Books by Philip S. Harrington
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| Topics covered | Chapter updates | Recommended reading |
Topics covered
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Tracking asteroids
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Viewing comets
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What to do if you discover a new comet
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Viewing telescopic meteor showers
Chapter 4 updates
As mentioned in the chapter, if you suspect that you have found a new comet, carefully check its location on a detailed star atlas to make sure that you have not accidentally "discovered" a long-known deep-sky object. If, after you have ruled out all possible deep-sky objects, file a report with the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams. Standard protocols in the book advise sending all pertinent information via telegram. Although that method is still acceptable, it is now recommended that suspected discoveries be reported by sending an e-mail to cbat@cfa.harvard.edu. In the e-mail, be sure to include the following information:
Your name
Your address and contact details (preferably e-mail address, otherwise telephone/fax number)
Date and UT time of observation
Observation method (e.g., naked eye, visual binocular or telescopic observation, photographic, or telescopic CCD)
Specific details on instrumentation (aperture size, f/-ratio, etc.) and exposures (type of film or CCD, length of exposure, etc.)
Observation site (name of location, giving either city/town and state/province/country, or some other geographical name nearby); longitude and latitude and elevation above sea level can be useful
If you are a new contributor, provide some background information regarding your observing experience. It is recommended that observations be made of a suspected object more than once -- separated by at least an hour and preferably a day.
Recommended reading
Books
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Observer's Handbook (annual publication of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada); Univ of Toronto Press
Web sites
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Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO)
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For observers who take their planet watching seriously.
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Astronomical League's Asteroid Club
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Observing award program for viewing 25 or more asteroids.
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Comet information from the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
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News of discoveries, comet activity, and other information of interest to observers
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Author Gary Kronk's excellent resource for currently visible comets, meteor showers, as well as other related material.
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Comet and Asteroid Ephemerides
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From the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams, a listing of positional data for asteroids and comets. Their annual "bright asteroid" data are especially suitable for binocular observers looking to create their own finder charts. Data is also available for downloading into several popular planetarium programs, such as The Sky, Sky Map Pro, Megastar, and many others.
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