Object article style

Purpose

The purpose of having a fixed style for object pages is to provide the end user with a consistent look. This consistent look serves to make it easy for someone to find information on the page as all object pages will have particular pieces of information in the same place. This makes use of the object page format mandatory for all object articles.

Basic Format

The basic format is to have an object information box on the right hand side of the article. To the left of this is some basic facts about the object such as a description of the object, where in the sky it is, etc. This is followed by a section called Locate where a map of the object's location in the sky is presented. The maps are generated from the KStars program so if you don't have access to this software, request the map on the discussion page of the object. This is followed by a section called observations where observers can put an observation box with the basics of their observations of the object.

Template

The best way to start an article about an object is to use the object template. This will allow you to quickly put the information into your object article without having to worry about formatting. It also allows for object article format changing without massive re-editing of object articles.

Using the template

Just cut and paste the following into your article and fill in the various template parameters.

{{object
|ob_name=
|ob_number=
|ob_type=
|ob_other=
|ob_mag=
|ob_ra=
|ob_dec=
|ob_const=
|ob_season=
|ob_visibility=Naked Eye<br>Binocular<br>Telescope
|ob_mapfile=
|ob_username=
|ob_altname=
|ob_location=
|ob_date=
|ob_obstype=NBT
|ob_viscat=NBT
|ob_bintype=
|ob_teltype=
|ob_description=
}}

Template parameter description

Here's what you put in each of the above template parameters.

• ob_name= The object name, see the article on naming conventions for the appropriate name.
• ob_number= The object's number on the canonical list. This is assigned by the project administrator. If there isn't an assigned number, put "none".
• ob_type= The type of object. See [object types] for what to put here.
• ob_mag= The object's visible magnitude.
• ob_ra= The object's right ascension for epoch 2000.
• ob_dec= The object's declination for epoch 2000.
• ob_const= The constellation the object is found in.
• ob_season= The season the object is seen in, check the Season by Right Ascension article against the object's RA to work this out.
• ob_visibility= What you are able to see the object with. Delete the non-applicable words.
• ob_mapfile= The name of the map image file for the map to this object. Leave blank if you don't have one.
• ob_username= Your project login name for the observation log.
• ob_altname= Your real name if you wish. If not just put in your login name again.
• ob_location= Where you observed the object from. The city name will do.
• ob_date= The date (in UTC) when you made the observation
• ob_obstype= What tools you used for the attempted observation, delete non-applicable. See here for what the letters stand for.
• ob_viscat= if you actually saw the object with the used tool. Letters mean the same as above. Delete non-applicable.
• ob_bintype= Size of binoculars used, e.g. "10x50". If not used use "none"
• ob_teltype= type of telescope used. Put in [[ ]] which will create a link to a page about that telescope type. Check the telescopes category to see if your scope is listed. Put "none" if no telescope was used.
• ob_description= A description of the object, how to find it and anything else interesting about it would go here.