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SUMMARY:
The Internet Amateur Astronomers Catalog (IAAC or 'netastrocatalog' for short) is a forum for amate\
ur astronomers at all levels to share their observations of Deep-Sky objects. (The 'deep-sky' inclu\
des all objects which are NOT members of our solar system: other galaxies, star clusters, gaseous n\
ebulae, doubles, and variable stars are all deep-sky objects). Note that the netastrocatalog is a *\
catalog of amateur observations*, not a sales catalog of any kind!
The netastrocatalog was established by Bernhard Rems and Lew Gramer, based on discussions in the Us\
enet newsgroup sci.astro.amateur in May 1996. The catalog encompasses submissions from observers at\
all levels, with instruments ranging from the naked eye to the largest amateur observing instrumen\
ts! It is designed as an Internet resource for amateur observers, to compare and contrast their obs\
ervations with those made using similar equipment at similar sites around the world!
If you'd like to submit your OWN observing logs for any "deep-sky" object, please just cu\
t and paste the email form shown below into an email message, fill it out with your observation, an\
d mail it to the email address of the IAAC: "netastrocatalog@visualdeepsky.org".
Alternatively, you may use the Web form at:
http://www.visualdeepsky.org/enter-log.html
Or, if you use one of the wonderful observation planning and logging applications that are availabl\
e, such as dObjects or DeepSky 2000.0, you may simply be able to submit your observations to the IA\
AC via a menu item in your application. Ask your software's author about this!
Once you submit your observations to the netastrocatalog, they will appear on the World Wide Web al\
ong with countless other amateurs' efforts, within a week or so. In addition, all 'netastrocatalog'\
subscribers will see your submission immediately! The whole (LARGE) archive of observing logs is a\
vailable at:
http://www.visualdeepsky.org/logs/maillist.html
Or you may search for observations of a particular object at:
http://www.visualdeepsky.org/search.html
Last but not least, if you submit your logs to any of the deep-sky observing societies or online co\
mmunities like [amastro] or [starrynights], then you may simply be able to "Cc:" these ob\
servation emails to 'netastrocatalog' as well! The Webb Society for instance, has indicated that our format is acceptable to them.
NOTE: In addition to the main 'netastrocatalog' list (which is only intended for observations by am\
ateur astronomers), there is also a mailing list for DISCUSSIONS and ANNOUNCEMENTS relating to the \
IAAC, called netastrocatalog-announce. By subscribing to either of these two lists, you are actuall\
y automatically subscribing to BOTH. Similarly, unsubscribing from either automatically unsubscribe\
s you from both.
POSTING OBSERVATIONS:
Here is a standard entry form you can use:
----cut here----
Observer:
Your skill:
Date and UT of observation:
Location & latitude:
Site classification:
Limiting magnitude (visual):
Seeing (1 to 5 - best to worst):
Moon up (phase?):
Instrument:
Magnification:
Filters used:
Object:
Category:
Constellation:
Object data:
RA/DE:
Description:
----cut here----
So take out your scopes, your binoculars, use your eyes and let us know what you have observed! We will keep you updated - so let the reports roll in.
To see the collection of prior postings to the list,
visit the netastrocatalog-announce
Archives.
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Subscribe to netastrocatalog-announce by filling out the following
form.
You will be sent email requesting confirmation, to
prevent others from gratuitously subscribing you. This is a private list, which means that the
list of members is not available to non-members.
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