[vsnet-chat 800] vsnet mail

[aah@nofs.navy.mil]

Lasse Teist Jensen wrote that some VSNET charts are based on USNO-A and
therefore include many faint stars that get in the way.  This is similar
to finding naked-eye constellations from a dark-sky site!
  I think the solution is for the VSNET 'charts' to be tables of star
coordinates, names, magnitudes, and plotting directions (label information,
placement of IDs, etc.) and then for the observer to create his
own finding chart based on that data.  For example, you could have a
standalone Win95 program that made charts where you select the scale of
the chart and the magnitude range.  This also gives you the option of using
color to differentiate objects.  Using Java over the Web is another option.
There is little need in the modern world to have hand-drawn or static
computer-generated charts.  I think you have already started in this
direction, but a little more thought might produce even better results.
Arne
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Arne Henden                               Instruments/software/CCDs
US Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station    Cepheids/photometry/IR
P.O. Box 1149                             http: ftp.nofs.navy.mil  
Flagstaff, AZ 86002-1149                  Voice: (520)779-5132
aah@nofs.navy.mil                         FAX:   (520)774-3626

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