APPENDIX B: ALIGNMENT STAR LIBRARY AND STAR CHARTS:
1. Alignment Stars
The CDS utilizes 33 bright and well-known stars to calibrate the telescope’s Object Library during the
computerized alignment process. These stars were selected to allow observers from anywhere in the world
on any given night, to be able to easily and quickly make precision alignments. The CDS Alignment Star
Library and Star Charts are listed below for your reference:
2. Star Charts (for Northern Hemisphere Observers)
SOUTHEAST
January 7:00 to 9:00
SOUTHWEST
March 7:00 to 9:00
SOUTH
February 7:00 to 9:00
NORTH
April 7:00 to 9:00
NORTH
May 7:00 to 9:00
NORTH
June 7:00 to 9:00
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Polaris
Alkaid
Overhead
Vega
Deneb
Polaris
Alkaid
Overhead
Vega
Deneb
Overhead
Vega
Deneb
Altair
Polaris
Alkaid
Overhead
Vega
Deneb
Overhead
Deneb
Aldebaran
Rigel
Overhead
NORTH
July 7:00 to 9:00
NORTH
September 7:00 to 9:00
NORTH
August 7:00 to 9:00
NORTH
October 7:00 to 9:00
NORTHWEST
November 7:00 to 9:00
SOUTHEAST
December 7:00 to 9:00
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APPENDIX C: #1697 CDS 64,359-Object Library
1. Overview: 64,359 Object Library
The CDS 64,359-Object Library is a collection of the most studied and fantastic objects in the sky.
This library consists of the following object databases:
• 110 Messier objects.
• 351 bright stars, interesting double stars and Sigma Octans (the southern star) in the star .
•15,928 SAO (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory) Catalog of Stars: all stars brighter than 7th
magnitude.
•7,840 NGC (New General Catalog*) objects: complete catalog.
•5,386 IC (Index Catalog*) objects: complete catalog.
•12,921 UGC (Uppsala General Catalog) galaxies: complete catalog.
•8 Major Planets and the Moon.
2. Accessing the Object Databases
A. Messier Catalog:
1. Press the M key.
2. Enter the number of the desired Messier object and press ENTER.
3. Object information will appear on the display.
B. Planets and Moon:
The CDS calculates the orbital positions of the Moon and the eight major planets for the current calendar
date. To access the Moon or a planet, press the STAR key and enter the appropriate number as
indicated below:
1. Press the STAR key on the Hand Controller, then press ENTER.
2. Use the PREV and NEXT keys to cycle through the following options:
NAMEAlphebetical listing of 33 bright alignment stars.
STAR250 brightest stars, 100 interesting double stars and Sigma Octans (the southern hemisphere).
The list of stars begins on page 27.
SAOThe Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory catalog of stars (all stars brighter than 7th
magnitude).
GCVSThe General Catalog of Variable Stars (complete catalog). Variable stars from the GCVS are
entered using a six digit number. The first two digits, refer to the constellation where the
variable star is located and is listed in the table below. The next four digits are assigned
sequentially within each constellation according to the standard sequence of variable-star
designations (R, S, ...). Therefore, the first variable star in the constellation of Virgo would be
entered as: 860001.
3. Press Enter when the desired catalog is selected. An arrow will appear to the right of the selected
catalog.
4. Press MODE to activate the curser. Using the keypad, enter the number of the desired selection
into the Hand Controler and press ENTER. The object information of the selected object then appears
on the screen.
* NGC 2000 and IC databases are copyrighted by Sky Publishing Corporation and used with their permission.
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D. CNGC, IC, and UGC catalogs:
1. Press the CNGC key on the Hand Controller, then press ENTER.
2. Use the PREV and NEXT keys to cycle through the following options:
NGCNew General Catalog (complete catalog).
ICIndex Catalog (complete catalog).
UGCUppsala General Catalog (complete catalog).
3. Press Enter when the desired catalog is selected. An arrow will appear to the right of the selected
catalog.
4. Press MODE to activate the curser. Using the keypad, enter the number of the desired selection
into the Hand Controler and press ENTER. The object information of the selected object then appears
on the screen.
The CDS “remembers” the database you last accessed. Each time you press the CNGC key, the same
object database will be displayed on the first line of the Keypad display. To change databases, press ENTER
to bring up the database menu.
3. The Meade CNGC* Catalog
You will notice that the Messier (M) objects, and the NGC objects have been incorporated into the Meade
Instruments CNGC listing. CNGC stands for “Computerized New General Catalog of Non-Stellar
Astronomical Objects”. The CNGC is an enhancement from the RNGC (Revised New General Catalog)
in many ways. Angular sizes are given in arc-seconds on the CNGC listing, and in a convenient scaled
format on the CDS Keypad Display.
The complete CNGC contains 7,840 objects, most of which appear in the RNGC (Revised New General
Catalog) with the same number. More than 400 objects were added to the RNGC to create the CNGC. Most
of these “should have been” in the RNGC in the sense that they are bright and large enough to have been
included.
The CNGC is enhanced from the RNGC in many ways. Angular sizes are given in arc-seconds on the
CNGC listing, and in a convenient scaled format on the CDS display. Magnitudes are given to 0.1
magnitude where possible.
The coordinates in the CNGC listing are listed for the year 2000. The CDS calculates object positions upon
power up to the current date (as shown on the time/date display). This makes the CDS pointing more
accurate. Therefore, the CNGC listing and the CDS display will not exactly agree on object positions.
Objects have been assigned a “Visual Quality Rating”, henceforth called VQ. A large number of VQs have
been obtained by direct visual observations the objects. To make the VQs as useful as possible, all
observations have been made with the same telescope and eyepiece under essentially identical observing
conditions. A higher power eyepiece was used only for very small objects. Your “Visual Quality Rating” of
a particular object will vary, largely due to sky conditions.
If the object has been rated by observation, an upper-case character (ABCDEFG) is used for the VQ on the
CNGC listing. If the object has not been observed, the VQ has been estimated by a computer program from
the object type, size, and brightness and the VQ is specified in lower-case characters (abcdefg). The VQs
for visually-rated objects are a considerably more consistent guide to observability and appearance than
either the computed VQs or an examination of the type, magnitude, and size data.
All, or very nearly all, of the objects in the CNGC are visible with the standard instrumentation and observing
conditions used to obtain the visual quality ratings. It is a good indication of what can be expected with
similar equipment by experienced deep-sky observers in excellent sky conditions. Naturally smaller
telescopes and/or less optimal observing conditions will lower the apparent quality of all objects.
* The Meade CNGC Catalog is copyright by Meade Instruments Corporation.
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The following guide to VQs was used in the visual observing process.
SUPERVery bright object with very interesting shape or structure.
Bright object with very interesting shape or structure.
EXCELOR
Very bright object with moderately interesting shape or structure.
Bright object with moderately interesting shape or structure.
V GOODOR
Very bright object with little or no interesting shape or structure.
Easy to see without averted vision with some interesting shape or structure.
GOODOR
Bright object, but little or no interesting shape or structure.
FAIREasy to see without averted vision, but little or no interesting shape or structure.
POOREasy to see with averted vision. Often borderline visible without averted vision.
V POORA struggle to see with careful use of averted vision.
Not yet rated AND missing information for computer estimate.
(none)OR
Could not see despite careful use of averted vision.
The following is a description of the format of the optional CNGC listing for each object:
COLUMNNAMEDESCRIPTION
1CNGC #CNGC 0001 through CNGC 7840
2RARight Ascension
3DECDeclination
4SIZESize of object (arc-seconds)
5MAGMagnitude (-5.5 through 19.9)
6TYPEType of object
7** means object is not in the RNGC
8ALT CATAlternate catalog name and number
9VQVisual Quality Rating (abcdefg ) or (ABCDEFG)
10TAGSObject Type # (0-F) : S = Sky-Cat : T = Tirion
11COMMENTSName, comments, other information
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The following types are distinguished in the CNGC.
TYPELEGENDDESCRIPTION
0NoneUnverified Southern Object
1OPENOpen Cluster
2GLOBGlobular Cluster
3DNEBDiffuse Nebula
4PNEBPlanetary Nebula (or SN Remnant)
5GALGalaxy
6OPEN + DNEBOpen Cluster + Diffuse Nebula
7NoneNon-Existent Object
8STARStar
9MULTI+STARMultiple Star
AMULTI+GALMultiple Galaxy (Usually Interacting)
BDNEBDark Nebula in front of Diffuse Nebula
CGAL+OPENOpen Cluster in External Galaxy
DGAL+GLOBGlobular Cluster in External Galaxy
EGAL+DNEBDiffuse Nebula in External Galaxy
FGAL+OPEN+DNEBOpen Cluster + Diffuse Nebula in Galaxy
SObject is also listed in the Sky Catalogue 2000
TObject is also listed in the Tirion Sky Atlas 2000
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a. STAR CATALOG
STAR#RADECSIZEMAGTYPE & DESCRIPTIONALT NAMEQ TAGS COMMON NAME/COMMENTS