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. Our Software ICQ_Format.exe supports formatting the observation results.
Visual comet observations could be send via e-mail toUwe Pilz (piu58
gmx.de) and Andreas Kammerer (andreas.kammererlubw.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).
Concerning the parameters estimation method (M), type of instrument (T), extinction notes (e) and
reference (rf), please use the ICQ Observation Codes.
Sample e-mail to submit observations to the Fachgruppe Kometen:
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901
IIIYYYYMnL JJJJ MM DD.DDdeM[mm.m:rfAAA.ATF/VVVV >dd.ddnDC >t.tt GGG: BeobachterMag:
Examples:
IIIYYYYMnL JJJJ MM DD.DDdeM[mm.m:rfAAA.ATF/VVVV >dd.ddnDC >t.tt GGG: BeobachterMag:
1995O1 1995 08 17.564 S 10.5:GA 35.0L5 100 1.1 2/ 0.05 235 Müller 5.7M false nucleus 12.5m
17 2008 01 07.79 S 3.4 TJ 0.7E 1 90 3 Pilz 6.5
III Periodic Comet Code (see table below)
YYYY Year of discovery
Mn Half-month designation (letter and numerical)
L Fragment to which the observation refers
JJJJ Year of the observation
MM Month of the observation
DD.DDd Day and fraction of day (in UT) of the observation (d optional)
e Extinction notes:
& < 20°
$ < 10°
M Magnitude method:
B - out-out
S - in-out
C - CCD
[mm.m: Total visual magnitude of the coma ([ = fainter than, : = approximate estimate)
rf Reference or source of comparison stars used for making the magnitude estimate. Selection:
AC AAVSO
AE Planet
GA Space Telescope Guide Star
HI Hipparcos
HJ Hipparcos photometric system
HS Hubble Guide Star Catalogue
HV visuell/Hipparcos
NO USNO
TI Tycho Input cat.
TJ Tycho1
TK Tycho2
AAA.A Aperture of instrument
T Type of instrument :
B binoculairs
C Cassegrain
E Eye
L Newton
M Maksutov
R Refraktor
S Schmidt-Newtonian
T Schmidt-Cassegrain
F/ focal ratio of instrument
VVVV magnification
>dd.dd coma diameters in arcminutes (> = greater than, < = less than, & = approximate estimate)
if the coma diameter is greater than 99.99' use the >-column
n Special note concerning the appearance of a central condensation
d = faint disk within the coma
D = bright disk within the coma
s = faint stellar or nearly-stellar condensation
S = bright stellar or nearly-stellar condensation
DC Degree of condensation (0 = completely diffuse coma, 9 = stellar coma, 5/ means DC 5-6)
>t.tt Tail lenth in degrees (> = greater than, < = less than, & = approximate estimate)
If the tail length is greater than 9.99 degrees, use the >-column
GGG: Position Angle (0 = north, 90 = east, 180 = south, 270 = west, : = approximate estimate)
Beob. name or ICQ-code of observer
Mag: Faintest Star Magnitude, visible to the naked eye in the direction of the comet:
M = moon
T = twilight
C = city lights
Z = zodiacal light
Give are the most important abbreviations and recommended sources for stellar magnitudes.
Please, add additional notes and descriptions into the following line/record.