Sky DataBase files
(SDB's) Explained
Other
examples of how/why to use SDB's
TheSky's
Database compiler allows anyone using minimal effort to
compile pretty much any type of data from any ASCII data source.
All that is required are the coordinates for the objects
(RA/DEC or ALT/AZ) and preferably one or more additional
fields describing the data and/or cross referencing field
(ALIAS)
to use the more standard datasets like the NGC/IC catalogs. There are
literally millions make that more like a billion or more objects on the web to choose from!
When you have
downloaded a precompiled SkyDataBase file (SDB) supplied by
Software
Bisque or as created by others in order to make it active you must
first "Add" the
precompiled SDB file to
TheSky's
list of active databases. This is done using
Data | Sky
Database Manager as shown below.
After
downloading an SDB file "Browse' your
computer for the location of the downloaded file using the
Sky Database Manager as shown below.
The default
folder for SDB's is ..Program Files\Software Bisque\TheSky6\User\Data\SDBs. However
as you can see from the following example you can use any folder you
like. Here the folder is D:\Double D (whoops maybe
that should have been re-worded ;).
Use the
"Add" button
Data | Database Manager
Move the SDB into the
Active list by pressing "Add"
or double left mouse click on the SDB name in the list
Now provided
the database file (SDB) has a field defined as "SEARCH" or is of
object type "labels" you
can find the data listed in the Edit | Find dialog under the
entry Sky Databases (SDBs) heading followed by the SDB's
name. See below.
This example shows how to
search the
Double
Double SDB file
<-Click here for more details on the Double Double
missing companions SDB.
To compile a
text file into an SDB use the option Data | Import then
Compile.
Data |
Import
Browse the text
Browse your
computer for the location of the text
file to compile. If the data already has the necessary header
information which defines the fields automatically you can simply press the
Compile button. If not you will have to define the fields
accordingly. Please refer to TheSky help file for more
details regarding field definition.
Example
Define the Find field
Highlight the columns with the
mouse
then click the field name
Above the Find
field is being specified as columns 19-30. This allows you
to use Edit | Find with the SDB file.
Find Dialog
Entries shown here
Frame Object
checked allows you to be taken directly to the objects in
the list as you click n them. This performs an automatic
framing of the object. If you also want the Object
Information displayed too check Object Information as well.
Very handy!
You can now easily center on
any of the objects found in the SDB file as well by using
the very handy option Frame Object. If you select the
Object Information option too then each object in the list
is centered for you and the information automatically
displayed.
If the SDB is not listed under
Edit | Find | Sky Databases (SDBs) that indicates there is
no SEARCH field defined. The data should be recompiled
assigning a field to the FIND field as shown below.
Search field columns 2-5
Now the data can be searched
When using SDB files you need
to be aware of the "Object Type" associated with the
SDB
i.e. star, reference point, mixed deep sky (note that Messier objects
are of object type "Mixed Deep Sky"), and so on. If the Object Type the
data was compiled as is not set to "Visible" you will not
see the objects after adding the SDB to the active list
using the Sky
Database Manager.
In this example the SDB the Double
Double is NOT of object type "Star". Rather
I chose to use Reference Point instead so that these double
stars
can be easily distinguished from the other stars.
Use View |
Display Explorer to enable object types. You can also
use the Display Explorer to find out how many objects are in
the SDB file what object type the SDB file was compile as, and which fields from
the SDB can be labeled on the screen. See Below.
View | Display Explorer
Find the SDB listed here!
More
information on the Double Double SDB <- Click here
The Database Information is
displayed (Type: Reference Point) and the fields you can
label are also highlighted above. Check those you want
labeled.
The red arrow is the data from
the Hipparcos catalog indicating the direction the star is
moving over time. The length of the arrow (1,000 years here)
is how many years of motion you specify. Click the
image for complete details on Proper Motion.
Narrow field
Zoomed all the way 1.66 arcseconds
angular separation - 100 years proper
motion
Because the Messier objects
are so popular the following shows how to set the display
properties for their object type "Mixed Deep Sky". This
object type was used because there are Clusters, Galaxies,
and Nebulae in the dataset.
Messier Object Type
Mixed Deep Sky
Note the check mark next to
"Visible" here. If an object type is not "visible" the SDB
data will not show. Just because you have "ADDED" the
dataset does not mean that its' object type is currently
visible! This is important to make note of.
Expanding "Labels" will show
the object type Messier. Checking this here will label the
Messier objects on screen.
Hint: Type in Messier to go
directly there!
Check next to Messier
Display Properties
Set object type attributes here
Now to label an SDB file you
can use the Display Explorer. Find the SDB listed under the
title Sky Databases (SDBs).
Display Explorer
Double Double SDB
Check mark the fields you want
labeled! Here Magnitude "V" will be labeled.
Make sure the EXTENDED LABELS
are set to visible. View | Labels | Extended Labels. There
needs to be a check mark next to Extended Labels.
The field Identifier is the "NAME" of the SDB
file that appears in the Display Explorer under SDB's and it is also the name used to search the SDB file.
See below how to change this.
When using a pre-defined header make the
change to that too.
>IDENTIFIER My New Name
Then recompile the text.
A rose by another name
Would still smell as sweet
Searching is now
My New Name then the Sharpless ID
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