|
|
|
|
|
Rechecking everything, the IAU master list being dynamic has further approved new star names on 22 March which is later than data reduction activity done. Hence we really need a way to map this IAU master data to some common names file that can be updated periodically and multiple catalogs association. For now bright visual stars list intended to show up now updated to 405 stars and attached below. |
|
|
StarsNames.txt isn't a spreadsheet or .csv file so you don't use Excel to edit it. Use a text editor that accepts UNIX-style line returns. In Linux, any text editor will work. On a PC, use Notepad++ to edit StarNames.txt. Save as Normal text file to preserve the original formatting. ... |
|
|
Thanks for the reply. Ok will try Notepad++ . Yet knowing my modded format was buggy, replacing original StarNames.txt should not have shown any star names or shown new added names. Neither happened and the skychart showed star names just like original file hence the question if there are multiple source files to be modded and from where skychart is picking names for default Eng language. Note: 405 stars list attached maps simbad spelling column and HR numbers from original data. |
|
|
I saved your spreadsheet as a .txt file with DOS-style line returns and then reformatted the columns to create a new StarsNames.txt. Finally, I change the line returns back to UNIX-style by saving it as Edit > EOL Conversion > UNIX (LF) with Notepad++. The resulting revised StarsNames.txt is attached. When used as a replacement for CdC's original StarsNames file, I was able to search for Alaybasan and Antinous, which are not in the original StarsNames.txt, so the new file works. Be careful with multiple stars: for instance, because Alula Australis is actually *two* HR stars (HR 4374 & HR 4375), the original StarsNames.txt has only the brighter HR 4375 whereas your "revision" misses it completely. Therefore the attachment should not be used as a replacement for the original StarsNames.txt until it has been verified that all bright stars from the original are included. - JB |
|
|
Thanks for the help and new file. Yes Alula Australis was somehow missed in naked eye brightness filtered list. Many years ago, had started comparing Stellarium's exhaustive star names data with IAU approvd list tag but lost momentum as frequent additions in IAU list. Yet would love to see a feature in CdC similar to stellarium in which preferably IAU common name is shown on chart but upon clicking in star, info panel displays many alternate common names which are sometimes more familiar and useful too. E.g. classic case Alphecca star more commonly known as Gemma, the gem in the crown. Stellarium shows 4 total names including both mentioned. |
|
|
Dear John, I tested your given new file in CdC. While the newly added star names are now searchable to pinpoint exact star having that particular name, these names are not displayed in chart at any zoom level and at any label density level. Even clicking on such a star, the info panel at bottom or right click about window does not mention the common name. So I think CdC is referring some other file for displaying/printing names on chart and in info panel. Eventually wish to have a nice A3 printable set of charts to carry on field with all named stars. -Anu |
|
|
Hi, Sorry to be late here. First some explanation on how this is used in skychart. The file StarNames.txt itself is used by the "Search , Star common name" tool. It is also used when building the main star catalog based on Hipparcos to add the name to the text file before to run Catgen. The last time I update the list was in 2022, I not do it again after the IAU web site change because the format is now totally different and I personally find confusing to add all this faint star name to the default catalog. This is the data file I used: https://github.com/pchev/skychart/blob/master/tools/data/common_names/IAU-CSN.txt The script to make StarNames.txt from the above: https://github.com/pchev/skychart/blob/master/tools/data/common_names/iau_name.sh The files to create the main star catalog: https://github.com/pchev/skychart/tree/master/tools/cat/xhip/src The historical star names are always for bright star, this is why I use the HR number to identity them. Then for fainter stars the list give sometime the HIP number, this is fine and I can easily modify the program to accept this. For other there is no general star catalog identification. For example for Absolutno the only identification is XO-5. OK, Simbad find it and you can show it in Skychart as Gaia DR3 920308932010648448. But as It is not present in the default star catalog there is no possibility to add a label the way it is actually done. This will go worst with the time because more and more faint stars will get a name and soon the majority of them will no more be present in the brighter stars catalog, but only in GAIA as I mention above. Now about the label for all this stars, I mention above that I find this confusing but I agree there is other opinion. A simple solution to make this labels optional and also solve the issue for faint stars is to create a separate catalog for this purpose. This is very simple to do but it require a list with the star coordinates. The old IAU-CSN file include them but not see them on the new web site. Do you know a way to get this list? |
|
|
Patrick, There are a few Github projects to generate a complete list but this is the only one that is frequently updated: https://github.com/cyschneck/iau-star-names Here's the most up-to-date list of star names that the app uses: https://github.com/cyschneck/iau-star-names/blob/main/data/4_all_stars_data.csv Is this what you're looking for? -- JB |
|
|
Dear Patrick, I agree native IAU listing has inconsistency. With RADec, though there is a naked eye version of catalog at https://exopla.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NEC.csv (with faint stars other catalog at following page https://ase.exopla.net/index.php/Naked_Eye_Catalog ) it only slap entire naked eye stars with filled in named stars wherever available and worse it is not updated to match main IAU star names catalog without RA-Dec that has latest names. John, the Github project shared is fantastic and wil be using it over original IAU data in future. Thanks a lot for pointing. At this point I would be happy if skychart can display and print names of stars from John shared StarNames.txt file having upto mag 6.5 stars. If this Github full catalog https://github.com/cyschneck/iau-star-names/blob/main/data/4_all_stars_data.csv helps to take care of fainter stars too, very nice! Only thing that names column in it is native and not simbad spelling e.g. star Ananuca listed with all diacritic symbols and all catalog ids stuffed in a single column. -Anu |
|
|
Thank you for all this information. The Github project is very useful, but I reworked the script to not have to get the additional data from various wiki. Instead I make it to query Simbad directly to get the data, like precise position, proper motion and magnitude. The result is a complete file with all the 544 stars actually named. It include the name, the different synonym, the position, proper motion, magnitude and the origin text which I think is an interesting part of this catalog. With the resulting file I make a specific catalog and modify Skychart to have this name label instead of the standard star catalog label. You can see in the screenshot how it work. Sure it is possible to search for all this names, but I not add the HR, HIP and other to the index because there is already more complete index to do that. I use the name without diacritic so it is possible to use the Simbad link at the bottom of the information window. I will give you more information to install that tomorrow after all the files are available for download. starnames.png (125,782 bytes) |
|
|
Dear Patrick, Wow! This is superb! Detailed description about origin of name info is also a nice addition which would give background behind naming and historical context to these names making it interesting. Thanks for everything! -Anu |
|
|
This is now available. You must first install the last version of Skychart 4.3-5039 from https://vega.ap-i.net/pub/skychart/daily_build/ This is necessary for the new labeling options. Open Skychart, menu Update / Install object catalog. Click the '...' button on the row for IAU Stars. After installation close this window. Now it show the named stars with a yellow circle around them. Open Setup / Catalog, for "IAU Star Names" click the yellow circle in the Colour column. Here you can change the display options, for "Draw as" you can select None because all this stars are already draw otherwise. Check "Show label" and "Priority label". This last option is what suppress the labels from the default catalog, it also bypass the standard label filter to put a label on all the visible stars. This must produce what is show in my previous screenshot. Sure you can setup this options as you want. Tell me how this work for you. |
|
|
Dear Patrick, Thanks for everything. Sorry could not test it earlier. Now tried it. The feature works as expected. New names will give a nice exercise to brain for memorising :) Just one nuance noted considering these labels are more likely to be used in wide and ultra wide field settings of more than a single constellation fov. The Automatic optimization of labels works well by repositioning in a better way & in cases totally removing highly crowded labels of Pleiades etc but more expectation from the feature in medium crowded labels. E.g Orion's belt star names visible at all zoom levels when not optimized. Admittedly, they are too far away from parent stars and maybe default amount of separation from object to label can be reduced a bit. But optimization makes Mintaka label totally disappear and does not come back until 70 deg FOV is zoomed in. Using Magnitude difference 0 setting for the test. If there is a way to force all star common name labels only visibility like we have for symbol of Messier objects ('Do not filter Messier objects' in Chart Co ord >object filter) will help and easily be displayed on 4k screens and A3 sized prints. In M objects it works intuitively as symbols much less in number than stars are seen and one may click on unlabelled to check out what is is. Knowing which star may have label is difficult to find that way. In its current form too, v well as now know the nuance and most imp thing of new star names and its data, info is now incorporated. I appreciate that and it will enable many more happy starry nights! Thanks & Regards -Anu |
|
|
I make a change to increase the label density with the position optimization. Can you try with the version 4.3-5041 : https://vega.ap-i.net/pub/skychart/daily_build/ The option "Priority label" do the same than "Do not filter Messier objects" but with a higher priority. It is less prone to be removed because of other object type label, it can be removed only by another star name like in the Pleiades. It make no effect to modify the magnitude difference when "Priority label" is set. |
|
|
Dear Patrick Now it works retaining the labels. Thanks. |
|
|
Ok. Now I setup an automated script to update the catalog once a year so it get the new name. |
- Anonymous
