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The following is an example of how to use
the handy
Data Wizard to make a query specific on Minor Planets. The target list can be
created by using the files from the
Minor Planet Center's file
MPCORB.DAT,
their files Distant, Critical, or Unusual lists, the Lowell
Observatory's file ASTORB.DAT,
or even a subset target list as created by the Lowell
Observatory's "Hierarchial
Observing Protocal for Asteroids" (HOP) page when the
Output orbital elements to a file option is implemented.
WARNING:
When creating queries
If you don't set the date and time in
TheSky6 to the actual imaging date
and time you want you will not get the minor planets you expect!
Using the TheSky's Data | Data Wizard
select "Object Type and Databases" under Solar System check
Extended Minor
Planets. If the minor planets of interest are already added to your local
group choose "Minor Planet" not
Extended Minor
Planet. The extended minor
planet file allows you to access all of the currently available minor
planets for the query (~275,000 at this writing) whereas the local group is limited to a
total of 1,000 only.
Please refer to the following download links to the larger
Extended Minor
Planet files
MPCORB.DAT
from the Minor
Planet Center and/or Lowell
Observatory's file
ASTORB.DAT. The Hierarchial
Observing Protocal for Asteroids page can be used as well.
After you have loaded an
Extended Minor
Planet file
next access the
Data Wizard in
TheSky6
using Data | Data Wizard. Make a "NEW" Query using File | New.
WARNING!
Making a query on 275,000+ minor
planets will take time! AND, even when limiting the
Extended Minor Planet query to only those minor planets with an altitude
greater than say 40 degrees, a magnitude between 16th and 18th, and an
Altitude and Azimuth between say 110 and 235, the query will return
over 2,000 minor planets! The MORE you can filter out unwanted
objects the better.
Data | Comets and Minor Planets
Extended Minor Planets
A new query is made using the
Extended Minor
Planets.
New Minor Planet Query
Choose Query | Edit Parameters
Use the tab "Object Types and
Databases" on the Editing dialog to limit the Database Query to
Extended Minor
Planets. Expand the entry "Solar System" by double mouse
clicking it. You will see the entry for
Extended Minor
Planet here under Solar System.
Database Query on Extended Minor
Planets
Limit our Query to Extended Minor Planets
Now consider the following query.
Using the Attribute Filter dialog EXPAND the entry "Floating Point
Values". Pick the fields you wish to limit by then the Attribute
for the field. First click on Altitude. In the Current
Filter select "Compare Greater than" from the drop down list. In
the field Value enter 40. Now you have all minor planets with an
Altitude Greater than 40 degrees. Easy enough.
Filter Altitude > 40 degrees
Select the fields you want then the criteria for each
The problem becomes when using ALL of
the minor planets this query will result in finding thousands of minor
planets (about 50,000)! In order to use the Data Wizard
effectively you will want to limit the query even further. There
are several ways to accomplish this.
For example, in addition to those
minor planets that are 40 degree high in altitude you can limit the
search to only those that are +- 1 hour from the meridian 15 degrees by
using the field hour angle. Add the filter hour angle > -1 and
hour angle < 1. Still a lot of hits.
Even better start with a smaller set
of orbital elements to begin with! For example, let's use the
"Distant" minor planet list from the MPC. In TheSky use Data |
Comets and Minor Planets | Minor Planets dialog. Under the heading
"From the web" click on the button
Distant....
Minor Planets Dialog
Click "Distant"
Using your Internet connection TheSky
will download the list of "Distant" minor planets from the Minor Planet
Center's web page. The entire list is displayed. Currently a
total of 1,000 minor planets can be imported into the "local group" this
way. If you try to drag more than 1,000 minor planets from a file
only the first 1,000 will be imported and the rest are rejected!
Select those you want
Drag, or select individually!
Note the "total" number of minor planets
imported is displayed! 673 in this case when all the Distant
objects are dragged and imported to the local group.
All Distant Minor Planets loaded
From the Web
Here is a reality check. Make a
Query on the entire list of Minor Planets using the Data Wizard.
With no filtering you will get all 673 in the report. Create a
"new" query File New. Under Query | Edit Parameters choose the
Object Types and Databases tab. The Minor Planets from the Distant
group WERE IMPORTED into the "local group". Therefore you are not
querying the "Extended Minor Planets" in the case but rather the Minor
Planets!
Minor Planet query
Selected Object Types is Minor Planet
Now by
not using ANY filtering just run the query. You can pick
individual fields to show in your REPORT in addition to the default
Object Name. Just use the Report Columns Tab and expand the
Floating Point entry, Text values, and/or Integer values to see the
fields available for your report.
Pick the fields of interest!
Move from the left to the right
At this point you are done.
Just press OK and you can "RUN" the query. See below.
Run the Query
Data Wizard
Following are the results of the
query. Again note the total number of objects found on the dialog!
Query on Distant minor planets
with no filtering
Note "Objects found" at the bottom
New query with filters! Now
Edit the Query Parameters choosing the Attribute Filter tab. I
have now added only those minor planets with an altitude > 40 degrees,
an hour angle > -1 and hour angle < 1 (+- 15 degrees of the meridian).
New Query using filters
Run the query again!!
Be sure to Run the query again!
Note the difference in objects found! Now there are only 48 minor
planets found. Again, by adding additional filters you can limit
the matches even further OR just start with a list of minor planets that
only has the ones you are interested in!
New Query Results
Total Objects = 48 with filters employed
HINT: If you have only
the minor planets of interest loaded in the "Extended Minor Planet" list
or the local group all matches found will be those that are positioned
EXACTLY where you want them. Assuming of course they do meet the
filtering criteria!
After you have the list created you
can Sort the list by any of the fields. Just click on that field
name and the data is sorted by the field. You can also choose to
sort by minimizing telescope motion, the shortest path, including
removing objects that are close to one another to avoid wasting imaging
time!
Sorting by Minimum Telescope
Motion
Advanced sorting
So, now what?
Once you have your targets the list
can be saved to a text file to be used with a VB, Java, Visual Basic, or
equivalent program, Microsoft Excel, Access, copied to the clip board, or even Exported
as an
Orchestrate Script to automatically image the targets for you.
Export dialog
Choose Export Options
Choose the "Scripting" tab to create
the
Orchestrate Script for you. Note the option "Export
as a script" in the Export Dialog. This will add the
Orchestrate Script commands you have selected to the target list for
you. See below.
Add Scripting Commands to your
list
Click and Add the commands you want
Enter Parameters to the right
This becomes the script!
And
finally the script in
Orchestrate ready to be executed.
Orchestrate Script ready to be carried out
Orchestrate Commands embedded in target list
OR
Following is the target list with fields chosen
exported to a text file sorted by Object Name.
Object name ,RA (current epoch),Azimuth ,Altitude ,Magnitude,Transit
time,Set time,Hour angle
1999 CN119, 09h 19m 02s , 196°00'09" ,+71°09'12" ,24.53 , 13:46, 20:34,
00h 21m 35s
1999 CX131, 09h 20m 15s , 195°56'17" ,+72°17'21" ,23.36 , 13:47, 20:38,
00h 20m 23s
2000 CG105, 09h 20m 55s , 192°39'39" ,+67°53'51" ,23.34 , 13:48, 20:25,
00h 19m 42s
60458 2000 CM114,09h 21m 31s , 192°21'35" ,+68°05'46" ,23.23 , 13:49,
20:27, 00h 19m 06s
2002 CZ224, 09h 22m 14s , 194°16'52" ,+72°12'03" ,23.53 , 13:49, 20:40,
00h 18m 24s
1999 CU153, 09h 22m 43s , 192°50'15" ,+70°32'54" ,23.67 , 13:50, 20:35,
00h 17m 54s
..... and so on.
You can also use the Data Wizard to Export the data
in intervals. For example you could run the query 5 times in 1
hour intervals creating an ephemeris for the objects using the attribute
filters chosen.
Ephemeris feature
Choose interval and number of times to run!
Run Query again. The query can run for say 31
days with 1 day increments, hourly, etc.
Query run 5 times with 1 hour increments
Sorted by Minor Planet Name
Plotting path on TheSky Display!
Great Reality Check!
Data Sort by Shortest Path
Results shown below
Screen showing Shortest Path taken
Check your path!
Here the filtering of all objects above 40 degrees
declination is shown. Look at the Altitude field. And next
sorting the list by the minimal telescope motion.
Minimum Telescope Motion
For comparison
By saving your query you can then run it anytime
without having to reenter the query parameters. Use File Save As
and assign your query a name. You can save as many queries as you
like, minor planet or otherwise!
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