TheSkySearchers

What is the general consensus on what time to use in our observation logs? I’ve been logging time and date in UTC thinking it is more meaningful to a global community (no “daylight savings time” nonsense) and I already use it in other fields but recently I’ve had thoughts that it may be overkill and I should just use local time, which is either CST or CDT for me.

Thanks.

Steve Yates

If you are going to utilize a time (something I do not do personally) then I would suggest whatever you feel comfortable with. I understand the thought of using UTC since it is static. But then again, most logs are simply a personal records of your activities, thus utilizing local time is sensible as well. As long as you notate whether it is CST or CDT (as applicable) I believe that is sufficient for anyone else reading your log. Let's be honest here, how many people are really going to be doing the mental gymnastics of converting it to their local time? I think few and far between. As I said, I never utilize times in my log nor do I pay any attention to times that might be listed in other people's logs. I just don't find it germane to my reading the details of what they saw. Just my .02 worth.

Hi Alan,

Thanks! I agree time is of little use normally but there have been a few occasions when it has come in handy. For instance, when I observe occultations accidentally and want to figure out later what I had observed or like last night when I was star hopping to M2 and I chased two different satellites that led me right to it and so I noted the times to have a little more information to identify them.

For the most part it is just a carry over habit from my amateur radio activities that may be just extra work. Usually I just roughly log start and start observing times.

Stev Yates

Log start/ stop time for me. Local.

The Wave Catcher wrote: ↑Sun Dec 27, 2020 6:02 pm What is the general consensus on what time to use in our observation logs? I’ve been logging time and date in UTC thinking it is more meaningful to a global community (no “daylight savings time” nonsense) and I already use it in other fields but recently I’ve had thoughts that it may be overkill and I should just use local time, which is either CST or CDT for me.

Thanks.

Steve Yates

I don't log time for every target. But I do log time several time during the session: beginning and end of session, time when Milky Way becomes visible after sunset; Moon rise and set. Times for each segment, i.e. 6 to 7 pm - planets, 7 to 9 pm - galaxies. Also times of astronomical events like bright meteors, Jupiter moons transit, eclipses.

I prefer people reporting their local time instead of UTC. Let's say you are on the East coast and I am on the West. If you report that you observe Andromeda galaxy at 10 pm, the chances are that I will be able to see it at the same local time, i.e. 10 pm in California.

I use star date. i.e. 20201209 and then local time for the start of each AP target. Using local time gives me a reference for the first and last start times I can use on a particular night - as sunrise and sunset varies each day. With my scant 1-3 nights per month I need a record of when I can actually begin to image. I also add the number of images to be taken - always keeping in mind the meridian flip possibility.

The Wave Catcher wrote: ↑Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:43 pm Hi Alan,

Thanks! I agree time is of little use normally but there have been a few occasions when it has come in handy. For instance, when I observe occultations accidentally and want to figure out later what I had observed or like last night when I was star hopping to M2 and I chased two different satellites that led me right to it and so I noted the times to have a little more information to identify them.

For the most part it is just a carry over habit from my amateur radio activities that may be just extra work. Usually I just roughly log start and start observing times.

Steve Yates

Agree Steve, the amateur radio logging thing does train one to keep records. Of course if you want a QSL, then having the time is important. Regarding astronomy, certain award programs, the AL comes to mind, want times in your logs. Though in reality, the time of the observation is not particularly germane in my view. For certain events, occultations as you mentioned, eclipses (lunar and/or solar) or transits, then if you plan to keep detailed logs of those type of events, time is a key element. But for general astronomical observations, I have never seen time as a critical element as long as you have the correct date.

Star Dad wrote: ↑Tue Dec 29, 2020 3:37 pm I use star date. i.e. 20201209 and then local time for the start of each AP target. Using local time gives me a reference for the first and last start times I can use on a particular night - as sunrise and sunset varies each day. With my scant 1-3 nights per month I need a record of when I can actually begin to image. I also add the number of images to be taken - always keeping in mind the meridian flip possibility.

“Captains log...Stardate:_____....”

The Wave Catcher wrote: ↑Sun Dec 27, 2020 6:02 pm What is the general consensus on what time to use in our observation logs? I’ve been logging time and date in UTC thinking it is more meaningful ...

I do both. Mostly, I record local time as CST or CDT. Sometimes, I do enter UTC for the feel of doing real science. However, as long you record the time and units, you have done what is required so that someone else can follow you -- or you can follow yourself. (As a technical writer, one of the motivations for my clients is that their computer programmers can never remember why did that thing six weeks ago. After a few of those, they hire me or someone like me to document code.)

And, considering time in astronomy, we just record local civil time. We do not report in sidereal time, even though that would be better for conversions to Right Ascension and Declination. That just seems excessive. But, I guess it depends on your preferences and needs.

I picked up a new notebook. I saw them at Target in the impulse bins at the entrance for USD 3 each. So, I bought six with different covers and gave the others out to friends in the astronomy club.** The front is a calendar. The back of each monthly page is lined. After the 12 months are 24 more two-sided lined sheets. At the back are 16 sheets of two-sided graph paper. I have the laugh at the designer, though, because the squares align neither to millimeters nor to inches. The inside back cover has a pocket. I do not know how convenient that will prove. Right now, I keep an architect's stencil in there for the several different circles that it provides. The paper is nice, smooth, not toothy, maybe 80-lb or 90-lb. I mostly use pencil, but in fact, Ink does not show through.

** I have one left if anyone in the USA wants one. My treat.