The StellarMate Plus Manual
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raw data file and add the necessary columns. This is especially convenient for
large data sets. Since the original raw data contains an area field which is not
supported by KStars, we need to approximate it to a usable value which is the
Major Axis. Therefore, we use the following formula in the spreadsheet to convert
area to major axis in arcminutes: Major Axis = sqrt(Area) * 60
After importing the raw data file into KStars and selecting the appropriate
columns, KStars shall generate the final catalog file suitable for loading directly
into KStars. For example, this is a small subset of the content (header + first five
objects) of the “Dark Nebulae by Lynds” catalog which was created
by KStars after importing the raw data file which only contains the data columns:
# Delimiter:
# Name: LyndsCatalog
# Prefix: Lynds
# Color: #ff7600
# Epoch: 2000
# ID RA Dc Mj Tp
1 16:26:0 -16:0:0.1 13.943 5
2 18:4:0 -31:30:0.1 66.813 5
3 18:0:0 -31:0:0.1 141.986 5
4 16:59:5 -22:8:0.1 3.795 5
5 17:13:2 -24:22:0.2 6.573 5
As seen above, each column was assigned a KStars designated header such as
the ID, Right Ascension, Declination, Major axis and Object Type fields. Note that
the Catalog Prefix (“Lynds”) and the ID field are used together for identifying
objects in the Sky Map (i.e. objects from this catalog will have names like: Lynds
1, Lynds 2, Lynds 617 up to the last object, Lynds 1791).
· Open the Settings →ConfigureKStars...menu and chooseCatalogstab.
· In the Deep-Sky objects section, press the Import Catalog... button. If the
button is not available, check the Deep-Sky Catalogs checkbox. This will
enable you to configure KStars deep-sky objects catalogs.
· After you press the Import Catalog... button, Import Catalog window will pop
up. At first, click on Open file dialog button in order to select the raw data file.
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