Internet Amateur Astronomers Catalog

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

• What is IAAC?
• What is "Deep-Sky"? (+ links)
• History of IAAC
• The Observation Archive...
• The DISCUSSION Archive...
• Frequently Asked Questions

NetAstroCatalog -
a mailing list for "deep sky" observers of all levels

Frequently Asked Questions about the IAAC...

  + WHY "netastrocatalog-announce"?
  + WHY JUST DEEP-SKY OBJECTS?
  + VARIABLE STARS
  + EMAIL ADDRESSES
  + WEB FORMS

WHY "netastrocatalog-announce"?
You may have wondered why all subscribers are automatically subscribed
to *two lists* instead of one: the main 'netastrocatalog', plus a
separate mailing list called 'netastrocatalog-announce' list? The
reason is that the main list ('netastrocatalog at visualdeepsky.org') feeds
directly into our searchable Web archive of deep-sky observations!

EVERYTHING sent to the main list is intended to be a *deep-sky log*:
anything sent to this list, on the other hand, does NOT end up in that
Web archive! Instead, the 'netastrocatalog-announce' list is for more
"timely" announcements or discussions, not to mention any observing
questions we want to share with each other.


WHY JUST DEEP-SKY OBJECTS?
Some folks have also asked in the past why the main 'netastrocatalog'
list (and now the Web forms) are designed JUST for deep-sky objects:
stars, galaxies, clusters, nebulae... Why not planets, moons, comets,
asteroids, zodiacal light, meteors, atmospheric phenomena, the sun??

The answer of course is that these observations ARE welcome! But the
IAAC Web archive (and 'netastrocatalog') are focused on being a long-
term resource for observers of the *deep-sky* - objects which will
"always be there" - as opposed to the more "ephemeral" objects of the
solar system. However, we all do more than one kind of observing!!

Note: The sharing of observations is not possible anymore!
So with that in mind, PLEASE share non-deep-sky observations with us
any time! Just be careful to post them to:
        netastrocatalog-announce at visualdeepsky.org
INSTEAD OF the main 'netastrocatalog' address. And if there is enough
interest, maybe we can set up a separate 'planetobs' mailing list
(complete with Web archive, searching, etc.)? Suggestions welcome.


VARIABLE STARS
Another thing folks may enjoy more of is "informal" variable-star logs.
We've had a few of these, but there must be many more casual variable
observers out there: people whose logs may not be quite up to AAVSO
standards, but who still enjoy viewing interesting variables sometimes?

With that in mind, PLEASE NOTE variable star logs *are very welcome*
in the IAAC Web archive (and so on the main 'netastrocatalog' list)!
To submit one, use the same email and/or Web forms as you would use
for any other deep-sky object... And keep them coming!

(Note that observations of NOVAE and SUPERNOVAE are not specifically
discouraged, although these events are of course more ephemeral...)


EMAIL ADDRESSES
Note: The mailing list is historic and won#t work anymore!

Subscribing and unsubscribing:
    majordomo at visualdeepsky.org
In the body of the email put: "unsubscribe netastrocatalog"

Switching to the DIGEST version:
    majordomo at visualdeepsky.org
In the body of the email put:
    unsubscribe netastrocatalog
    subscribe netastrocatalog-digest
    end

Posting your own deep-sky observing logs to the list:
    netastrocatalog at visualdeepsky.org
Mention object name and observing instrument in your Subject line!

Asking questions, making announcements, discussing observing:
    netastrocatalog-announce at visualdeepsky.org

Sharing NON-DEEP-SKY observing logs:
    netastrocatalog-announce at visualdeepsky.org

Searching observing logs for a general keyword:
    majordomo at visualdeepsky.org
In the body of the email: "grep netastrocatalog <your-keyword>"

Help with any of the above:
    owner-netastrocatalog at visualdeepsky.org


WEB FORMS
Note: As the mailing list is historic, also these won't work anymore!

Subscribing and unsubscribing via the Web:
  subscribe.html

Posting your own observing logs via the Web:
  enter-log.html

Searching observing logs for an individual object:
  search.html

Searching observing logs for general keywords:
  keysearch.html

Searching DISCUSSION list for general keywords:
  chatsearch.html

Setting up a Personalized Observing Logs Web form:
  personal-log.html