Variable Star SDB
 


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.

Setting up the User-Defined Data

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

Turning on the variable star labels - Comes in handy!

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!

Adding the Variables to your own text file

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

Changes to the default header!

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!

Magnitude 30? What?

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.

Turning on your own SDB labels

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

Or better yet,

>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

Compiling the text into an SDB

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

Can I add more objects later?

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.

Can I manually add my own entries??

Yes. Click "Add Entry" as highlighted below then just fill in the fields!

Manual Entry

Change Magnitude too!