Online searches

These search options require a connection to the internet.

Simbad

Simbad is the reference database for identification and bibliography of astronomical objects. It contains identifications, “basic data”, bibliography, and selected observational measurements for several million astronomical objects. Simbad is developed and maintained by CDS, Strasbourg.

Entering an object and clicking the search button will retreive the RA and Dec from simbad's database. Additionally the type of object will be used to decide if the LP filter should be selected. Returned values are J2000 epoch.

AAVSO VSX Variable Star Database

The International Variable Star Index (VSX) is a comprehensive database of variable stars, designed to consolidate and provide up-to-date information on these stars through a user-friendly web interface. It allows both amateur and professional astronomers to contribute, revise, and access data on variable stars globally.

Entering a variable star name here will search the VSX database and return the RA and DEC for the star. Returned values are in J2000 epoch.

Local Searches

These search options are all calculated locallay although the comet data file will need to be downloaded at least once while online before use.

Local Deepsky Database

This search option has a limited number of deepsky objects (almost 14,000) in a database including Messier, NGC and IC objects. The database may be updated with more objects in the future if we find good sources of data. This database is primarily aimed at people who are away from a reliable internet connection when imaging. Coordinates are returned in J2000 epoch.

Planets

The planetary search includes Mercury, Venus, The Moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. The Sun is not included at this time due to safety checks needing to be added to prevent damage to the Seestar not existing at this point. Coordinates are returned in J2000 epoch.

Comets

The comets search needs to be run at least once while connected to the internet in order to get the latest data file. There may be a short delay while this file is downloaded before the coordinates are returned. The data file will be refreshed every 7 days in order to keep the calculations accurate and load newly discovered comets. Coordinates are returned in J2000 epoch.

Minor Planets

The Minor planet search uses the first 9999 objects in the stellarium minor planet database. If the user would like more objects they can download additional datasets from Stellarium's repository and manually paste the contents into the end of the mpc-01.txt file located in the data directory. Coordinates are returned in J2000 epoch.

Additional info

If there are any additional search targets that are not covered by the above please create a Github issue with a description and sources of data for the targets you require.