A printscreen of the UI. It uses night mode.

While posting my pictures, and describing the photographed objects, I noticed they are already deeper than most of the shallow catalogs and softwares go. Stellarium has its strengths but also its weaknesses. Astrometry.net’s plate solver also has its limits. The database behind Simbad and the Aladin viewer their website has embedded is great in many ways – on the desktop edition I can point with the mouse, and the pointer’s coordinates get resolved into an object, but no such feature in the web version (I added it, see below). A weakness is that both the web version and the desktop edition are slow to render the sky, I wonder whether they have any caching or the tiles are morphed real time. Anyway,  I wanted something more personal, integrated into my website.

So I made csillagtura.ro/dso. I think I am bad at naming my programs :P. I found this database on github, with more than 200k objects. This database should cover my deeper photographs for a long time. I converted the CSV into an SQL, and extended it with popular names for objects mainly in English, many in Hungarian and some in Romanian. I also added functionalities like search by virtually any aspect of an object, and, very important: cone search around each result, or just a cone search around some coordinates. I also added some virtual sky features: based on UTC time and the visitor’s gps coordinates retrieved from the browser, my program also calculates the objects’ alt-az coordinates.

Something simple to begin with: Messier objects in Andromeda,Triangulum, Ursa Maior and Canes Venatici:

DSOsearch: const:andromeda, triangulum, canes venatici, ursa maior catalog:m
Location: Cluj / Kolozsvár 47.6,23.6
 
DSO data
M 31, NGC 224, UGC 454, LEDA 2557 the Andromeda Galaxy, Androméda-galaxis, galaxy in And, 3.6m, 0h 42' 44.3",+41° 16' 05.88" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 33, NGC 598, LEDA 5818 Triangulum galaxy, Triangulum-galaxis, Galaxia Triunghiului, galaxy in Tri, 5.8m, 1h 33' 50.8",+30° 39' 37.08" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 3, NGC 5272, Mel 119 M. 3. Globular cluster. Outlying stars faint and few in number; bright centre., globular cluster in CVn, 6.3m, 13h 42' 11.16",+28° 22' 32.16" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 81, NGC 3031, UGC 5318, LEDA 28630, 2MASX J09553318+6903549 Bode's Galaxy, Bode Galaxisa, Galaxia lui Bode, galaxy in UMa, 7.3m, 9h 55' 32.92",+69° 03' 55.08" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 101, NGC 5457, Arp 26, LEDA 50063 (the) Pinwheel Galaxy, Szélkerék-galaxis, Galaxia Vârtelniței, galaxy in UMa, 7.5m, Face-on spiral galaxy with five notable companion galaxies, 14h 03' 12.24",+54° 20' 54.96" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 94, NGC 4736, LEDA 43495 Cat's Eye Galaxy, Macskaszem-galaxis, galaxy in CVn, 8m, 12h 50' 53.16",+41° 07' 12" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 110, NGC 205, LEDA 2429 satellite of {{the Andromeda galaxy}}, az Androméda kísérője, galaxy in And, 8.2m, 0h 40' 21.9",+41° 41' 26.16" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 32, NGC 221, Arp 168, LEDA 2555 satellite of the {{Andromeda galaxy}}, az Androméda kísérője, galaxy in And, 8.3m, Dwarf galaxy interacting with Andromeda Galaxy, 0h 42' 41.8",+40° 51' 51.84" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 51, NGC 5194, UGC 8493, LEDA 47404, APG 85 Whirlpool galaxy, A curious little galaxy pair similar to this is {{PGC 54813}}, Örvény-köd, Galaxia Volburei, galaxy in CVn, 8.5m, 13h 29' 52.08",+47° 11' 43.08" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 106, NGC 4258, UGC 7353, LEDA 39600, galaxy in CVn, 8.7m, 12h 18' 57.6",+47° 18' 15.12" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 82, NGC 3034, LEDA 28655 Cigar Galaxy, Szivar-galaxis, galaxy in UMa, 8.9m, 9h 55' 50.7",+69° 40' 42.96" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 63, NGC 5055, LEDA 46153 Sunflower galaxy, Napraforgó-galaxis, Galaxia Floarea-Soarelui, galaxy in CVn, 9m, 13h 15' 48.96",+42° 01' 50.16" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 40 Winnecke 4, Winnecke 4 is a binary star, ** in UMa, 9.2m, 12h 22' 12.36",+58° 04' 59.16" [wiki] [simbad] [.hu]
M 97, NGC 3587 Owl nebula, Bagoly-köd, planetary nebula in UMa, 9.9m, 11h 14' 47.76",+55° 01' 06.96" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 109, NGC 3992, LEDA 37617, galaxy in UMa, 9.9m, 11h 57' 36",+53° 22' 27.84" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]
M 108, NGC 3556, LEDA 34030, galaxy in UMa, 10.2m, 11h 11' 31.2",+55° 40' 23.88" [wiki] [simbad] [HubbleLA] [.hu]

 

So, for example, listing all the nebulous Messier and Caldwell objects from my vantage point, above 8 magnitudes, is a simple query, like below.

DSOsearch: nebulae catalog:m,c :visible minlum:8
Location: Cluj / Kolozsvár 47.6,23.6
 
catalogsnametypemageq coordsalt:az[wiki][simbad]
M 31,
NGC 224,
UGC 454,
LEDA 2557
the Andromeda Galaxy,
Androméda-galaxis
Gxy3.60h42'44.3",
+41°16'05.88"
72,
258
[wiki][simbad]
M 42,
NGC 1976,
SH2-281
Orion Nebula,
Orion-köd,
Nebuloasa din Orion,
Sharpless 281,
SH2-281
OC
+Neb
45h35'17.2",
-5°23'26.99"
21,
125
[wiki][simbad]
C 20,
NGC 7000,
SH2-117
North America nebula,
Észak Amerika-köd,
Észak Amerika köd,
Sharpless 117,
SH2-117,
Cygnus Wall
Neb421h01'48",
+44°12'00"
38,
297
[wiki][simbad]
C 50,
NGC 2244,
Col 99,
Mel 47
A open cluster of bright stars,
with surrounding nebula extending over a field 1d square.
OC
+Neb
4.86h31'55.6",
+4°56'35.02"
21,
106
[wiki][simbad]
M 33,
NGC 598,
LEDA 5818
Triangulum galaxy,
Triangulum-galaxis,
Galaxia Triunghiului
Gxy5.81h33'50.8",
+30°39'37.08"
71,
209
[wiki][simbad]
C 31,
IC 405,
SH2-229
Flaming Star nebula,
not to be confused with the {{Flame Nebula}},
Lángoló Csillagköd,
Sharpless 229,
SH2-229
Neb65h16'12",
+34°16'00.12"
54,
95
[wiki][simbad]
C 4,
NGC 7023,
Col 429,
LBN 487,
VDB 139
Iris Nebula,
Írisz-köd
OC
+Neb
721h01'35.4",
+68°10'10.92"
47,
327
[wiki][simbad]
C 19,
IC 5146,
Col 470,
SH2-125
Cocoon nebula,
Báb-köd,
Selyemgubó-köd,
selyemgubo-köd
OC
+Neb
7.221h53'24",
+47°16'00.12"
47,
295
[wiki][simbad]
M 81,
NGC 3031,
UGC 5318,
LEDA 28630,
2MASX J09553318
+6903549
Bode's Galaxy,
Bode Galaxisa,
Galaxia lui Bode
Gxy7.39h55'32.92",
+69°03'55.08"
36,
24
[wiki][simbad]
C 63,
NGC 7293
Helix nebula,
Hélix-köd,
Csiga-köd
PN7.322h29'38.4",
-20°50'13.92"
5,
231
[wiki][simbad]
M 27,
NGC 6853
Dumbbell-nebula,
Súlyzó-köd,
Nebuloasa Dumbbell,
Nebuloasa Halterei
PN7.419h59'36.24",
+22°43'17.04"
14,
289
[wiki][simbad]
C 27,
NGC 6888,
SH2-105
Crescent nebula,
Sarló-köd,
Nebuloasa Semiluna,
Sarló-köd
Neb7.420h12'06.48",
+38°21'18"
27,
299
[wiki][simbad]
M 101,
NGC 5457,
Arp 26,
LEDA 50063
(the) Pinwheel Galaxy,
Szélkerék-galaxis,
Galaxia Vârtelniței
Gxy7.514h03'12.24",
+54°20'54.96"
12,
2
[wiki][simbad]
C 9,
SH2-155,
LBN 529
Cave Nebula,
Barlang-köd
Neb7.722h57'17.28",
+62°28'33.24"
59,
317
[wiki][simbad]
C 65,
NGC 253,
LEDA 2789
Sculptor galaxy,
Silver Coin Galaxy
Gxy7.80h47'33.1",
-25°17'17.16"
14,
201
[wiki][simbad]
M 78,
NGC 2068
An interesting item to the south: {{McNeil's nebula}}Neb85h46'45.8",
+0°04'45"
24,
119
[wiki][simbad]

 

Or planetary nebulae, geographically accessible, above 9m:

DSOsearch: type:planetary minlum:9 :mayrise
Location: Cluj / Kolozsvár 47.6,23.6
 
catalogsnametypemageq coordsalt:az[wiki][simbad]
C 63,
NGC 7293
Helix nebula,
Hélix-köd,
Csiga-köd
PN7.322h29'38.4",
-20°50'13.92"
5,
231
[wiki][simbad]
M 27,
NGC 6853
Dumbbell-nebula,
Súlyzó-köd,
Nebuloasa Dumbbell,
Nebuloasa Halterei
PN7.419h59'36.24",
+22°43'17.04"
14,
289
[wiki][simbad]
C 59,
NGC 3242
Ghost of Jupiter,
Eye Nebula
PN7.710h24'46.08",
-18°38'34.08"
-35,
79
[wiki][simbad]
SH2-71,
LBN 103,
PK 36-1.1
Sharpless 71,
SH2-71,
[bright] from shc
PN819h02'00.24",
+2°09'10.98"
-11,
285
[wiki][simbad]
SH2-80,
LBN 127,
TYC 1586-411-1,
PK 50
+3.1
Sharpless 80,
SH2-80
PN819h11'30.84",
+16°51'38.16"
2,
293
[wiki][simbad]
C 55,
NGC 7009
Saturn nebula,
Szaturnusz-köd
PN821h04'10.56",
-11°21'48.96"
-0,
253
[wiki][simbad]
NGC 6572Blue Racquetball PNPN8.118h12'06.12",
+6°51'13"
-15,
298
[wiki][simbad]
C 6,
NGC 6543
Cat's Eye Nebula,
Macskaszem-köd,
Nebuloasa Ochi de Pisică,
Also,
nice pair with NGC 6552
PN8.117h58'33.24",
+66°37'59.16"
32,
337
[wiki][simbad]
C 22,
NGC 7662
Blue Snowball,
Kék Hógolyó
PN8.323h25'53.76",
+42°32'06"
60,
276
[wiki][simbad]
NGC 7027PN8.521h07'01.56",
+42°14'09.96"
37,
295
[wiki][simbad]
PK 357-4.3PN8.517h58'14.52",
-33°47'24"
-47,
268
[wiki][simbad]
C 15,
NGC 6826
Blinking planetary,
Blinking Planetary Nebula
PN8.819h44'48.12",
+50°31'31.08"
31,
313
[wiki][simbad]
M 57,
NGC 6720
Ring nebula in Lyra,
Gyűrűs-köd,
Ring Nebula,
Nebuloasa Inel
PN8.818h53'34.8",
+33°01'42.96"
12,
307
[wiki][simbad]
NGC 6210Turtle NebulaPN8.816h44'29.4",
+23°48'00"
-11,
326
[wiki][simbad]
SH2-274,
PK 205
+14.1,
Abell 21
Medusa Nebula,
dist=1800ly,
PN G205.1
+14.2
PN10.37h29'04.49",
+13°14'54.96"
18,
89
[wiki][simbad]
Abell 36,
ESO 577-24,
PK 318
+41.1
PN G318.4
+41.4,
dist=2000ly
PN11.813h40'41.16",
-19°52'57"
-61,
17
[wiki][simbad]
Abell 43,
PK 36
+17.1
PN G36.0
+17.6,
dist=7700ly
PN14.617h53'32.28",
+10°37'24.96"
-14,
304
[wiki][simbad]
Abell 79,
PK 102-2.1
PN G102.9-2.3,
dist=11000ly
PN1522h26'17.16",
+54°49'40.08"
54,
304
[wiki][simbad]
Abell 17,
SCM 16,
PK 221-4.1
Does not existPN?18.56h48'38.09",
-9°32'43.01"
7,
113
[wiki][simbad]

 

Or just list the context of Bode’s and the Cigar’s, above 17m:

DSOsearch: bode,cigar context:1deg contextminlum:17
Location: Cluj / Kolozsvár 47.6,23.6
 
catalogsnametypemageq coordsalt:az[wiki][simbad]
M 81,
NGC 3031,
UGC 5318,
LEDA 28630,
2MASX J09553318
+6903549
Bode's Galaxy,
Bode Galaxisa,
Galaxia lui Bode
Gxy7.39h55'32.92",
+69°03'55.08"
36,
24
[wiki][simbad]
M 82,
NGC 3034,
LEDA 28655
Cigar Galaxy,
Szivar-galaxis
Gxy8.99h55'50.7",
+69°40'42.96"
36,
23
[wiki][simbad]
NGC 3077Gxy10.510h03'20.52",
+68°44'02.04"
35,
23
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 28757,
UGC 05336
Holmberg IXGxy14.489h57'31.97",
+69°02'45.6"
36,
23
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 28563,
UGC 05302
Gxy15.129h54'22.28",
+68°20'01.32"
36,
24
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 28225,
UGC 05247
Gxy15.329h49'17.26",
+69°25'19.92"
37,
24
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 28018,
UGC 05210
Gxy15.659h46'24.6",
+68°57'25.92"
37,
24
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 28731Gxy15.669h57'03.02",
+68°35'31.2"
36,
24
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 28802Gxy15.689h58'16.97",
+68°06'09"
35,
24
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 28505Gxy15.719h53'10.25",
+69°00'02.16"
36,
24
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 3086325Gxy15.789h51'59.58",
+69°40'58.44"
37,
23
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 28614Gxy15.819h55'17.83",
+68°37'07.32"
36,
24
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 3086326Gxy15.8810h03'32.04",
+69°01'42.24"
35,
23
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 28848Gxy16.179h59'10.79",
+69°15'29.16"
36,
23
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 2735454Gxy16.319h53'10.61",
+70°19'27.84"
37,
23
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 2721118Gxy16.339h55'34.18",
+68°37'06.24"
36,
24
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 3086268Gxy16.369h59'39.84",
+70°00'07.56"
36,
22
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 29167Gxy16.510h03'43.2",
+68°41'32.64"
35,
23
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 28759Gxy16.89h57'30.82",
+69°16'39.72"
36,
23
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 27949Gxy16.99h45'15.34",
+69°23'21.48"
37,
24
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 2734733Gxy16.919h49'21.86",
+70°12'54"
37,
23
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 2720796Gxy16.929h48'49.07",
+68°35'47.04"
36,
25
[wiki][simbad]
PGC 2733060Gxy16.999h56'31.27",
+69°55'45.84"
37,
23
[wiki][simbad]

 

In order to be able to point on the Aladin viewer’s map and locate the object under the mouse, I wrote this small tampermonkey userscript. See it on my github.

// ==UserScript==
// @name         Aladin rightclickfinder
// @namespace    //csillagtura.ro
// @version      0.1
// @description  adds "identify object by right click" functionality to the aladin map
// @author       You
// @match        http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/*
// @grant        none
// ==/UserScript==

(function() {
    'use strict';
    var root = document.getElementById("aladin-lite-div");
    root.addEventListener('contextmenu', function(ev) {
        ev.preventDefault();
        var loc = root.getElementsByClassName("aladin-location-text")[0];
        var koord = loc.innerHTML.trim();
        document.location = "/simbad/sim-coo?Coord="+encodeURIComponent(koord)+"&CooFrame=FK5&CooEpoch=2000&CooEqui=2000&CooDefinedFrames=none&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+query&CoordList=";
        return false;
    }, false);
    
})();
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