The biggest frustration I have with skysafari is that recorded observations only save to a single observing list. Since many objects are in multiple lists, such as caldwell and herchel in particular, this creates a real problem. Is there an easier way to copy observations into various lists than copy and pasting?
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11 comments
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Bill Tschumy Bruce,
This is no longer the case for SkySafari 6. Observations are distinct from observing lists, although you can optionally attach one to a list. It is now easy to see all your observations for a given object or to see all observations taken during a given observing session.
You can now make an observation for the selected object totally independent of any list.
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Bruce Can you attach an observation to more than one list? If so that may be reason enough to upgrade. But as I already have a number of observations in one list that need to be copied to another, the question remains is there and easier way to get that done than copy and past? Also, as I recall,l there was something of a trick to upgrading the last version with importing settings and perhaps observations. Are there instructions on how to accomplish that in version 6?
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Bruce From version 5 to 6 pro.
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Bill Tschumy No, an observation can be attached to only one list (or no list). I don't fully understand the need attach a given observation to multiple lists. When I work through an observing list I want a unique observation for each list. This is especially true when doing observing list at a star party or as part of an Astronomical League list.
I suppose we could make some adjustments to either duplicate an observation if you want to attach it to multiple lists, or possibly allow an observation to be attached to multiple lists.
The process of moving your observing lists and observations from SS5 to SS6 is similar to what you've done before. It is explained here and also in the Help of the newly released version 6.0.1.
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Bruce I don't know why anyone would bother to record an observation if it were not part of some kind of a league observing program and since many of these overlap it make sense to be able to link an observation to every program it applies to. There must be fifty objects in the northern part of the caldwel list taht are also in the herchel list and many of them will be in the planetary program, etc. I guess I should have recorded each such in each list when I observed it but you don't necessarily know every object that is in each list when you observe it. It is a pain in the arse to copy and past these observations.
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Bill Tschumy Most of the AL observing programs I'm familiar with ask you to notice some detail particular to that list. I think they generally expect a unique observation for that list. Maybe I'm wrong but that is how I've alway interpreted it.
I will see what I can do to make this easier for you.
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Bruce Thanks
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Bruce You have to record the details - such as you can - of each object on the list, but the lists overlap to some extent. An observation of an object is good for every list it is a part off. There are 400 objects on the Herschell list and it takes most people years to complete it. If you have already observed an object in another campaign there is no real reason to record it again. Now sometimes the rules for observing are different. So, for example, the Caldwell list and Messier list forbid using goto or digital setting circles. Objects viewed for those programs are still good for the Herschel but not visa versa, if you used goto or DSC when doing them for the Herschell program. I have ordered mine to do those on the manual lists first so they will reach across. Thanks.
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BA Sidewalk Astronomer (Rick Walker) Bill,
I am in agreement with Bruce. When I go to a Star Party or an individual observing event, I plan for what is available that night/event so that I am not bouncing around different lists and searching for what’s up on each list. Somehow an observation should be attached to the object and then if I assemble a list for an AL they all come together.
I know this is an old post and I may be dragging up a moot point at this time.
Rick
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Chris I'll add on in agreement with Bruce and Rick; my observations for the Messier, Pensack 500, Herschel and Herschel II lists all overlap in a LOT of instances, yet I have no way in Sky Safari to tie one logged observation to all lists. Thankfully, I also log all of my objects separately in an access database, giving me a way to find out what objects I've already observed in secondary lists. If the Planning feature was able to, for example, let me see which objects in a list that have no observation recorded anywhere, that would be another way, but really we need to be able to tie an observation to multiple lists. Duplicating the observations to tie them to multiple lists seems like the wrong approach to me.
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Chris I know there are numerous threads requesting this, such as the one linked below and this one, but we can't seem to get a response on this one?
Chris
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