How do you log your observations?

[Meadehead]

Hi,

I've seen lots of wonderful deep sky objects tonight and would like to log them so I can go back and see them again, but am unsure how. Any recomendations and what type of checklists and templates are available?

[iceman]

Hi John

You could try the IceInSpace Observing Log Template (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/download.php?8cc5c730c4c6652ce403b1 1fe2e4a221) to see if it fits your needs..

[Robby]

I have used a voice recoreder in the past. Very convienient and you never loose the pen, although batteries can go flat pretty quick on a real cold night!
Cheers

[Campus Dweller]

There's lots of software that enables you to keep track of your obsevations. I use one that's fairly old now called NGC view. I use it mainly to plan my observing around objects I haven't seen yet. Most more modern planetarium programs also have capability to log your observations. Examples are The Sky and Redshift.

[Meadehead]

Thanks all for the ideas :thumbsup:, the template is what I was looking for, and I like the voice recording idea as I feel clumsy at times with a red led torch in one hand, glasses & a pen flicking through star charts - dropping things & searching in the grass..... I have to get organised, maybe a desk type lamp will free up my hands.

How does one start planning a viewing night? I noticed a list I can downoad in the resources of 100 brightest galaxies & Messier or NGC objects, I could use this list as a project to check all objects off the list. Is there other lists available?

[Tannehill]

There are several dedicated observing planning programs. Astroplanner and SkyTools2 (SkyTools3 is imminent). While they cost money, they have a nice feature of quickly letting you sort which objects will be up when and how high, by category, and letting you print out custom finder charts to help you ID the object in the finder and scope FOV. And they have built-in logging features so you can see at a glance when you previously saw that object and your comments. Updates for comets, asteroids, etc are available regularly.

There are free downloadable sky charts here, and several amateur-based free charts out there. Cartes du Ciel is freeware sky charts but I think it lacks some of the higher-end features of the payware above. Cartes du Ciel meshes with their version of the above, DeepSky.

But that initial list you menioned from IIS - bright galaxies and nebs - should keep you busy for awhile!

[Bobj]

Bought a laptop, loaded it with Carte Du Ciel, stuck it on the top of the air-con unit for the nightly observations. Added a pencil and exercise book to jot down the necessary data. Then at leisure, can log the relevant info.

[DougAdams]

I can't be bothered with a lot of stuff when outside so here's my set up....

1. Flip open the Pocket Sky Atlas and see what's going to be "up" over the next few hours. The chart layout by RA is brilliant for this, and the scope of the atlas is ideal for my small scope.

2. I jot out a list of things I want to hunt down, along with what map (and RA/Dec) they are on, so I can find it in the dark. I use a pocket notebook and bullet pen for this.

3. I don't carry a red light torch any more. I went to Coles and picked up a white Everready headlamp for $20, and painted it with red nail polish. I just stick the headlamp on my head for the session and I have a red light whenever I need it. It frees up both hands for the night, which is "handy" :)

4. As I work through my list, I jot down notes/impressions at the eyepiece into the notebook. Sometimes I'll do a rough sketch too.

5. After the session, I transcribe the notes into an observing log (which usually ends up here too under the Obs Reports forum). I print them off and file them away. I redraw any sketches into an observing template form and file those away too. These are fun to read on rainy days.

[Meadehead]

Thanks for the info!

I'll look at Carte Du Ciel. Should I download the old stable version 2.76 or the new Beta Version 3 beta 0.1.2 ?

Doug, love the headlamp idea! When I first read your post I missread it as an Everready Lantern and pictured you with one of those big Dolphin torches strapped to your head :lol:

[DougAdams]

Looks great over the IceInSpace beanie ;)