----- Original Message ---- > From: nreyedoc <[email protected]> > > Ok I tried it and it worked like a charm. Only was able to map to Mag 4 at > 90 degrees.
I thought the default setting for a 90 deg field would be fainter than that, but it's been so long since I first installed the program that I'm not sure what the default value is anymore. The easy way to show fainter stars is just click the "more stars" blue dot I mentioned before. However there may be one other factor affecting this. In alt-az mode, the sky brightness adjusts automatically as twilight fades (I think that's the default setting, but this can be changed), and if it's not completely dark at the time you set, some of the fainter stars won't show. And the program is very conservative about how late it has to be "completely dark". You can change this in the "chart parameters" window (click the "chart appearance" icon, middle of the lower left toolbar, just under the "observatory" icon). Change the "sky color" setting from "automatic" to "fixed", and the chart will always have a black background. In fact, I just noticed that if the sky is showing a twilight shade, then the "more/less stars" icon has no effect. -John > Will try to use your directions as a takeoff point for > developing more detailed charts but expect more ???s. Thanks!! --- In > ymailto="mailto:[email protected]"; > href="mailto:[email protected]";>[email protected], > > "nreyedoc" <nreye...@...> wrote: > > Hi John, > > > Thank you so much! I will try it shortly. Will try greater magnitude > to start until I get the hang of it. > > Rob > > --- > In > href="mailto:[email protected]";>[email protected], > > John Mahony <jmmahony@> wrote: > > > > Use the clock > icon (lower left toolbar) to set the time to the whatever time of the evening > you want. > > > > The field width is set with the numbers in > the right toobar (I've moved my toolbars around but I think that's where it > usually is- look for the numbers ranging from 10' to 90 degrees). There > are other ways to fine-tune this, but one of the options is the one you > wanted- > 90 degrees). > > > > Then look for the letters Z N E S W just > below that. These stand for zenith, north, east, south, west. Just > click any of these to move the chart to that direction. (Screen display > will automatically switch to alt-az mode if it's not already in that mode) > > > > > Going to mag 8 in such a wide field would give you a > very dense star field (there would be several thousand stars on the > chart). In fact, I don't think this is possible in CdC. Different > catalogs are used for different field width. The options are under > "preferences">"catalog and objects parameters" (in the top bar menus), then > click the "Stars 1" tab in the window that opens. The first catalog- > "Bright Star Catalog"- can be used in any field width, but only goes to mag > 6.5. The second catalog is deeper, but has a max width of 60 degrees (you > can adjust the range of field widths you want a catalog to be used for, but > the > deeper catalogs have maximum possible widths, to avoid bogging down older > computers- keep in mind v2.76 was originally programmed several years > ago). > > > > There are settings at the bottom of that window > to adjust the mag limits you want for different field widths, but there are > several options and I can never remember the details. But a simpler way is > to just click the more/less stars icon in the upper left toolbar (the two > blue > dots between the magnifying glass and the red light icon). > > > > > Then click "print" under the file menu. > > > > > -John
