DSO Planner for Android

Leonid Vasilievdsoplanner@gmail.com

www.dsoplanner.com

http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.astro.dsoplanner

May 2015

1 About

DSO Planner is an Android astronomical observation planning tool with excellent starcharting capabilities made by active and experienced amateur observers with a passionfor visual observations. It has large integrated deep sky objects databases and providesan opportunity to create any number of user own object databases. DSO Planner boaststhe largest star catalog among all Android astronomy applications (USNO UCAC4, 113mn stars)1. The application excels at creating observation plans on the fly, has powerfulnote taking capabilities, PushTo and GoTo support and night (red) mode.

The application has several editions: Pro, Plus, Basic and Free. Plus Edition has lowerUCAC4 catalog size (15.4 mn stars compared to 113 mn stars in Pro Edition) and PGCcatalog size (153 000 galaxies compared to 1 600 000 galaxies in Pro Edition), otherwiseit is like a Pro Edition. Basic Edition has lower number of stars and objects and somelimitations in functionality (you could not create your own databases and objects). Freeedition has only the brightest stars and objects and functionality close to that of BasicEdition.

Before installation please make sure that you have at least 2 GB for Pro Edition, 540MB for Plus Edition and 100 MB for Basic Edition of free space on your internal SD cardto download application databases! (Note: due to Google Play rules this data cannotbe moved to your external SD card - you must have all this space on your internal SDcard!).

1Pro Edition

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1.1 Internal databases

Database Free Basic Plus Pro

Star Chart Layers

USNO UCAC4 (star) — — 15.4 mn to 14m 113 mn to 16mTycho-2 (star) — 0.6 mn to 10.7m 2.5 mn to 12m 2.5 mn to 12mYale bright star catalog(star)

9 000 9 000 9 000 9 000

Yale bright star catalog(double star)

50 500 3 100 3 100

NGCIC/SAC (object) 230 3 100 14 400 14 400PGC (Principal GalaxiesCatalog)

— — 153 000 1 600 000

Object databases

Messier 110 110 110 110Caldwell 109 109 109 109Herschel 400 219 400 400 400NGCIC 230 3 100 12 000 12 000SAC (Saguaro AstronomyClub database)

— — 10 000 10 000

UGC (Uppsala GeneralCatalogue of Galaxies)

— — 13 000 13 000

PGC (not including NGCICand UGC galaxies)

— — — 45 000 to 16m

Lynds dark nebula (Lynds’Catalogue of Dark Nebulae)

— — 1 800 1 800

Lynds bright nebula(Lynds’ Catalogue ofBright Nebulae)

— — 1 100 1 100

Barnard (Barnard’s Cata-logue of Dark Objects)

— — 350 350

SH2 (Catalogue of HII re-gions)

— — 300 300

PK (Catalogue of GalacticPlanetary Nebulae)

— — 1 500 1 500

Abell (Catalogue of AbellClusters of Galaxies)

— — 2 700 2 700

Hickson Compact Group(Hickson Compact Group,cluster of galaxies)

— — 100 100

Comets — ˜700 ˜700 ˜700Minor Planets — 500 10 000 10 000WDS (The Washington Vi-sual Double Star Catalog)

— — 120 000 120 000

Brightest Double Stars — — 2 300 2 300

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There are actually two types of star/object databases - usual object database op-timized for efficient access and searching, and star chart layer database optimized fordrawing Star Chart. Usual database could be used in Object Selection (3) and globalsearch (15.2), whereas star chart layers could be used in global search but not in ObjectSelection. Still there are enough tools to use the latter efficiently: you could limit thestars / objects you see on the Star Chart by magnitude, object types and visibility inselected equipment.

Other databases Free Basic Plus Pro

Pre-installed NgcIc images 210 3 100 7 840 7 840Database of cross-matchnames (other star / objectdesignations)

1 700 72 000 233 000 233 000

Steve Gottlieb notes at-tached to NGCIC objects

230 3 100 7 900 7 900

Night Sky Observer Guidepre-compiled observationlist (object)

— — 3 900 3 900

24 000 cities worldwide + + + +500 popular eyepiecesdatabase

— + + +

1.2 Other edition differences

Feature Free Basic Plus Pro

Creation of custom (user)database

— — + +

Adding a temporary userobject to the observationlist for a quick look up

— — + +

DSS download in StarChart

limited + + +

Batch DSS download in Ob-servation List

— + + +

Bluetooth GoTo — + + +Full darkness calculation — + + +

NB: The description further provides information on full functionality(pro edition) assuming that all the difference between editions is summarisedabove.

1.3 Main features

• Cross-match names database. Search objects by less common names

• Unique visibility tool. Only objects that are visible with selected equipmentin the current sky conditions could be shown on the Star Chart (for objects from

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NGCIC/SAC/PGC catalogs)

• Comet support. Orbital elements of around 700 observable comets could beautomatically updated via internet

• Custom catalogs. Unlimited capability to create fully searchable own catalogs

• Steve Gottlieb Notes. Famous notes attached to NGCIC objects

• DSS imagery support. Download DSS images of any sky portion into offlinecache and overlay it on the star chart

• Offline images. Integrated set of images of most NgcIc objects (7 840 items),opportunity to add own images when creating custom catalogs

• Nebula contours. Contours of famous nebulae

• Object contours. Ellipse in real dimension and orientation

• Night mode. Fully red screen with red keyboard and menus

• PushTo for dobsonian mounts with setting circles. Level your dobsonianmount and perform one star alignment. The program will automatically recalculateaz/alt numbers to hunt objects easily

• GoTo for Meade and Celestron controllers with bluetooth dongle

• Planning tool. Filter any objects database by observer location, sky condition,astronomical equipment, time range of observation and object features (type, di-mension, magnitude, minimal altitude, visibility and other fields of own customcatalogs). Remove duplicate objects when searching in intersecting databases. Cre-ate up to 4 observation lists. Easily track observed and remaining to be observedobjects with note taking tool

• Import tool. Import observation lists in Sky Safari and Sky Tools format. Usepre-compiled Night Sky Observer Guide observation lists

• Note taking. Take text and/or audio notes

• Observing places. GPS, manual coordinates, custom lists. Database with 24 000cities worldwide

• Equipment. Keep track of all your telescopes and eyepieces. Use them for objectvisibility calculation and star charting. Use 500 popular eyepieces database

• Twilight calculator. Sun and Moon rise/transit/set time; Moon phase; civil,nautical and astronomical twilight on any date. Calculation of the full darkness fora current night and for a month ahead

• 2 visual themes (bright and dark)

• Powerful share/export/import capabilities (of databases, observation lists,notes)

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2 Quick Start Guide

2.1 Object Selection

The application supports two approaches to object selection. The easier way is to turnon the Star Chart object layers (5.5) (NgcIc/SAC, PGC) and

• either set limiting magnitude (Range, 5.4) for each layer and field of view (FOV).All objects whose magnitude is below limiting will then be shown on Star Chart.Besides limiting magnitude you could also filter NgcIc/SAC layer by object types.

• or use visibility filter for object layers (5.5) to show only objects visible in yourtelescope

The second approach is to look through several databases for objects to be observedusing various filters (Object Selection, 3 ), prepare observation list (4) and get its objectson Star Chart (5) automatically.

You could use each approach separately or combine them. For separate use turn offobject layers and fill the current observation list, or vice versa turn on object layers andclear current observation list.

For combination both turn on object layers and fill the current observation list. Todistinguish observation list objects from layer objects you could show labels for the first,but not for the second, and/or dim layer objects.

2.2 Star Chart

Star Chart (5) shows stars and objects from the selected layers and ALL objects from thecurrent observation list. For each FOV and layer you could adjust limiting magnitude(Range, 5.4) to raise/diminish the number of stars/objects that you see on the screen2.

Star Chart is highly customisable, there are many options in Star Chart Settings (5.5)that help you adjust it to your needs.

By default, Star Chart depicts preinstalled Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) images andtheir contours. They are not objects in a usual sense, rather consider them belonging toDSS image layer. To download DSS image of any object/sky portion select an object ora star and go to Menu/DSS (5.4). Remove DSS image or download image of adjacentarea with two long touches on existing image/adjacent area.

2.3 Object Selection

To search for objects go to Object Selection (3) screen. Press Select button. Select objectcatalogs, set Primary as search type and configure Primary search (10.3) (e.g. set objecttypes, minimum dimension, visibility or magnitude limit, minimum altitude).

Also select your geographic location, observation time range and sky conditions. Re-turn back and press Update button. Here you are with a list of objects. Sort them byname, constellation, type, magnitude or dimension.

2The limiting magnitude in Range has no influence on how objects from current observation list areshown

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Press on the object to see its location on Star Chart. Mark objects you want to addto observation list3, long tap on the list and select Add marked to observation list to addobject(s) to the current observation list (and they become visible on Star Chart).

2.4 Observations Lists

There are four observation lists. The current one is displayed in Observations Lists (4)screen, its objects are shown on Star Chart. Change the current observation list in Menu.

Download DSS images for all objects in the current observation list via Menu/DSS(4.1) to see them on the Star Chart. Menu provides for other observation list operations(sorting, note matching, etc.) as well.

2.5 Examples

2.5.1 Bright objects to observe today

You need to set up search parameters only the first time. After that you may keep themor update only the necessary ones.

• Star Chart/Menu/Settings/Star, object and image layers. Turn off Ng-cIc/SAC, and PGC layers

• Object Selection/Select. You come to Select Conditions screen

– Select object catalogs. Messier, Caldwell, Herschel 400

– Select search type. Primary

– Select Object types. Select types of objects you wish to observe

– Primary search parameters/Filter type. No filter

– Time of Observation. Set up observation period, e.g. Begin Time - AstroTwilight Ends, End Time - Astro Twilight Begins

– Geographic Location. Enable AutoLocation (if not already enabled).

• Object Selection/Update

• Object Selection/Context menu (long press)/Add ALL to ObservationList. These objects are now shown on Star Chart

2.5.2 Bright Comets to observe today

• Settings/Object Databases/Comets/Update. This updates orbital elementsof Comets database and adds newly discovered comets (if not updated yet by autoupdater)

• Object Selection/Select. You come to Select Conditions screen

– Select object catalogs. Comets

3Turn on checkboxes in Menu first

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Figure 1: Object Selection screen (bright theme / night mode)

– Select object types. Comet

– Primary search parameters/Object minimal size. 0

– Primary search parameters/Filter type. Maximum magnitude filter

– Primary search parameters/Set maximum magnitude. 12

• Object Selection/Update

Alternatively, you could choose No filter as a Filter type to get all comets abovehorizon and then sort the resulting list by magnitude.

2.5.3 All visible galaxies with dimension above 10 min

• Object Selection/Select. You come to Select Conditions screen

– Select object catalogs. NgcIc, UGC

– Select search type. SQL-like expression

– SQL-like expression. Add new search request

∗ Set SQL Request. Type type = gx&a > 10

∗ Set local request. Type vis > 0

∗ Select this request

• Object Selection/Update

3 Object Selection

The Object Selection module provides a screen for easy management, selection, andfiltering of different object databases (Figure 1).

Select/Update button either takes you to the Select Conditions (10) screen whereyou set object catalogs to search in and filter criteria (Select button), or performs asearch in the selected catalogs based on filter criteria (Update button). After the searchthe list of objects from the current database complying with the filter criteria is displayed,and Update button turns into Select button. While the search is running the Stop

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button appears. Press it to stop the current search (e.g. if it takes too long). All objectsfound till the Stop button press will be displayed.

Select button turns into Update button if some of the search criteria changes (e.g.location, observation time range, etc).

Constellation button allows to filter search results by constellation.Touching an object in the list takes to the Star Chart (5) with a touched object in

the center. Context menu provides a wide range of operations from forming ObservationsLists (4) to note taking (12).

The list has the following columns: NAME, CON (constellation), TYPE, MAG (mag-nitude) and DIM (dimension). Touching column name sorts the list by that parameter.Second touch reverses the sort order.

3.1 Menu

• Search. Global Search (15.2) of an input string in all databases

• Export, Share. See (15.5)

• Find, Next. See (15.7)

• CheckBoxes. Turn on/off checkboxes to mark objects for batch operation (addingto observation list)

3.2 Context Menu

• Show image. Show images for NgcIc objects, and custom catalog objects if theyhave ones

• Add to Observation List. Add the object to the current observation list (oneof the four). Current observation list could be changed in Observations Lists (4)module

• Add Marked to Observation List. Add marked objects to the current obser-vation list

• Add All to Observation List. Add all objects from the current Object Selectionlist to the current observation list

• Details. Shows details (7) on the object

• Add Note. Shows Edit Note Screen (12.3)

• See Object Notes. Shows a list of Notes (12) for the object

• See ALL Notes. Shows all Notes (12) from note database

3.3 Gestures

The program provides two simple gestures (15.8) that could be called throughout theapplication for calling Menu and returning to the previous window.

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Figure 2: Observations Lists screen (bright / dark theme)

4 Observations Lists

Observation list shows a list of objects to be observed and corresponding object imagesif available4 (Figure 2). To the right of an object there is a check box indicating if a userhas observed an object. The check box could either be checked by a user directly or bechecked automatically when taking an object note.

Objects from the current observation list are shown on Star Chart (5). Depending onthe Hide marked objects (5.5) setting one may see on Star Chart either all or non-markedobjects only.

Touching an object in the list takes to the Star Chart with a touched object centred.

4.1 Menu functions

• Search. Global Search (15.2) of an input string in all databases

• Rename. Rename current observation list

• DSS. Download DSS5 images of observation list objects. Only images for objectsabsent on the offline DSS cache are downloaded

• Sort by. The list could be sorted by object name, constellation, magnitude, sizeand set time. The second selection of the same sort type reverses the sort order

• List 1-4. Select a current observation list

• Add object. Add a temporary user object (15.6) to the observation list for a quicklook up. This object will not be associated with / added to any custom database

• Import. See (15.5).

– Besides own format the app supports importing observation lists in Sky Safariand Sky Tools formats

4Images are available for most NgcIc objects as well as custom catalog objects provided that a useradded ones

5Digitized Sky Survey

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– You could import pre-compiled Night Sky Observer Guide observation lists foreach constellation into the current observation list

– When importing into non-named observation list from the file the file name isset as a list name

• Export. See (15.5).

– When exporting named observation list its name is suggested as a file name

• Paste, Share. See (15.5).

• Mark.

– Mark objects with specific observation age (from 1 day to 12 month).The latest observation is derived from the object notes. This option is con-venient to exclude recently observed objects from an observation list / StarChart

– Remove all marks. Uncheck all items in the current observation list

– Show/Hide Objects with marks. Show/hide marked items in the currentobservation list

• Find, Next. See (15.7)

4.2 Context menu

This is similar to Object Selection context menu (3.2). Functions specific to ObservationsLists:

• Move. You could change the object order within the observation list. Just presson list item to put the selected object before

• Remove from List. Remove the object from the current observation list

• Remove Marked. Remove all marked objects from the current observation listincluding hidden ones

• Remove ALL. Remove all objects from the current observation list including hid-den ones

• Edit. Edit object parameters (this is applicable to temporary objects and customcatalog objects only)

5 Star Chart

Star Chart (Figure 3) shows stars and objects from selected layers and ALL objects fromthe current observation list. You could demonstrate either all objects from the currentobservation list, or non-marked ones only (Hide marked objects, 5.5).

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Figure 3: Star Chart screen (bright theme / night mode)

Besides stars the chart depicts bright star and object labels, bright planets, alt-azimuthal or equatorial grid line, horizon line, user horizon line, constellations, selectedeyepieces field of view (red dotted circles), Telrad rings, selected object marker, down-loaded DSS images and their contours6.

At the bottom there is a control and information zone. It shows the name of thecurrently selected object along with its magnitude, azimuth and altitude coordinates aswell as chart time and ra/dec coordinates of the chart center. Press at the buttons inthe zone center to change field of view (90, 60, 45, 30, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1, 30’, 15’, 7.2’, 3.6’degrees). Press on the name of currently selected object to get object information (7).Press on the chart time to set a new date/time, and/or turn on/off real time mode.

By default double star info (component and separation) is shown as double star label.This could be turned off in Settings, Double Star Info (5.5).

To distinguish observation list objects from layer objects you could (a) show labelsfor the first, and not for the second, (b) dim object from layers and (c) put a colon (:)after the name of selected object as shown in control and information zone.

Layer objects could be limited either by their magnitude or visibility in selected equip-ment in the current sky conditions. With the latter option you could see objects visiblein your telescope just as you swipe star chart!

You could measure angular distance between any star / objects. Just tap on the firststar / object, and then on the second star / object. The measured distance is shown in

6they are needed to see where DSS images are at high FOV

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the upper left.

5.1 Main features

Depending on the current field of view (FOV) the program shows:

• Star Layers (1.1).

– Yale Bright Star catalog for all FOV

– Tycho-2 layer for all FOV. There is a ceiling for limiting magnitude above 10degrees FOV (to avoid showing too many stars)

– UCAC4 layer for FOV below or equal to 5 degrees

– Limiting magnitude for each FOV and layer could be set in Menu/Layers (5.4)

• Object Layers (1.1).

– PGC layer for FOV below or equal 30 degrees

– NgcIc/SAC layer for all FOV

– Limiting magnitude for each FOV and layer and object types for NgcIc/SAClayer could be set in Menu/Range (5.4)

• The program automatically changes the way it depicts objects (from an object iconto an ellipse / rectangle with real dimensions and orientation)

• The program starts showing downloaded DSS images below specified FOV (Maxzoom to show DSS, 5.5). The program comes with preinstalled DSS images of thebrightest objects. You could download any other DSS images (DSS, 5.4) as youneed

• If available the program shows nebula contours instead of rectangle

5.2 Object icons

• ellipse: galaxy

• rectangle: bright nebula, dark nebula, HII region, super nova remnant

• triangle: planetary nebula

• circle: cluster of galaxies

• dashed circle: open cluster, open cluster and nebula

• circle with a cross: globular cluster

• filled circle with a horizontal crossing line: double star

• filled circle with a horizontal tail (3 short lines): comet

• circle with a horizontal line: minor planet

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• five angle star: observation list star, asterism

• small cross: object from a user catalog with a user type (15.10), quasar

The chart also depicts icons of bright solar system objects: Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars,Jupiter, Saturn.

5.3 Star Chart gestures

• Finger movement. Move the Star chart

• Pinch-to-zoom gesture. Increase/diminish field of view

• Long touch. Show/hide control/information zone

• Long touch on DSS image. Select DSS image

• Long touch on selected DSS image. Show DSS image menu

• Long touch near selected DSS image. Select an area adjacent to DSS image

• Long touch on selected area near DSS image. Show DSS image menu. Thisis convenient to download several adjacent DSS images covering large objects

• Touch on star/object. Select a star/object. Put a marker on it

• Flick up/down on the left screen side. Raise/diminish screen brightness pro-vided that the relevant setting (Brightness Flick, 5.5) is set

5.4 Menu

• Center. Center selected object

• -1 hour. Move time one hour back

• +1 hour. Move time one hour forward

• Mirror. Show mirror view of the sky

• Rotate (180). Rotate sky view by 180 degrees

• Telrad. Show/Hide Telrad

• Eyepieces. Eyepieces database. Show/Hide eyepieces FOV

• Nearby. Search for nearby objects from selected catalogs within the specified fieldof view with the visibility (15.11) above or equal to the specified detection limit

• DSS.

– download a single DSS image (for small objects). The center of image coincideswith current object marker position

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– download nine DSS images (for larger objects)

– show/hide DSS images on star chart

• Scope go. GoTo for Meade and Celestron controllers with bluetooth dongle (15.12)

• Compass. Turn on/off identifying stars and planets by holding the phone next tothem. For Android devices with compass. You could choose among three compassmodes

– Compass. Tracks device center movement and adjusts star chart accordingly.Star chart is not adjusted for device rotation around the line perpendicular todevice plane

– Compass+Level. Tracks device center movement and its rotation

– Level. Tracks device rotation around the line perpendicular to device plane.Star chart is not adjusted for device center movement

To look for specific object make sure that direction line (5.5) is turned on, selectthis object with object marker, turn either Compass or Compass+Level mode andfollow direction line from the center of the screen which will bring you to the object

• Align star. PushTo (15.9) for dobsonian mounts with setting circles

• RA/Dec. Set the screen center at the specified RA/Dec (Epoch 2000) and markit position with a special marker

• Boldness. Set star sizes

• Layers. Set limiting magnitude for each FOV and star/object layer. Set objecttypes for NgcIc/SAC layer

• Search. Global Search (15.2) of an input string in all databases

• Settings. Additional Star Chart Settings

5.5 Star Chart Settings

See (Figure 4).

• Night mode (on/off) - switching between day/night mode

• Star Chart

– Object Marker

∗ Enable Object Marker. Show/Hide object marker

∗ Settings. Fine settings (orientation marks, direction line7, cross size, linewidth).

– Star Chart elements

7a line from screen center to the selected object

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Figure 4: Star Chart Settings screen (bright / dark theme)

∗ Grid. Select grid type (Azimuthal, Equatorial, No grid)

∗ Constellations lines. Show/Hide constellation lines

∗ Horizon line. Show/Hide horizon line

∗ Fill area below horizon. If selected the area below horizon is filled withhorizon color

∗ Smooth hard line edges. Anti-aliasing. May lower performance

– Labels

∗ Bright star labels. Show/Hide bright star labels

∗ Object labels (Obs List). Show/Hide labels for objects from observa-tion list. This option could be used to distinguish observation list objectsfrom star chart layer objects

∗ Double Star Info. Show component and separation on the star chartfor double stars from Yale Bright Star Catalog

∗ Object labels (Layers). Show/Hide labels for objects from star chartlayers. This option could be used to distinguish observation list objectsfrom star chart layer objects

∗ Grid labels. Show/Hide grid labels

∗ Other labels. Show/Hide other labels (zenith, nadir, horizon labels)

– Star Chart colors

∗ Inverse sky. In day mode black stars are shown on a white background

∗ Daytime mode colors. Set star chart elements color (objects, cross-hair,eyepiece FOV, telrad rings, etc)

– User Horizon

∗ Enable User Horizon. Show/Hide user horizon

∗ Settings

· File name with key points. Select a text file containing user horizondata (15.3). If a file is already selected the program will suggest toupdate horizon from existing file. This is convenient when you updatethe text file on the fly and want to update your horizon in programas well

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· Line width. Horizon width in pixels

· Subdivision size in degrees. Additional points are added betweenoriginal distant points to draw a smoother line. Subdivision size is anazimuthal distance between these additional points. Larger numbermakes line coarse, small - affect performance

· Fill area below horizon. If selected the area below user horizon isfilled with horizon color

• Equipment

– Telescope.

∗ Telescopes Database. Select an instrument (11.1) for observations

∗ Show adjusted Az/Alt. Enable to see adjusted az/alt for dobsonianmount with setting circles (15.9)

∗ GoTo mount settings. See (15.12)

– Eyepieces overlay.

∗ Eyepieces Database. Select eyepieces (11.2) for observations

∗ Nested FOV rings. Show/Hide eyepieces overlay

∗ Cardinal direction labels. North, South, East, West labels aroundeyepiece ring

∗ Guide lines. RA/Dec guide lines within eyepiece FOV

– Telrad overlay.

∗ Telrad rings. Show/Hide telrad overlay

∗ Settings. Fine settings (ring diameters, marks angle, ring width)

– Level and Compass.

∗ Disable down tracking. Turn off tracking when pointing down

∗ Alpha. New point weight. The lower the alpha the smoother the com-pass, but the slower its speed. Higher alpha raises compass speed, butintroduces noise and jitter

• Star, object and image layers

– Star Layers (1.1).

∗ Tycho-2 layer. Show/Hide stars from Tycho-2 catalog

∗ UCAC4 layer. Show/Hide stars from UCAC4 catalog

– Object Layers (1.1).

∗ PGC layer. Show/Hide galaxies from PGC catalog

∗ NgcIc/SAC layer. Show/Hide deep sky objects from NgcIc, SAC andHCG catalogs

∗ NgcIc/SAC object types. Select object types to be shown for Ng-cIc/SAC catalog

– Visibility Filter for Object Layers (15.11)

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∗ Use visibility for layers. Objects in Object Layers are set to obey theVisibility Filter rules instead of the hard magnitude limit

∗ Detection limit. Only objects with visibility above or equal to detectionlimit are shown

∗ Sky limiting magnitude. The magnitude of faintest stars at zenith.Used for visibility calculations

– Options

∗ DSO

· Show near to real DSO shape. Show elliptical shape at high zoomlevel

· Zoom level for real size ON. FOV ceiling for showing DSO realshape. For FOV above the ceiling DSO icon is shown, for FOV belowthe ceiling real shape is shown taking into account Scale factor for realDSO shape (see below)

· Scale factor for real DSO shape. DSO is shown in real shape if itsscreen dimension is higher than that of DSO icon multiplied by scalefactor. Set it to zero to show any (even the smallest) object in realsize

· Scale factor for DSO signs. Set scale factor for reducing/enlargingDSO icons

∗ DSS (Digitized Sky Survey)

· Enable DSS imagery support. Show/Hide downloaded DSS im-ages on star chart

· Display DSS contours. Show/Hide DSS contours

· Max FOV to show DSS. Threshold FOV for showing/hiding down-loaded DSS images

· DSS images dimmer. Dimmer downloaded DSS images in nightmode

• Other

– Real Time

∗ Realtime mode. Enable/disable realtime mode where time and starchart are updated automatically

∗ Auto update period. Set the period for auto updating in real timemode

∗ Real time screen update dialog

· Update screen for all FOVs. In realtime mode screen is updatedirrespective of magnification

· Do not update screen for FOVs less or equal. Screen is not up-dated for FOV less or equal the threshold set (this may be convenientwhen looking for objects at high magnification)

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· Update screen and auto center selected object for FOV lessor equal. If enabled the selected object is auto centred in realtimemode for FOV less or equal the threshold set (this may be convenientto trace objects at high magnification)

∗ FOV threshold. The threshold for the above dialog

– Distinguishing observation list objects

∗ Observation list object mark. A colon ”:” is put after the name ofselected observation list object

∗ Dim objects from layers. Observation list objects are highlighted rel-ative to objects from layers

∗ Object labels (Obs List). Show/Hide labels for objects from observa-tion lists. This option could be used to distinguish observation list objectsfrom star chart layer objects

∗ Object labels (Layers). Show/Hide labels for objects from star chartlayers. This option could be used to distinguish observation list objectsfrom star chart layer objects

– Miscellaneous

∗ Angular measurement. Measure angle between two successive objectsselected

∗ Center Object. If enabled object is centred on double touch or on gettinginfo in control and information zone

∗ Hide marked objects. Hide marked objects from the current observa-tion list on star chart

∗ Brightness Flick. Use flick on the left side of the Star Chart to controlbrightness

∗ Battery level warning. Set a minimum level to show a reminder thata charge is required

6 Settings

These are the application main settings (apart from Star Chart settings). This modulealso provides a direct access to object databases (Figure 5).

6.1 Night Mode

Night mode (on/off) - switching between day/night mode

6.2 General settings

6.2.1 Geographic location

Setting the coordinates of observation place (Figure 6).

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Figure 5: Settings screen (bright theme / night mode)

Figure 6: Geographic location screen (bright / dark theme)

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• EnableAutoLocation. Enable/Disable auto location by GPS, network etc. If youwant to use GPS as a location provider turn it on first. The program uses the bestprovider available at the moment (e.g. GPS if it is turned on, network if GPS isturned off). It queries current location provider once an hour. If no fix is availablethe last known location for the current provider is used

• Manual coordinate setting.

– Latitude. Use the following format when setting latitude: ”N34 10 01” or”S34 10 01”. N/S stands for North/South latitude. The value is 34 degrees 10minutes 1 second. Minutes and/or seconds could be omitted

– Longitude. Use the following format when setting longitude: ”W118 10 01”or ”E118 10 01”. W/E stands for Western/Eastern longitude. The value is118 degrees 10 minutes 1 second. Minutes and/or seconds could be omitted

• Add location. Add current location to user list

• List. Select current location from user list. Export/import (15.5) locations from/tothe list

• Major World Cities. Select location from 24 000 major world cities

Observation place will be immediately recognized throughout the app by one of thenearest cities from the major world cities database (if the place is less than 20 km awayfrom the city) or by closest user defined location (if less than 5 km away).

6.2.2 Astro Equipment

• Telescopes Database. Select an instrument (11.1) for observations

• Eyepieces Database. Select eyepieces (11.2) for observations

• GoToMount Setup. Paired device and telescope type selection (Meade/Celestron).You need to turn on bluetooth (15.12) first

6.2.3 Object Databases

See (8)

6.2.4 Screen Settings

• Automatic nightmode. When selected the program automatically turns on nightmode after civil twilight ends

• Minimal brightness mode. Where possible screen brightness is set to minimum

• Day Time full screen mode. Android notification bar removed in day mode

• Night Time full screen mode. Android notification bar removed in night mode

• Main Screen Background Image. Show Sombrero image on initial view

• Onyx skin. Set white on black color interface throughout the application

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6.2.5 System-wide settings

• Disable auto sleep in Star Chart mode. Screen turning off is disabled in StarChart (5), thus ignoring Android default settings of energy-saving

• Disable Night keyboard. If selected android default keyboard is used in night-mode. This may negatively affect night vision

• Auto-dismiss Warning. Set a period after which application warning and infor-mation messages will be closed

• Auto update comet elements. The app suggests to update comet databasewhen new orbital elements are available on ”www.minorplanetcenter.net”. In thedialog you could press Cancel to postpone update till the next orbital elementsbecome available or Hide to turn the notification off. To turn the notification onjust activate this item again

6.3 Utilities

6.3.1 Downloads

This allows to download/redownload application databases (expansion pack and patch).Expansion pack and patch are usually downloaded automatically when application isinstalled. You need to download them only if there is a warning at the start of applicationthat the expansion pack or patch is missing. Download is permitted via Wi-Fi connectiononly due to large file size. Start download by long-touching the Expansion pack title.

Before installation please make sure that you have at least 2 GB for Pro Edition, 540MB for Plus Edition and 100 MB for Basic Edition of free space on your internal SD cardto download application databases! (Note: due to Google Play rules this data cannotbe moved to your external SD card - you must have all this space on your internal SDcard!). If you redownload expansion pack or patch (they had been downloaded already)no additional free space is required - the application will automatically remove the oldfiles.

6.3.2 Reinstall

This reinstalls application databases (expansion pack and patch).

6.3.3 Backup/Restore

Backup and restore of application user databases (object databases, observation lists,instruments, notes, locations, advanced search requests) to SD card /DSOPlanner/backupfolder. This may be needed if you would like to use the same databases on another device.Please note that when restoring the databases all existing user databases will be removedand replaced by the databases from the backup. To be on the safe side, we recommendto backup the most critical information into the text format as well (15.5).

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Figure 7: Details screen (bright / dark theme)

6.3.4 About

This section contains brief information about application and licensing rights.

7 Details Screen

This module shows information on selected object (Figure 7).Objects could be selected in Object Selection (3), Observations Lists (4), Star Chart

(5) and other places.The module automatically searches

• other user databases for objects with the same name

• internal databases for the same objects named differently

• Steve Gottlieb Notes for notes on selected object.

To get this additional information just press More button that appears after severalseconds at the screen bottom. The app shows additional (custom fields) (15.4.2) for eachmatch found.

Thus it is easy to supplement object data from some database with additional data.For example, you could create a user database with additional text and image path fieldsand keep there other designations (text fields) and images (image path fields) for NgcIcobjects. When getting information on NgcIc object you would have a chance to see otherdesignations and object images8. Follow the steps:

• Create a new user database (8.1) called ”myngc” with a text field called”myname” and an image path field called ”photo”

• Add a new object to this database (9.1). Set its ”name1” and ”name2” fieldsto ”ngc224”. Set ”myname” field to ”Andromeda” and ”photo” field to NGC224(M31) image path on SD card. There is no need to set other fields

8Just press on the filename in the photo field

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• Find NGC224 (M31) in Messier or NgcIc catalog and get information on theobject

• Press More button. At the screen bottom among others you would see ”myngc:ngc224” object with fields ”myname” set to ”Andromeda” and ”photo” set to someimage path. Click on the path to see the image itself

The module provides Info panel with position angle and separation for each componentfor double stars from Yale Bright Star Catalog, WDS and database of Brightest DoubleStars. For about 1000 double stars position angle and separation are recalculated usingknown orbital parameters of double systems.

Available information:

• Other Designations. Object names from database of objects cross-match names(from other catalogs)

• Double Star Info. Position angle and separation for each component

• Type. Object type (15.10)

• Magnitude. Object magnitude

• Dimension. Object dimension in minutes

• PA. Object position angle

• Per EP visibility. A set of object visibilities (15.11) for different eyepieces

• Location. Current latitude and longitude of observer location

• Local time. Device time for which object position is calculated. It is set in StarChart (5). Device timezone is taken into account for calculations

• Constellation. Object constellation

• Az/Alt. Object azimuth and altitude at local time

• Transit. Time of object transit and its maximum altitude

• Rise. Object rise time9

• Set. Object set time

Buttons at the bottom:

• Star Chart/Lock. Switch to Star Chart (5) with the object centred. If DetailsScreen is called from Star Chart button function changes to ”Lock”. ”Lock” fixesthe object on the Star Chart so that you can not select any other object. Returnback to Details screen and press ”Unlock” to unlock it

9”n/r” - never rising, ”n/s” - never setting

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Figure 8: Objects Databases screen (bright / dark theme)

• Image. Show images for both Ngc objects and user database objects containingimages

• Notes. Show all observation Notes (12) for selected object

• Add. Add selected object to the current observation list. The button is hidden ifthe object is already in the current observation list

GoTo (15.12) button at the upper right corner appears when bluetooth connectionwith a telescope is set.

8 Objects Databases

This module allows to look through existing object databases, add new user (custom)databases and fill them (Figure 8). Added user databases are then used around theapplication in the same way as internal databases. All functions available in ObjectSelection (3), Global Search (15.2), Notes (12), Observations Lists (4) and Star Chart(5) apply to them.

This unique feature greatly enhances application functionality as users could createany number of own databases for their needs and easily distribute them around.

The screen shows a list of available databases. Press on the database to see its content(9) or fill it.

8.1 Creation of a user database

To create a user database press an Add button. Set database name and decide if youwant to add additional (custom fields) (15.4) for object description. When no customfields are required the database with standard fields (15.4) is created. Otherwise the useris given an opportunity to create any number of additional fields and select their types.

8.2 Context menu

• Fields. Show all additional fields in the database

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Figure 9: View database screen (bright / dark theme)

• Remove database. Remove the database

9 View database

This module allows to look through database content (Figure 9), add additional objectsinto database and export it in DSO Planner text format (15.4).

9.1 Menu

• Add object. Manually add an object to the database

• Import. Import objects from the text file in DSO Planner text format (15.4). Forthe large file import may take a lot of time (about 2 hours for 100 000 objectsprovided that your device does not go into sleep mode10). This is not a mistake butrather this reflects Android speed at creating databases. The import is performedin a separate thread so one may continue using the program

• Export, Paste, Share. See (15.5).

• Find, Next. See (15.7)

9.2 Context menu

• Edit. Edit selected object parameters

• Other items. These are similar to Object Selection context menu (3.2) functions

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Figure 10: Select Conditions screen (bright theme / night mode)

10 Select Conditions

This module sets filter criteria for Object Selection (3) (Figure 10). There are two waysto search for objects - Primary and SQL-like. The first one provides with a special screenwhere one selects a number of parameters to search by whereas the second uses logicalexpression for the search.

Internal catalogs may contain same objects with different names, to make sure thatsearch result does not contain the same object several times turn Exclude duplicates (10.5)option on.

10.1 Select object catalogs

Select object catalogs for a search among all internal object databases (1.1) and usercatalogs

10.2 Select search type

Select either Primary search or SQL-like search.

10The application does not override default Android settings and your device could go to sleep if notused for some time. The application does not import objects while your device is sleeping. Import willstart again when you turn your device on

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10.3 Primary Search

• Select object types. Use this for selecting object types (15.10)

• Empty field treatment. For incomplete data sets, when some of the objectsdata values are missing, you can select the preferred way to resolve the situationduring search (i.e. treat the empty field as zero valued, as a ”very large number”or regardless count it as a positive or a negative match)

• Primary search parameters

– Filter type. Select a filter or do not use it at all

∗ Visibility Filter. Objects above or equal to a detection limit (15.11) arelooked for

∗ Maximum magnitude filter. Objects with a magnitude below or equalto a specified value are looked for.

∗ No filter. No filter is applied

– Select constellation. Select one or several constellations to search objectsin. If no constellation is selected, objects are searched in all constellations

– Object name starts with. Select the beginning of the object name. Thisoption is convenient for catalogs combined from various sources like SAC. As anexample, by setting name beginning to ”cr” you limit your search to Collinderopen clusters

– Object minimal size. Search for objects with the dimension above or equalto the specified one

– Lowest altitude. Search for objects which rise above the specified altitudeduring observation time range

– Detection limit. Set the threshold (15.11) for the visibility filter

– Set maximum magnitude. Set the threshold for maximum magnitude filter

– Minimum separation. Minimum separation between components whensearching in double star catalogs

– Maximum separation. Maximum separation between components whensearching in double star catalogs

– Maximum mag2. Maximum magnitude of the second component whensearching in double star catalogs

10.4 SQL-like expression

This module contains a list of SQL-like expressions defined by user. Select one to use fora search. Initially the list contains 3 simple basic expressions as examples. Create a newsearch request with Add new search request button at the bottom of the screen.

SQL-like expression consists of two parts:

• SQL request. The request is used to search any database by its non-calculatedfields

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• Local request. The request is used to filter by calculated values: altitude andvisibility

10.4.1 SQL request

The following fields could be used in expression (in any case - upper-case, lower-case ormixed).

• TYPE. Object type. Could take the standard object type (15.10) value

• A. Larger object dimension in minutes

• B. Smaller object dimension in minutes

• RA. Right ascension (2000) in hours

• DEC. Declination (2000) in degrees

• MAG. Magnitude

• PA. Position angle

• CON. Constellation (3 symbol Latin abbreviation)

Any additional user database numeric fields could also be used (e.g. this is the validexpression for LDN database: opacity > 3, and this is for WDS or Bright DS database:separation < 5&mag2 < 7)

10.4.2 Local request

• ALT. Minimal altitude

• VIS. Visibility (15.11) from 0 to 5

10.4.3 Operations

The following operations could be used in expressions

• a = b - a is equal to b

• a > b - a is greater than b

• a < b - a is less than b

• a#b - a is not equal to b

• a&b - logical AND (e.g. (mag > 12)&(type = GC) - object magnitude is higherthan 12 and its type is equal to GC)

• a|b - logical OR (e.g. (type = GC)|(type = OC) - object is either GC or OC

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10.4.4 Examples of SQL request

• (a > 15)&(con = and). All objects from Andromeda constellation with larger axisabove 15 minutes

• a > 10&type = gc. All globular clusters larger than 10 minutes

• a > 7 ∗ b&a > 10&type = gx. Edge-On galaxies

• id > 0. All objects in database

10.4.5 Example of Local request

• alt > 20. Objects that have an altitude above 20 degrees at least once during theobservation period

• vis > 1. Objects with visibility (15.11) higher than 1

• alt > 20&vis > 1. Both above conditions should hold

10.4.6 Context Menu

• Edit. Edit the selected expression

• Remove. Remove it from the list

10.4.7 Menu

Provides standard export/import (15.5) operations.

10.5 Common conditions

This part allows to set conditions common to both Primary and SQL-like search.

• Exclude duplicates. This is an option to remove physically duplicated objectswhen searching in intersecting databases with the same/different object name no-tations. As an example, if you select NgcIc and UGC catalogs and turn this optionon, then among galaxies NGC2 and UGC59 (which are the same) only NGC2 willbe found. Without this option the application finds both NGC2 and UGC59. Thisfeature also excludes duplicated objects from the same catalog (e.g. NGC6/NGC20,NGC17/NGC34)

• Time of observation. Set observation range. In addition to setting the timerange manually, one may easily define the ranges with a reference to astro twilight,sun rise and sun setting

• Telescope/Instrument. Select an instrument (11.1) for observations

• Geographic Location. Select observatory location (6.2.1)

• Sky limiting magnitude. The magnitude of faintest stars at zenith. Used forvisibility calculations

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Figure 11: Telescope List screen (bright theme)

11 Equipment Database

The program supports two user databases of optical instruments: telescope database andeyepiece database. This data is used for visibility (15.11) calculation and for depictingeyepieces field of view (5) on the Star Chart.

Select necessary telescope before filtering (3) objects based on their visibility (15.11)in either Select Conditions (10.5) or Settings (6.2.2).

Star Chart (5) draws field of view for each selected eyepiece of the selected telescope;Details Screen (7) shows object visibility for them.

11.1 Telescope List

The list shows names and brief description of your telescopes, on the right side there arecheckboxes to indicate which telescope is currently active (Figure 11). Press on checkboxto make a new selection.

Add new telescope button helps you add a new telescope to your telescope list.

11.1.1 Context menu

• Edit. Edit telescope parameters

– Name. Telescope name

– Aperture (mm). Telescope aperture in mm

– Focal length (mm). Telescope focal length

– Pass through (%). The amount of light passing through the telescope. 70%is a usual benchmark for reflectors

– Short text note. Brief comment if required

• Assign Eyepieces. Assigned eyepieces are used for Star Chart eyepiece ring draw-ing and visibility calculations. An eyepiece may be assigned to several telescopes

• Remove. Remove telescope from the list

• Remove All. Clear telescope list

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Figure 12: Eyepiece List screen (bright theme)

11.1.2 Menu

Provides access to export/import (15.5) operations.

11.2 Eyepiece List

The list shows names and brief description of your eyepieces (Figure 12). Add neweyepiece button adds new eyepiece to your eyepiece list. When adding a new eyepiece youcould either enter your own eyepiece parameters or select an eyepiece from the databasewith more than 500 popular eyepieces data.

11.2.1 Context menu

• Edit. Edit eyepiece parameters

– Name. Eyepiece name

– Focal length (mm). Eyepiece focal length

– AFOV. Eyepiece field of view in degrees

– Short text note. Brief comment if required

• Remove. Remove eyepiece from the list

• Remove All. Clear eyepiece list

11.2.2 Menu

Provides access to export/import (15.5) operations.

12 Notes

Notes screen shows user notes on observed objects (Figure 13). Notes database could beaccessed from context menu of Observations Lists (4.2), Object Selection (3.2) and ViewDatabase (9.2), and by Notes button from Details Screen (7).

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Figure 13: Notes screen (bright theme)

Notes screen shows either a list of all notes on a selected object, or all notes in notedatabase (this depends on what function was chosen). Notes on an object are looked forby object name. Thus if you have equally named objects in several databases then foreach such object you would see the same note list.

Each line in the list shows object name, note time and note content, the line mayhave an audio mark if the note in question has an audio comment as well.

Touching a note brings you to an Edit Note Screen (12.3).

12.1 Menu

• Export, Import, Paste, Share. See (15.5)

• Sort by Name. Sort all notes by object name. The second selection reverses thesort order

• Sort by Note Time. Sort all notes by their creation time. The second selectionreverses the sort order

• Search Text. Searches the whole note database for the specified string in notecontent

12.2 Context Menu

• Star Chart. Show note object on a Star Chart (5)

• Play. Play an audio if a note has one

• Remove. Remove a note from the list

• Remove ALL. Remove all notes from the list

• Show Image, Details, Add ALL to Observation List. See Object Selectioncontext menu (3.2) for description

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Figure 14: Astro Tools screen (bright theme / night mode)

12.3 Edit Note Screen

Here you could enter a note text, change note time, record an audio comment on theobject and listen to an existing audio comment.

13 Tools

This module allows to search for external astro applications and start them from DSOPlanner (Figure 14). It also includes two integrated application:

• Twilight calculator. Sun and Moon rise/transit/set time; Moon phase; civil,nautical and astronomical twilight on any date. The Twilight Calculator tool isalso taking the Moon data into account to calculate the true darkest sky periodon the the current night as well as to give prediction for the next 30 days ahead.Turn your device into landscape orientation to see the duration of true darkest skyperiod as well.

• Astro flashlight (including red flashlight for night mode)

14 Legal disclaimer

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ”AS IS” AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WAR-RANTIES, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) THE IMPLIED WARRANTIESOF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AREDISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LI-ABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY ORCONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) PROCURE-MENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES, LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROF-ITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORYOF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (IN-CLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THEUSE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCHDAMAGE

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Figure 15: DSO Image screen

15 Appendix

15.1 DSO Image

This module shows object images (Figure 15). There is an internal image database thathas an image for almost any Ngc object (7840 images). You could also add any numberof images for your own user database objects:

• add necessary number of Image path (15.4.2) fields when creating a database (e.g.3 Image path fields allow you to add maximum of 3 images for each object)

• either add images to objects manually via Add object (9.1) Menu command

• or import (9.1) the whole database from the text file11

This module could be called from context menu of Observations Lists (4.2), Object Se-lection (3.2) and View Database (9.2), and by Image button from Details Screen (7).

If there are several images for an object you could change them by flicking up thecurrent image. Use pinch to zoom gesture to change image scale.

15.2 Global Search

”Global Search” looks for specified string in all application object databases (in namefields), in note database (in name and content fields) and in star chart layers (in namefields)12. This function (Figure 16) could be called from any place by pressing Findbutton if it is present on the device, or via Object Selection, Observations Lists or StarChart Menus.

Search examples:

• M1

11just make sure that you have the image files on SD card at the paths that you specified. The pathform depends on each particular device, first try to add the image manually to see what form the pathtakes. Usually it is ”/mnt/sdcard/some directory/file”

12except for USNO UCAC4. The reason is that the index file required for fast search would be toolarge, but the search without such a file is very slow

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Figure 16: Global Search screen (night mode)

• m 1 (any register, spaces)

• NGC1952

• ngc 1952 (any register, spaces)

• alpha and (bayer designation, constellation short name)

• alpha andromeda (bayer designation, constellation full name)

• alpheratz (star name)

• 21 and (flamsteed designation)

• 21 andromeda

• MCG+07-02-016 (M31 other designation)

• CGCG535-017 (M31 other designation)

• tyc 1179-1775-1 (Tycho-2 layer stars)

• pgc1662164 (PGC layer galaxies)

15.3 User Horizon text format

To draw your local horizon on Star Chart you need to prepare a text file where each linecontains Az Alt pair. For example, Figure (17) shows a user horizon for the followingdata:

19 020 1030 3040 6060 6061 0

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Figure 17: User horizon

15.4 DSO Planner text format

Each object is represented by a text string which starts with ”& ” symbol and thencontains pairs of the form ”field=value” separated by ”;” symbol. The pairs could be putinto a text string in any order. It is possible to use only some fields and omit other, inthis case omitted fields will be automatically set to 0 or zero string. To deal with severalobjects at once place several lines into the text file, every line corresponding to its ownobject.

If you need to use ”& ” or ”;” within value (e.g. within text fields), just put ”\\”before the symbol: ”\\&” or ”\\;”.

15.4.1 Standard object fields

• ra. Right ascension in epoch 2000. Its value lies in 0 to 24 range

• dec. Declination in epoch 2000. Its value lies in -90 to 90 range

• a, b. Object dimensions in minutes. a is the larger one

• pa. Position angle in degrees

• name1. Short object name

• name2. Long object name

• comment. Text comment on an object

• mag. Magnitude of an object

• type. Object type (15.10)

• typestr. The name of the custom user type. This field is required only if you useyour own (custom) object type13

13e.g. using custom object type you could assign a ”meteor” type to your object

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15.4.2 Additional (custom) object fields

If standard object fields are not sufficient for object description one could use any numberof additional fields. Additional fields could have the following types:

• Text. Text field

• Double. Fractional number field

• Integer. Integer number field

• Image path. Field with a path to an image on SD card

• Web link. Field with a web link

15.4.3 Auxiliary fields

When exporting/importing the application uses several auxiliary fields for database ref-erence, note description, location description, etc; users should not use these fields fortheir object description (”note”, ”notebaseid”, ”date”, ”time”, ”path” , ”latitude”, ”lon-gitude”, ”aperture”, ”afov”, ”catalog”, ”id”, ”selected”, etc.).

15.4.4 Useful abbreviations

• ngc. Simplifies import of NgcIc objects. Just use object description in the form&ngc = object number, for example &ngc = 3031

• ic. Simplifies import of NgcIc objects. Just use object description in the form &ic= object number, for example &ic = 2

15.4.5 Examples

Double star from WDS (Washington double star) catalog: &name1 = 00000+7530;name2 =00000+7530; ra = 0.001844; dec = 75.483276;mag = 10.27000; pa = 235; type = ds; year =1982; components =;mag2 = 11.50000; spectrum =; separation = 0.600001

This double star description uses the following additional fields14:

• year. Integer

• components. Text

• mag2. Double

• spectrum. Text

• separation. Double

Dark nebula from Lynds catalog: &name1 = LDN1;name2 = LDN1; ra = 16.480963; dec =−16.107859; opacity = 3; a = 13.942740; b = 13.942740; type = neb

Bright nebula from Lynds catalog: &name1 = LBN1;name2 = LBN1; ra = 17.752939; dec =−28.851336; brightness = 5; a = 4; b = 4; type = neb

14which were set when database was created (8)

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15.5 Import/Export/Paste/Share

The program extensively supports import/export operations in DSO Planner text format(15.4). Any list with objects, notes, locations, telescopes and eyepieces could be exportedin text format and imported back.

• Export. Export to a text file in DSO Planner text format (15.4)

• Import. Import from a text file in DSO Planner text format. When importingobjects in Observations Lists (4) or notes in Notes (12) you need to specify whetherthe source file is yours or someone else’s. This is important to perform importcorrectly. When someone else’s file is imported into observation list temporary(15.6) objects are created. When own file is imported permanent (15.6) objects arecreated provided that the database objects refer to was not removed

• Paste. Paste objects from clipboard. The program tries to interpret text in theclipboard as a text representation of object(s) in DSO Planner text format andinsert them into the list/database

• Share. Share current list in DSO Planner text format via external application(such as Gmail, Evernote, etc). No more than 300 objects are shared due to internalandroid restrictions

15.6 Temporary/Permanent Objects

Objects could be permanent

• internal database objects (1.1) (such as NgcIc, SAC, etc)

• user database objects

and temporary

• objects existing in observation lists (4) only. Such objects could be created

– in observation list with Add Object (4.1) command

– when importing objects into observation list if imported objects do not containreferences to databases (e.g. when the database was removed or someone else’sfile is used)

• It is necessary to emphasize that when adding objects into observation list fromObject Selection (3) module or View database (9) module they remain permanent.This also relates to import into observation list when imported objects containreferences to databases

Temporary objects are created much easier. They are required if you need to see some-thing quickly and you do not care whether they will exist later. Temporary objects arealso required for exchanging observation lists among users. Temporary objects has lessfunctionality than permanent.

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Permanent objects could be used in Object Selection (3) filtering. Permanent objectsare included into Global Search (15.2).

Temporary object exists until it is removed from the observation list. Temporaryobject is not included into Global Search, however it is still included into Find/Next(15.7) search.

When importing external list into observation list (from other users) it is temporaryobjects (with limited functionality) that are created, with the only exception of internaldatabase objects15. This is understandable as every user may have its own databasestructure and its own object location within it. Therefore, other user objects could notbe referred to your own databases.

This issue could be partly solved by creating a new user database (8.1) and importingobjects into it. However, before importing you need to create a database with exactly thesame additional fields as used in object lists, otherwise information in additional fieldswill be lost. This may not be a solution when an external observational list that youimport contain objects from various user databases.

15.7 Find/Next

This is a simple search of a string within the object name in a current list only. ”Find”looks for the first coincidence, ”Next” for all others. The positive search result is shownin bold. The search is inclusive (e.g. ”12” is found in ”abc12” name). To reset the searchjust press ”Find”.

15.8 Gestures

DSO Planner supports 2 simple gestures. Flick Up at the bottom - to call the main menuof the window, and flick left to simplify returning to the previous window, or to close thedialog window (similar to ”Back” button of Android). However the gesture will not workover such active GUI controls as buttons, list and edit fields.

15.9 PushTo

The application could calculate setting circles readings for telescopes with Alt-Az mount.There is no need to align setting circles so that zero azimuth points exactly to the North,and zero altitude is exactly at horizon. It is sufficient to level the telescope base inhorizontal plane16 and perform one star alignment. Telescope base should be in horizontalplane for correct calculation of setting circles azimuthal reading.

Application author uses Dobsonian telescope for observations (Figure 18). Azimuthalcircles glued to mount base have a 0.5 degree step. Altitude circles are represented bya cheap digital inclinometer with 0.1 degree accuracy. In practice with a help of theapplication such an equipment permits to find almost any object during 1-2 minutes.

To perform one star alignment you need to go to Star Chart (5) and select an alignmentstar. Then point your telescope to this star and select Align Star (5.4) from Star ChartMenu. Make sure that the star is seen exactly at eyepiece center and fix the time of this

15i.e. when internal database objects from other user list are imported they are created permanent16e.g. with the use of a simple level device

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Figure 18: Dobsonian telescope with simple setting circles; One star alignment dialog

occasion by pressing Now button (Figure 18). Then enter azimuth and altitude readingsof your setting circles into Measured Az and Measured Alt fields and press One StarAlign button. The application will calculate necessary adjustments for setting circles.

ClockWise and CounterClockWise buttons allow to select the azimuthal settingcircle direction.

Later you could see azimuth and altitude values of any object recalculated for settingcircles at the left bottom side of star chart control and information zone (5) by turningon Show Adjusted Az/Alt (5.5).

15.10 Object Types

The following object types are used throughout the program:

• GC. Globular cluster

• Gx. Galaxy

• GxyCld. Galaxy cloud

• HIIRg. HII region

• Neb. Nebula

• OC. Open cluster

• OCN. Open cluster+nebula

• PN. Planetary nebula

• SNR. Supernova remnant

• mPlanet. Minor planet

• Planet. Planet

• Star. Star

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Figure 19: GoTo Mount Setup. Details GoTo button (bright theme)

• DS. Double star

• Comet. Comet

• CG. Cluster of galaxies

• DN. Dark Nebula

• AST. Asterism

• QS. Quasar

• NF. Not found

• CUSTOM. User defined type. Any string could be set as a user (custom) objecttype (typestr (15.4.1))

15.11 Visibility

Object visibility is measured on 0-5 scale,where 0 is invisible and 5 bright. Visibilitydepends on object brightness and dimensions, sky condition (its limiting magnitude - themagnitude of the faintest star one could see at zenith), telescope aperture, its passthroughand magnification (that is an eyepiece used with the telescope). Blackwell model is usedfor visibility calculations.

Visibility is not calculated for comets and objects with absent magnitude or dimension.For such objects visibility is considered a missing parameter. Set Empty field treatment(10.3) as you need to include / exclude such objects when filtering them in Object Selection(3).

As an exception if dimension is missing in planetary nebula, minor planet, or doublestar its visibility is calculated as that of a star (point-like lighting source).

Detection limit is a minimum visibility threshold: when using visibility filter to lookfor objects only objects with visibility above or equal to the detection limit are found.

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15.12 Bluetooth GoTo

This module allows to communicate with telescope via bluetooth dongle (to be acquiredseparately). At the moment the program supports two telescope types: Celestron andMeade. It is planned to increase the number of supported telescopes.

To connect to your telescope you need first to pair with it via standard Androidsettings and turn bluetooth on. Then go to ”GoTo Mount Setup” screen either via Settings(6.2.2) or Star Chart Menu (Scope go (5.4)). There you could set up communication withyour telescope.

”GoTo Mount Setup” screen functions (Figure 19):

• Select paired device. Select your telescope from the list

• Select telescope type. Select your telescope type

• Connect. Connect to the telescope

• Disconnect. Break bluetooth connection with the telescope

After connection is set you could

• instruct your telescope to point to an object. Select necessary object in anymodule and go to Details Screen (7). There in the upper right corner GoTo buttonappears (Figure 19). Press it to transfer object coordinates to the telescope

• make Star Chart center on where telescope is pointing. Just select Scopego (5.4) from Star Chart Menu

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