Variable Star
SDB example
This page demonstrates how
make a subset database (SDB) of variable stars using TheSky as a tool. By using
Data | User-Defined Data TheSky will do most of the work for
you. Here is how.
First setup the
User-Defined Data area as follows. Make sure it is "Visible", Snap To:
Nearest non-stellar (yes non-stellar), Data Class Objects/Points, and
Object Type Reference Point. As follows.
Data | User-Defined
Data
Browse your new file by name - "My Variables.txt" in this example
Browse and assign the
filename
My Variables.txt
Yes in order to have TheSky stamp the
variable star's data from the database (GCVS) you need to use
Snap To: Nearest non-stellar as opposed to Snap to: "Star".
That is obviously not intuitive it is just the way that it is! The Data Class is
Objects/Points and the Object Type is Reference Point for now. By using
Reference Point you can distinguish your variables from the others.
Next use the "Browse"
button to assign a text file that will hold the entries. Use the default
folder
..\My Documents\Software Bisque\TheSky6\SDBs
and create a new
text file called "My Variables.txt".
Now let's say you want to
add variable star "SS Cygnus" to your custom list of variables. Using
Edit | Find
enter gcvs ss cyg. See below.
Edit | Find
Center & Frame
HINT:
If you check Frame Object
and Object Information
TheSky will nicely center and frame the variable and display the object
information. This is a great way to make sure you are clicking on what
you want!
If you are not sure of the
GCVS designation you can get a list of variables sorted by
constellation. Just expand the GCVS group found under Stellar as shown
below.
Variable Stars
Listed by Constellation
Secondly because you are
CONTROL+Left Mouse
clicking using Snap to Nearest Non-Stellar you should turn off the clusters, nebulae,
and galaxies so you don't inadvertently add one of them. If you add the
wrong type of object it is
easy enough to just delete the entry later or use F4 to DELETE it. No worries!
Found SS Cyg
TheSky returns the above
You can use the "Extended
Labeling" to have the GCVS labels displayed on the screen as you work
with the variables. That is done using View | Display Explorer Expand
Stellar then GCVS - Exetended Labels as shown below. Click the fields
you want labeled here.
View | Display Explorer
Expand Stellar then GCVS and check GCVS ID
Make sure Extended Labels
are set to visible and the GCVS star labels show. Field below shows
variables near SS Cyg with extended labels set to visible.
Handy!
Look Ma labels on!
Now that the User-Defined
Data is ready you can CONTROL+Left Mouse Click on the variable stars and
they are automatically added to the User-Defined Data. The above field
Green Reference
Markers
Indicating those that are added
In the above example a NSV (suspected variable was inadvertently added. You can simply remove it from the User-Defined Data if you don't want to include it.
HINT:
If you catch your mistake immediately
press the "F4" Function key 4 will remove the last entry from the
User-Defined Data.
Click on bad entry
And press DELETE ENTRY
Now, when you EXPORT the above data it
creates the text file with everything needed to compile the data into
an SDB. Including the handy HEADER which defines the columns of text
automatically.
HINT: You can also
DELETE any errors while editing the text file. Just highlight the
incorrect entry and DELETE the line before compiling.
Drag mouse to
highlight bad entry
Then press DELETE
Using NotePad or any text editor to
"Load" the text file. There is one change you will want to make! The
default "IDENTIFIER" used is "User-Defined Data". Change this to "My
Variables" BEFORE compiling the text. File Save the change then you
can simply compile the text file into and SDB.
;Copyright, Software Bisque, Inc.
>LABEL 1,30
>ALIAS 19,35
>RAHOURS 37,47
>DECDEGREES 49,60
>CATALOG CLASS=OBJECTS
>LOADMEMORY
>IDENTIFIER My Variables
>OBJECT TYPE 55
1 GCVS SS Cyg 21.71188912 43.58611111 30.00
2 GCVS V1573 Cyg 21.70780557 43.26610992 30.00
3 NSV13834 21.66961662 43.26082677 30.00
4 GCVS V2208 Cyg 21.66130565 43.30555426 30.00
5 GCVS UU Cyg 21.65780556 43.27777778 30.00
Here the proper changes to
make to the default header. Make the "LABEL" field columns 19 - 35, the
ALIAS field 19 - 35, and ADD a new Search field columns 19 - 35. That
way you can Edit | Find your data. If you haven't changed the IDENTIFIER
yet do so now. Lastly, add any fields you want to label.
;Copyright, Software Bisque, Inc.
>LABEL 19,35
>ALIAS 19,35
>SEARCH 19,35 <--------------------------This field has been added
>RAHOURS 37,47
>MAGNITUDE 62,66 <-----------------------This field has been added
>DECDEGREES 49,60
>CATALOG CLASS=OBJECTS
>LOADMEMORY
>IDENTIFIER My Variables <---------------Changed to My Variables
>OBJECT TYPE 55
>PARSE "Variable Star ID" 19,35 <------- This field has been added!
The default magnitude
assigned is magnitude 30.00 as highlighted below.
1 GCVS SS Cyg 21.71188912 43.58611111 30.00 <--- 30.00 is the default
If you wish to change the
magnitudes
you can. This is the only data not pre-assigned to objects when you are CONTROL+Left Mouse Clicking (hold down the CONTROL KEY while Left Mouse
Clicking on the variable star)
"Adding" them to the
User-Defined Data. You can also make the changes in the text after the
fact using any text editor. It is easiest to make the change as you go
because the data is there to be had.
Changing the Magnitude
Manually
Get from the magnitude from the Object
Information
Better yet label the GCVS
ID and Magnitude field!
View | Display Explorer
Check mark GCVS ID and Magnitude
GCVS ID & Magnitude
Cool!
HINT:
By typing in "GCVS" in the Goto: field
you are taken directly there. No digging.
First use >PARSE "NAME" and
Columns to assign to fields you want to label in the HEADER. This will allow you to label these fields using
the SDB's Extended Labels.
Example:
>PARSE "Variable Star ID" 19,35
>PARSE "Variable Star ID" 19,29
>PARSE "Constellation" 30,33
NOTE: By creating two fields using the >PARSE option one for the
Constellation and one for the Variable name you can label each
using the extended labels. See
below.
View | Display
Explorer
Check the fields you want labeled
Here is the final
version of the header.
;Copyright, Software Bisque, Inc.
>LABEL 19,35
>ALIAS 19,35
>SEARCH 19,35
>RAHOURS 37,47
>MAGNITUDE 62,66
>DECDEGREES 49,60
>CATALOG CLASS=OBJECTS
>LOADMEMORY
>IDENTIFIER My Variables
>OBJECT TYPE 55
>PARSE "Variable Star ID" 19,35
>PARSE "Constellation" 30,33
Note the above can be Edit copied
from here and Edit Pasted into your text.
Fields checked above
Show
Because the HEADER is
already created by TheSky creating the SDB is as simple as loading the
text file by name and pressing compile! That is Data | Import | Browse
then Compile.
Data | Import | Browse
Then just press "Compile"
Add the Database
to your active list
Certainly. As long as you
have selected the same text file using Browse in the User-Defined Data
the new entries are appended to the existing text file. The HEADER is
untouched. Add more objects then
just compile the text for the additional entries to take affect.
Don't forget to clear the
User-Defined Data BEFORE adding more objects!
Remove All prior
entries!
To avoid duplicates!
The following shows the
first 5 entries followed by another 6 added at a later date. The gap
(extra line) between objects won't hurt anything but you can safely
remove it if you like before compiling.
;Copyright, Software Bisque, Inc.
>LABEL 19,35
>ALIAS 19,35
>SEARCH 19,35
>RAHOURS 37,47
>DECDEGREES 49,60
>CATALOG CLASS=OBJECTS
>LOADMEMORY
>IDENTIFIER My Variables
>OBJECT TYPE 55
>PARSE "Variable Star ID" 19,35
1 GCVS SS Cyg 21.71188912 43.58611111 30.00
2 GCVS V1573 Cyg 21.70780557 43.26610992 30.00
3 NSV13834 21.66961662 43.26082677 30.00
4 GCVS V2208 Cyg 21.66130565 43.30555426 30.00
5 GCVS UU Cyg 21.65780556 43.27777778 30.00
(DELETE THE EMPTY LINES HERE IF YOU LIKE!)
(DELETE THE EMPTY LINES HERE IF YOU LIKE!)
1 GCVS GT Cyg 21.84544390 42.90333467 30.00
2 GCVS V0670 Cyg 21.83872300 42.77444558 30.00
3 GCVS V0658 Cyg 21.79458358 42.72861160 30.00
4 GCVS V0663 Cyg 21.80875031 42.09222238 30.00
5 GCVS V2210 Cyg 21.82491691 41.62527650 30.00
6 GCVS V0661 Cyg 21.80294444 41.39722222 30.00
Now just compile for the additional entries to take affect.
Yes. Click "Add Entry" as
highlighted below then just fill in the fields!
Manual Entry
Change Magnitude too!
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