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

This is a basic template that can be cut and pasted into an object article to help get one started. It uses two templates, object box and observation log, the details of which can be seen the individual template pages.

A brief description of the parameters follows the code.

{{Object_box
|name=
|number=
|type=
|other_names=
|mag=
|ra=
|dec=
|const=
|season=
|vis=Visible<br>Binocular<br>Telescope
}}
Put description here
== Locate Objectname ==
[[image:mapimagegoeshere |640px]]
== Observations ==
{{observation log
|observer=[[user:yourusername]]
|location=
|date=
|obs_type=NBT
|vis_o=NBT
|bino_t=
|tel_t=
}}

Object_box parameters:

• name= The object name. The naming preference in order is Messier number, NGC number, common name
• number= The object's number on the canonical list. If no number is assigned put "none".
• type= The type of object, check object types for list of acceptable object types
• other_names= Other names for the object such as the NGC number or common names. If there are not other names put "none".
• mag= The object's visual magnitude.
• ra= The object's right ascension in epoch 2000 coordinates.
• dec=The object's declination in epoch 2000 coordinates.
• const= The constellation the object is found in
• season= The season the object is seen in, check the Season by Right Ascension article against the object's RA to work this out.
• vis=Visible
  Binocular
  Telescope <- how the object is visible, delete non-applicable.

Observation log parameters

• observer= place your user name here after the ":" leave the brackets as they provide a link to your user page.
• location= The city you made the observation in.
• date= The date you made the observation in UTC
• obs_type=NBT <- what tools you used for the attempted observation, delete non-applicable. See here for what the letters stand for.
• vis_o=NBT <- if you actually saw the object with the used tool. Letters mean the same as above. Delete non-applicable.
• bino_t= size of binoculars used, e.g. "10x50". If not used use "none"
• tel_t= 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.