Submitting Comet Observations: Guidelines and ICQ-codes

Format for reporting observations to the Fachgruppe Kometen

The VdS-Fachgruppe Kometen has defined a format for sending observations via e-mail. This format is based on the ICQ-Format but includes additional fields.

Visual comet observations could be send via e-mail toUwe Pilz (piu58 <at> gmx.de) and Andreas Kammerer (andreas.kammerer <at> lubw.bwl.de). Please, follow the format which is defined below. Observations should be based on internationally accepted methods (see also "Anleitung zur visuellen und fotografischen Kometenbeobachtung").

If you are going to submit observations, please include at least the following information: comet designation (III or YYYYMn), date and time of the observation: year (YYYY), month (MM), day - including the time as a fraction of the day - (DD.DDd), aperture (AAA.A) and type (T) of the instrument, magnification (VVVV) and the name or ICQ-code of the observer (Beobachter##). An estimation of the magnitude should include: estimation method (M), total brightness (mm.m) and the used reference for the comparison star magnitudes (rf).

Usage of the Program ICQ_format.exe

Current version: 2.1. Please do not use older versions.

To lighten the task of submitting observation we wrote the software ICQ_format.exe. Please download this file and store it in a directory. Beside this there is no further installtion necessary. The program writes the file "ICQ.txt" which resides in the same directory like the program. You can also use the desktop for this.

If you start the program you get the following screen:
screen

When filling these fields please keep in mind:

For a new set of observation press "Empty file". Old observations will be cleared, you get an empty field with a heading.
Numbered comets are typed in the first field, the second remains empty. Not numbered comets are given in the second field, the first remains empty.
Comet destinations are given startin with the year of detection and without spaces in the name. Periodic comets at their first apparition are preceded by the letter P. Correct names are 2007N3, 2006OF2 andP2001Q6.
Times are given up to minutes. The software calculates the fractures of the day by itself. Please use Universal Time.
You can only use units given by the program: coma diameter in arc seconds, tail length in degrees. Please use decimals to give a small diameter or length.
Some field require numbers to be typed in, these are prefilled with 0. If you mistype one of these fields, you get a run time error from the the software:

Run time errors can be closed by ok. After this you can correct your input. You may get empty or incomplete lines in "ICQ.txt" which need to be removed manually.
It is possible to close the program and add later more lines.
The software contains only a selsction of the abbreviatin lists. If you wish to have added more instruments or catalogues please drop me a line: piu58gmx.de

Example:
At March 1st, 2009 , 1830 UT I observed the comet C/2007 N3 (Lulin) with my 10x30 pairs of binoculars. I measured the brightness to 5m7 using the Tygho-2-cat. Die coma diameter was determined to 26 arc minutes, the tail was 1.3 degrees long with a position angle of 220°. The comet war rather strongly condensed with a not dominating stellar central condensation.

example

After pressing "Empty file" and "add to file" I found in "ICQ.txt":

IIIYYYYMnL YYYY MM DD.DD eM mm.m:r AAA.ATF/xxxx dd.ddnDC t.tt ANG ICQ XX*OBSxx
2007N3 2009 3 1.771 S 5.7 TK 5.0B 10 26 s6 1.3 220 ICQ XX*PIL01

If you have problems with the usage of the program please consult the the german page. It contains a step-by-step explanation whose images you may be able to decifer. You may write me an email if you need more support.

Uwe Pilz, piu58 <at>

gmx.de