Starry Night 5 - McNaughts Comet

[BLiTZWiNG]

I'm not that familiar with how the software works (I should be, I've had it for 2 years now!). I can't seem to find the comet in the list of comets. I saw in a thread about the comet to check my comet.txt file, and it's in there, I just don't know how to make the program show it.

Anyone know?

[matt]

Yep.

That was me, having the same problem.

Still can't get the comet to show:mad2:

[BLiTZWiNG]

Did you find it in your comets.txt?

I finally installed SN5 on my new computer, and it looks different to what it did on my old box. Granted I did also go from v5.0 to v5.8 today as well... and um... just checking... seems like half the program is missing! cripes... well I still couldn't get it to show on my other computer which it is working on...

[jjjnettie]

I've got the same problem with Starry Night. Updated the comets text file, sure enough McNaught's there, but it won't come up on the program.

When I updated the comets list in The Sky 5, I had to delete some comets to make room for the new updates. It has room for 100 comets only. Maybe we need to do the same thing Starry Night.

[dcnicholls]

Did you check to see if you have a Prefs.txt file?

See http://www.starrynight.com/support/support_trio/index.php?action=kb&article=82

DN

[matt]

Yep

Had a fiddle with the number of comets displayed and number of labels but it didn't make a difference.

I increased number of comets shown to 100 and labels to 50... then did 100 and 100

but no joy

[dcnicholls]

That may be the problem: there are 190 comets in my comets.txt file. Try setting the numbers to 200, 200.

DN

[snowyskiesau]

It's showing up OK for me. This is under version 5.8.

[matt]

Nope. 200 and 200 doesn't reveal McNaught.

I've got a comet Wirtanen (46P) close to where McNaught should be on the 15th shortly after sunset... but no McNaught

I'm running Version 5.7.1

[fringe_dweller]

your sure you have the correct 'mcnaught'? highlighted from this page (you can add it manually as script on my mac in good old 4.5.2)

http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Comets/Soft07Cmt.txt

[matt]

There's not a single McNaught showing up in my comet list when I use the Find function and yet there are several McNaught comets in my comet txt file

[jjjnettie]

Stoopid program.
Got....to....make....it....work.... .

[Dave47tuc]

McNaught shows up for me:shrug:

Here is a screen shot, daytime late afternoon in hide daylight mode.

[matt]

What version you running, Dave?

It appears to only be happening in Enthusiast 5

[Dave47tuc]

Snp V5:shrug:

[matt]

SNP is Pro, right???

I've only got Enthusiast 5

[jjjnettie]

OK Ok I got it now.
Go to your new updated Comets.txt that you uploaded.
Go to file, Save As CometsX.txt so you can retrieve later if needed.
Then, carefully delete all comets but McNaughty.
Save the Comet.txt file.
Reopen Starrynights, go FIND comets, and VOILA! There it is.

[Dave47tuc]

Yep Pro V5

[jjjnettie]

Mines Enthusiast as well. It is limited to showing only 6 comets at a time.

[matt]

Nope

Not even that worked:(

Strangely... when I did a Find ... Halleys was there... but no McNaught!!! Even though McNought 2006 P1 was the only comet left in my comet.txt list.

I'm pulling my hair out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jjjnettie]

Ummm.
Maybe right click and delete the comets on the FIND list then reopen Starrynight?
Good luck.

This is all I have in my comet.txt
McNaught 10.0 0.0 1.000011 0.170741 267.4146 155.9780 77.8371 2454113.2983 2454200.5 10.0 C/2006 P1 MPC 57947

[matt]

Yep

That's all I had in my comet.txt

I also have a comets.txt.old file?????????

I've now returned my text folders to how they were, before this experiment

[jjjnettie]

The comets.txt.old is the original one that came with the program, before you updated your comets. The program automatically saved it for you.
You'll also have asteroids.txt.old

[matt]

It's weird jjj

When I click on Find and then click to open the comets... there's a bunch of 'em in there and a bunch of 'em missing including McNaught:shrug:

[dcnicholls]

Sounds like a visit to the SN support forum might be in order! (See earlier post).

DN

[jjjnettie]

I don't know what's happening with it Matt.
It's some sort of glitch.
The only thing I can think of now is to uninstall Starrynight and reload it.
Get the comet updates then follow what I did to get mine up and running.
Did you get your copy of Enthusiast from Netguide Magazine like I did?

[BLiTZWiNG]

I don't even have a prefs file.. I tried installing it again on my new machine now I have 2 folders lol.. I just left it at default settings to install too... wierd. I'm running the digital download version of sne5.

I could get halleys to appear, but I had to magnify on it. On my other machine I can get it to appear without magnify...

GO FIGURE!

[dcnicholls]

Don't forget to turn off daylight when viewing comets in SN. Too bright a sky and they suddenly disappear :(

I have SNPro Plus, and it has no Prefs.txt file.

DN

[matt]

David...

No offence, but that's a no brainer:lol:

[CoombellKid]

Matt, have you tried via the "Find" tab on the left. Use the "contains"
option to find objects whose name contains "c/2006 p1". It should show
up. You can restore the comet.txt file by using the update Comets, Astroriods...etc
it will overwrite any changed file with the updated one from SN website.
So if you have manually added anything it will be overwritten.

jjjnettie, no need to delete all of the entries just move comet McNaught
entry to the top of the list. Then restart SN

regards,CS sunny days

[CoombellKid]

DN,

If your are running Win XP try,

C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\LocalSettings \Application Data\Imaginova Canada\Prefs\Pro Plus

[BLiTZWiNG]

Kewl, I found the prefs for Enthusiast there. Changed max comets to 500 and... nothing!

must be time to bug Imaginova...

[BLiTZWiNG]

hmmm... after reinstalling the program yet again, this time "update comets" worked and now I have mcnaught! well.. McNaught-Hughes (130P) anyway... it's 3.5 au's away though...

:/

[matt]

Rob

I can't find a "contains" option in the Find function.

How do I invoke it:shrug:

[jjjnettie]

:doh:
LOLOL
You're so right Rob.

[CoombellKid]

Matt,

What version do you have? I have SNPro Plus 6.0.3 maybe it one of those
features purely for Pro Plus users.

Anyways, if you do like I suggested to jjjnettie, that is move the comet
McNaught entry to the top of the list and then restart SN. It should appear
first on the list. But remember if you update again the file will be overwritten.

hope this helps

regards,CS sunny days

[matt]

Hi Rob

Sorry to take so long to get back to you.

I am running Enthusiast 5.

I followed your advice and moved McNaught to the top of my comet.txt list and hooray!!! It's there.

Thanks mate:thumbsup:

[CoombellKid]

Actually you took 4 minites lol

btw, np's : ) I'm just waiting for the bugger to head into southern skies.
I brought a pair of Andrews bino's 20x80 triplets especially for this comet.
Just need to talk the missus into being the new mount lol... not likely

regards,CS sunny days

[matt]

By "taking so long" I meant in letting you know the solution you posted much earlier has actually worked.

It solved my problem much earlier today, based on the info you gave jjj:)

[CoombellKid]

Cool, np's : )

regards,CS sunny days

[BLiTZWiNG]

Just updated SN5 with the LiveSky update thing... McNaught now appears, but I think they went a little overboard on what it looks like!

[jjjnettie]

Every evening when I come home from observing the clouds, I open Starry Night and pretend that I'm viewing McNaught. Never once has a cloud obscured it.

[Mastaphin]

Dear readers,

I too have pulled my hair out attempting to get my version to locate Mcnaught. It is actually more simple than you can imagine.. :)

In FIND, put in McNaught, watch your capitalization.
Mcnaught will not locate more than 3 comets, but McNaught instantly locates P1. Look through your Comets.txt file, use search. You will quickly see that Mcnaught locates nothing, but McNaught locates what you have been looking for.
Hope this helps..

[BLiTZWiNG]

Interesting tip Mastaphin, thanks. Although I have it working now, I'll remember this for the future.

[gaa_ian]

Came up straight away this time in Starry night pro.
The attached Image explains our difficulty in seeing the comet !

[centauri]

Just as a sideline and noticeing gaa_ian's image, have you guys played with creating your own panorama scene for SN.
It is VERY cool!
I have my backyard done, trees and all, and aligned. It is great to be able to see what's up before wandering out into the heat of the night.

[iceman]

Great idea! I'll have to do that.