MISSING STARS -How to add

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JAY RESPLER

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Feb 28, 2023, 3:21:10 PM2/28/23
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We have found that some stars are missing from the catalogs used by Stellarium and there is no way to modify those catalogs. We can't change that but I have found a work-around solution. While looking for something in the User Guide, I didn't find what I wanted, but came across the Bright Novae Plugin. I thought if that can add 'temporary' stars, maybe I can add permanent stars. I spend many hours over the last few weeks working on this and finally came up with a rough version.
Here are 2 stars that I added to Novae.Json:
Max and Min Magnitude use the same value.
Use a current date, peakJD": 2460142
For Time to Decline, use any value to cover several years.
Enter RA and Dec.
That star now appears on the sky map. Attached is before/after views of the sky.

"missing1":
                            {
                                          "name": "TYC 3592-7373-1B",
                                          "type": "NA",
                                          "maxMagnitude": 10.5,
                                          "minMagnitude": 10.5,
                                          "peakJD": 2460142,
                                          "m2": 3006,
                                          "m3": 3000,
                                          "m6": 3900,
                                          "m9": 4400,
                                          "RA": "21h08m26.7s",
                                          "Dec": "47d40m18s"
                            },
                            "missing2":
                            {
                                          "name": "HD 290572",
                                          "type": "NA",
                                          "maxMagnitude": 10.4,
                                          "minMagnitude": 10.4,
                                          "peakJD": 2460142,
                                          "m2": 3006,
                                          "m3": 3000,
                                          "m6": 3900,
                                          "m9": 4400,
                                          "RA": "05h33m54.5s",
                                          "Dec": "-00d06m21.2s"
                            },

One problem is the name doesn't always show up when searching.
The problem taking quite a lot of time is determining location. That takes a lot of trial and error because locations used in Stellarium web version, Novae.json, and the position on the sky map all differ from each other. This needs improvement but it is a start that at least works for now.

If you have other stars to add to the list, please post them so we build up a catalog.

Perhaps Novae.json can be modified to create a new MissingStars.json plug-in. Just require Star name, magnitude, and RA/Dec and epoch. We can then all add whatever missing stars we find.

Jay Respler

JAY RESPLER

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Feb 28, 2023, 3:27:16 PM2/28/23
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I don't see how to edit my post. The word 'spend' should be 'spent'

Georg Zotti

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Mar 1, 2023, 5:11:54 AM3/1/23
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Interesting idea for a catalog of missing stars. Probably this should be done in a separate plugin, though, so as not to confuse the "Nova idea". Code can indeed start from Nova plugin, and just leave some bits away. Epoch for positions should be J2000 throughout, and proper motion could be added where available. Then the tens of "missing stars" reports can be channeled into that plugin's catalog.

Regards,
Georg
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Alexander V. Wolf

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Mar 1, 2023, 8:50:36 AM3/1/23
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I’ll do it

Ср, 1 марта 2023 г. в 17:11, Georg Zotti <georg...@univie.ac.at>:
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Georg Zotti

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Mar 1, 2023, 9:07:34 AM3/1/23
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Great! Now we need a good name for this: "Omitted Stars", "Missing Stars", "Catalog Lacunae", "Mind The Gap", "Horror Vacui", ...
G.
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info

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Mar 1, 2023, 1:49:40 PM3/1/23
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How many stars could such a catalog hold?
   - could it hold 60,000?
   
Regards.
Frank C.
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JAY RESPLER

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Mar 2, 2023, 2:51:31 AM3/2/23
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I doubt that there are anywhere near that number of missing stars so that shouldn't be a problem.

JAY RESPLER

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Mar 2, 2023, 2:54:05 AM3/2/23
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Georg, since almost every mention talks about 'Missing Stars', it would be most logical to use that name for the plugin.

Regards,
Jay
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info

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Mar 2, 2023, 6:58:46 AM3/2/23
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An overlooked catalogue of historical interest - 60,000 stars along the ecliptic.
 - not missing but forgotten.
A function to allow small custom catalogues is, in general, desirable.
Regards
Frank C.

Georg Zotti

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Mar 2, 2023, 7:10:57 AM3/2/23
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User catalogs are another topic. Presumably most of these 60.000 are already in the main catalog, just not enumerated with the catalog's numbers.

info

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Mar 2, 2023, 12:17:31 PM3/2/23
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Correct regarding main catalog inclusion - enumeration issue.

Measured in the mid 19th century. Precision data for its time - etc.
Would be interesting to compare them with current measured positions.

Regards.
Frank C.

Andreas Vossinakis

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Dec 13, 2023, 9:10:04 AM12/13/23
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i want to display a custom catalog with positions of a near earth flyby from Horizons in stellarium. I will try to do it by replacing RA and Dec in the novae.json. Is there any other way??

Alexander V. Wolf

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Dec 13, 2023, 9:14:58 AM12/13/23
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ср, 13 дек. 2023 г. в 21:10, Andreas Vossinakis <andreas.v...@gmail.com>:
i want to display a custom catalog with positions of a near earth flyby from Horizons in stellarium. I will try to do it by replacing RA and Dec in the novae.json. Is there any other way??

You can just add an orbital elements into ssystem_minor.ini file to follow asteroids 

Georg Zotti

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Dec 13, 2023, 9:26:06 AM12/13/23
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Orbital elements will change during flyby due to Earth's gravity. You can add several instances of the same object under different names. Each will be valid only at their respective epoch timestamps. You can probably play with orbit_good to hand over from one active object to the next. The name should include the epoch so you will understand which dot is closest to the obervation target.

Andreas Vossinakis

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Dec 13, 2023, 9:48:16 AM12/13/23
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Yes I know. I have the positions from Horizons high accuracy output. I just want them displayed in Stellarium. I replaced some line in Novae.json, but stellarium updates the file upon launch.

Andreas Vossinakis

Thessaloniki, Greece


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Andreas Vossinakis

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Dec 13, 2023, 10:12:07 AM12/13/23
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This method isn't accurate with flybys. Only positions from Horizons is accurate enough

Andreas Vossinakis

Thessaloniki, Greece


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