapes have deteriorated and are indecipherable. Well you can imagine how impressed I was ! I then observed for the next 4 years with my 6" reflector spanning the arrival of the two great 1990's comets Hyakutake (1996) and Hale-Bopp (1997). I never got around to making detailed observing notes because I was totally peeved at what had happened with my dictaphone tapes. However, I did make a record of all the targets I observed during each observing session. In the period 1998 to late 1999 I again had a hiatus from astronomy. In late 1999 I met my wife and again rekindled my interest in astronomy. I thought she would approve of that moreso than alcohol, women and the racetrack. When I started observing again in late 1999, computers and the internet had progressed to a higher level. I felt as I had made so many observations that had gone unrecorded, it was a bit late starting so late in the day. Having regard to the material that was now available online, I felt it was a little superfluos, at that time. In late 1999 I upgraded to an 8" dob, which I kept for a year, upgrading to a 10" in late 2000 and to the 18" in 2006. I had spent some time observing with Andrew Murrell using his 20" from late 2002. In about 2003 or 2004 with all the new astronomy software that was available I thought "maybe I should buy some of this software and use it to keep my observing notes". I had a play with Starry Night Pro and Megastar 6, but I never did get around to doing anything about my observing logs, until last week !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I returned from another weeks observing at Coonabarbran last Friday and decided I needed to do something about my observing logs, as my memory was not what it used to be. In my earlier years I had an unbelievable memory, but age and countless years of brain cell abuse catches up with everyone. Hence I actually ordered a copy of Sky Tools 3 when I arrived home from Coona. It should arrive in a week or two. This will enable me to interface the laptop with Argo Navis and Servocat and record my observations into the laptop at the telescope.
So there you have the tale of a long time astronomer who used to have a very good memory and very poor notes
Cheers,
John B