What software or star catalogs are recommended?

August 8, 2014 -

There are many excellent software packages available that allow the observer to locate asteroids, capture images, and “track-­and­stack” many images to reach the really faint asteroids. While Target Asteroids! does not endorse particular software, some resources are:

For finder maps:

  • C2A (planetarium software)
  • Planetarium programs such as HN Sky and others

For astrometry:

  • Astrometrica
  • MPO Canopus/PhotoRed
  • Pinpoint/Maxim DL

For photometry:

  • MPO Canopus/PhotoRed
  • Landolt Reference Stars
  • Carlsberg Meridian Catalog 14 (CMC-14)
  • The AAVSO Photometric All-­Sky Survey (APASS)
  • Astrometrica