Deep Sky Object Database¶

AstroManager includes a comprehensive database of over 50,000 deep sky objects, providing all the information you need to plan your imaging sessions.

Accessing the Database¶

Navigate to Deep Sky Objects from the main menu to access the full database.

Database Contents¶

Catalogs Included¶

Object Types¶

• Galaxies: Spiral, elliptical, irregular, interacting
• Nebulae: Emission, reflection, planetary, dark
• Star Clusters: Open clusters, globular clusters
• Other: Supernova remnants, HII regions, asterisms

Object Information¶

Each object entry includes:

Basic Data¶

• Name(s): Primary designation and aliases
• Coordinates: Right Ascension and Declination (J2000)
• Constellation: Location in the sky
• Object Type: Classification

Physical Properties¶

• Visual Magnitude: Brightness
• Surface Brightness: For extended objects
• Angular Size: Arcminutes (major × minor axis)
• Position Angle: Orientation
• Distance: When known (light-years or Mpc)

Observability¶

• Altitude Chart: 24-hour altitude profile from your location
• Best Viewing Time: When the object is highest
• Moon Distance: Current angular separation
• Moon Interference: Impact assessment based on your filters

Visual Preview¶

• Survey Image: Preview from sky surveys
• Field of View Overlay: Your equipment's FOV superimposed
• Orientation: North/East indicators

Searching Objects¶

Quick Search¶

Type in the search box to find objects by:

• Catalog ID: "M31", "NGC 7000", "IC 1396"
• Common Name: "Andromeda Galaxy", "North America Nebula"
• Partial Match: "Orion" finds all objects with Orion in the name

Advanced Filters¶

Click "Filters" to access advanced search options:

Location & Time¶

Object Properties¶

Moon Avoidance¶

Equipment¶

Altitude Chart¶

The altitude chart is a key tool for planning when to image an object.

Chart Elements¶

• Blue Line: Object altitude throughout the night
• Yellow Zone: Civil twilight
• Orange Zone: Nautical twilight
• Red Zone: Astronomical twilight
• Green Zone: Moon-free darkness
• Gray Area: Below your minimum altitude

Reading the Chart¶

1. Peak Altitude: The highest point on the curve
2. Transit Time: When the object crosses the meridian
3. Imaging Window: The span where altitude exceeds your minimum
4. Moon Conflicts: Periods when moon is too close

Interactive Features¶

• Hover over the chart to see exact altitude/time values
• Click to set observation start/end times
• Zoom in on specific time periods

Object Actions¶

When viewing an object, you can:

Add to Target List¶

1. Click "Add to List"
2. Select an existing list or create a new one
3. Optionally add notes
4. Click "Add"

Schedule for Imaging¶

1. Click "Schedule"
2. Configure imaging goals directly
3. Set priority and status
4. Save to your scheduler

View in Sky Atlas¶

1. Click "View in Atlas"
2. Opens the interactive sky map centered on the object
3. Explore surrounding area

External Resources¶

Quick links to view the object on:

• Simbad: Professional astronomical database
• AstroBin: Community astrophotography images
• Wikipedia: General information
• Stellarium Web: Interactive planetarium

Favorites & History¶

Recently Viewed¶

AstroManager tracks your recently viewed objects for quick access.

Favorites¶

Click the star icon to add objects to your favorites for quick reference.

Tips for Finding Targets¶