Martindale's Calculators On-Line Center: Astronomy, Astrophysics & Astrobiology Center: Section 2 -Telescopes, Observatories, Astronomical Data Viewers, Sky Charts

MARTINDALE'S

CALCULATORS ON-LINE CENTER

ASTROPHYSICS, ASTRONOMY & ASTROBIOLOGY

SECTION 2: TELESCOPES, OBSERVATORIES,

ASTRONOMICAL DATA VIEWERS, SKY CHARTS

(Calculators, Applets, Spreadsheets,
and where Applicable includes: Courses, Manuals,
Handbooks, Simulations, Animations, Videos, etc.)

US/Pacific: Tuesday, January 6, 2009
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Currently the Calculators On-Line Center contains
over "23,635" Calculators & Spreadsheets,
over "3,475" Courses, Lectures, Manuals, Handbooks,
& "1,000's" of Movies, Videos, Simulations & Animations

Telescopes

Cameras for Telescopes

Telescopes (Design, Eyepiece, Magnification, Focal Length etc.)

Radio Interferometer

Observatories & HST Tools

Observatory Tools (HEASARC Tools, Astronomical Sky Calculators, etc.)

Anglo-Australian Observatory ~ Australian Telescope National Facility

Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope

Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA)

European VLBI Network ~ Florence & George Wise Observatory

Galaxy Evolution Explorer ~ Gemini Observatory ~ Hubble Telescope

Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory ~ Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes

James Clark Maxwell Telescope ~ James Webb Space Telescope

NASA/IPAC ~ Royal Observatory ~ Space Telescope Science Institute

Astronomy & Astrophysics Databases & Catalogues

Sky Charts in Real-Time

Astronomy, Astrophysics & Astrobiology Center

Calculators On-Line Center

Telescopes

CAMERAS FOR TELESCOPES

CCD CAMERA CALCULATORS & APPLETS

CCD IMAGING TEACHING MODULES & CALCULATORS - Starizona Multimedia CCD Imaging Teaching Modules & Calculators (Text & Images). VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
CCD Imaging Calculators include:
Pixel Resolution & Field-of-View Calculator INPUT Values include
"...CCD Camera (Apogee, AstroVid, Canon, FLI, MaxCam, Meade, etc.);
Telescope (Astro-Physics, Celestron, INTES, etc.); Pixel Binning..."
Equivalent Exposure Calculator INPUT Values include
"...Original Luminance (L) Exposure; Original Red (R) Exposure;
Original Green (G) Exposure; Original Blue (B) Exposure;
Original CCD Camera; Original Telescope;
Original Luminance Binning; New Telescope; etc..."
Ideal Exposure Calculator INPUT Values include
"...CCD Camera; Test Exposure Time in Minutes;
Measured Background Value; Percent Contribution from Readout Noise..."
Flat Field Value Calculator INPUT Values include
"...CCD Camera; User Defined Full Well Capacity; User Defined System Gain..."
Eyepiece Projection Calculator INPUT Values includes
"...Original Telescope Focal Length; Original Telescope Focal Ratio; Eyepiece Focal Length; etc..."

For more information see Guide to CCD Imaging or Starizona

Examples of CCD Imaging Teaching Modules include

Basics of CCD Imaging
Examples of "Basics of CCD Imaging" Subject Categories include
"...Introduction to CCD Imaging; Basics of Taking CCD Images; Image Processing; etc..."

Advanced CCD Techniques
Examples of "Advanced CCD Techniques" Subject Categories include
"...Acvanced CCD Equipment; Imaging Techniques; Image Processing; etc..."

CALCULATOR FOR MAGNITUDE LIMITS FOR CCD & TELESCOPE - L. Bogan VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
Magnitude Limit of CCD Camera and Telescope Calculator
"...determines the response of a telescope and CCD camera to given stars and seeing conditions..."
Magnitude Limit of CCD Camera and Telescope Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Stellar Values: Star's Zenith Distance, V-band Magnitude, etc.;
Site and Date; Phase and Postion of the Moon, Position of the Sun;
Telescope and Detector
Telescope Aperture, Diameter of Secondary Mirror, Number of Mirror surfaces, Pixel Size, Read Noise of CCD, Filter and CCD Parameters, etc...."

For more information see Larry Bogan's Conservation, Astronomy, Physics and Soaring Page

DETERMINATION OF THE LIMITING MAGNITUED OF A TELESCOPE - L. Bogan VERY EXTENSIVE.
Determination of the Limiting Magnitude of a Telescope Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Aperture; Telescope Power; Visual Magnitude Limit; Cleanliness;
Color Index of Star; Zenith Distance; Extinction Coefficient; etc..."
For more information see Larry Bogan's Conservation, Astronomy, Physics and Soaring Page

PIXEL SCALE CALCULATORS & APPLETS

PIXEL SCALE CALCULATOR - Winchester Electronics VERY EXTENSIVE.
Pixel Scale
"...The rule of thumb for pixel scale is to aim for around 2 arcsec/pixel for deep sky imaging and around ½ arcsec/pixel for planetary imaging.
Ideally, your pixel scale will be half of the value of seeing for your site (e.g. if your site tends to have seeing around 3 arcsecs, then you want a pixel scale of 1.5 arcsec per pixel)..."
Pixel Scale Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Aperture; Focal Ratio; CCD Camera; Binning; Seeing (arcsec)..."
Pixel Scale Calculator OUTPUT values include:
Telescope
"...Focal Length, Resolution..."
CCD
"...Pixel Array, Raw Pixel Size, Pixel Array After Binning, etc..."
Imaging
"...Optimum Focal Length, Optimum Focal Ratio)..."

For more information see Starlight Xpress: Astronomical and Industrial CCD Cameras

TELESCOPES: DESIGN, EYEPIECE, FOCAL LENGTH, ETC.

TELESCOPE DESIGN CALCULATORS & APPLETS

DESIGNING AND CALCULATING COUDER SCREENS FOR FOUCAULT TESTING - K. Slater & N.O. Carlin VERY EXTENSIVE.
Calculators include:
Zone Number Calculator
"...find the best number of zones to use for your mirror..."
Zone Radii Calculator
"...compute the optimal zone radii for your mirror..."

For more information see Online Articles & Calculators or Amateur Telescope Making (ATM)

TELESCOPE & EYEPIECE WITH PRESET DATA CALCULATORS & APPLETS

KEN'S TELESCOPE CALCULATOR - K.L. Hess VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
Ken's Telescope Calculator
"...takes the objective diameter, f ratio, focal length, eyepiece apparent field, and eyepiece focal length as required to calculate the estimated objective performance, telescope magnification, magnification per inch, true field, exit pupil size, etc..."
Ken's Telescope Calculator INPUT Values include:
Objective Parameters
"...Units of Measurement; Diameter of Objective; Focal Length of Objective; Barlow Lens X Factor; etc..."
Estimated Objective Performance
"...Aperture Gain; Faintest Star, Visually; Max Field of View for Questar 3.5 at Visual;
Max Field of View for 1.25" Focuser; Max Field of View for 2" Focuser;
Max Field of View for 4" Focuser; Dawes Resolution; etc..."
Estimated Eyepiece Characteristics
"...Eyepiece Name; Eyepiece Apparent Field; Eyepiece Focal Length;
Magnification; Magnification per inch; etc..."

For more information see Kenneth L. Hess' Home Page

TELESCOPE DESIGN CALCULATORS & APPLETS

THE N.A.A. TELESCOPE CALCULATOR - Naperville Astronomical Association VERY EXTENSIVE.
Telescope Calculator
"...will compute the values of a number of paramaters for any telescope & eyepiece combinations you enter..."
Telescope Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Objective Diameter in inches or millimeters;
Telescope's Focal Length;
Eyepiece Specifications; etc..."
Telescope Calculator OUTPUT Values include:
"...Determine your pupil size;
Theoretical Magnitude limits your telescope;
Theoretical Resolution limits for your telescope; etc..."
For more information see the Naperville Astronomical Association

TELESCOPE CALCULATOR - Highlands Astronomical Society, Inverness, Scotland VERY EXTENSIVE.
Telescope Calculator
"...Use this calculator to calculate some of the most important aspects of your telescope..."
Telescope Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Aperture;
Focal Ratio or Length;
Eyepiece; Apparent Field;
Barlow Lens..."
Telescope Calculator OUTPUT Values include:
"...Magnification Range;
Light Grasp;
Resolving Power;
Limiting Magnitude;
Magnification;
True Field;
Exit Pupil..."
For more information see Highlands Astronomical Society

EYEPIECE & MAGNIFICATION CALCULATORS & APPLETS

MAGNIFICATION, FIELD, AND EXIT PUPIL CALCULATOR - B. Prewitt VERY EXTENSIVE.
Magnification, Field, and Exit Pupil Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Primary Diameter;
Focal Length;
f Ratio;
Eyepiece Focal Length;
Magnification;
Eyepiece Exit Pupil..."
For more information see Online Articles & Calculators or Amateur Telescope Making (ATM)

SAGITTA CALCULATORS & APPLETS

SAGITTA CALCULATOR - B. Prewitt For more information see Online Articles & Calculators or Amateur Telescope Making (ATM)

Radio Interferometer

RADIO INTERFEROMETER CALCULATORS, APPLETS, ANIMATIONS & SIMULATIONS

VIRTUAL RADIO INTERFEROMETER (V.R.I.) (JAVA APPLET) - N.P.F. McKay, D.J. McKay & M. Wieringa, Australia Telescope Compact Array VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
Radio Interfermoter Calculator
"...simulates the operation of a particular technique in radio interferometry called earth rotation aperture synthesis..."
For more information see V.R.I. Introduction; General Astronomical Information or the Australia Telescope Compact Array

Observatories & HST Tools

OBSERVATORY CALCULATORS, APPLETS, ANIMATIONS & SIMULATIONS

HEASARC: VIEWING - High Energy Astrophysics Sciences Archive Research Center (HEASARC), NASA VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
HEASARC: Viewing
"...Determine when or if an astronomical position can be viewed by a given space telescope..."
Viewing Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Select one or more Space Telescopes;
Object Name or Coordinates;
Name Resolver;
Coordinate System..."
For more information see High Energy Astrophysics Sciences Archive Research Center (HEASARC), NASA

ASTRONOMICAL SKY CALCULATOR - Based on a sky calculator programme written by: John Thorstensen, Dartmouth College & and Modified by: Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CRFHT) (the National Research Council of Canada, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique of France & the University of Hawaii), Hawaii VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
Astronomical Sky Calculator
"...Precesses coordinates, provides sun & moon rise & set times, moon phase, LMST, Galactic coordinates, parallactic angle, an hourmass table, Julian date, moon phase and more besides. Just provide location, date, time and coordinates..."
For more information see Calculators or Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope

ASTRONOMICAL SKY CALCULATOR - Brian Casey VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
Astronomical Sky Calendar is
"...designed to provide information useful for the planning of nighttime observations..."
Astronomical Sky Calendar INPUT Values include:
Year & Month;
Observatory
"...Kitt Peak; Mauna Kea; Lick Observatory; Palomar Observatory;
Mt. Hopkins; Shattuck Observatory; etc..."
West Longitude & North Latitude;
Standard Time; etc.
For more information see Astronomy Tools or Brian Casey

SIGNAL-TO-NOISE CALCULATOR FOR CCD PHOTOMETRY - M. Richmond, Department of Physics, Rochester Institute of Technology VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
Signal-to-Noise Calculator for CCD Photometry
"... allows you to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio for a star observed with a telescope and CCD. You can vary the parameters and find out what sort of results to expect..."
Signal-to-Noise Calculator for CCD Photometry INPUT Values include:
"...Filter;
Mag Limits;
Telescope Diameter;
Overall OE;
Pixel Size;
CCD Readout Noise;
Sky Brightness; etc..."
For more information see the Michael Richmond's Home Page or the Department of Physics

WEB INFRARED TOOL SHED (WITS) - M. Wolfire, M. Pound, P. Teuben, L. Mundy, & S. Lord, Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
Web Infrared Tool Shed is
"...a collection of web pages and programs ("tool boxes") for the analysis of astronomical objects that emit primarily in the wavelength range 2 µm to 1 mm..."
For more information see Marc W. Pound's Home Page or the Department of Astronomy

Some examples of WITS Tools include

Photo Dissociation Region Toolbox (PDRT)
Photo Dissociation Region Toolbox (PDRT) is
"...a suite of tools designed to help you determine the physical parameters of photodissociation regions (PDRs) from your observations..."

Dust InfraRed Toolbox (DIRT)
Dust InfraRed Toolbox (DIRT) is
"...a comprehensive Java applet for modelling astrophysical process in circumstellar dust shells around young and evolved stars..."
With DIRT, you can:
"...Select and display over 500,000 pre-run model spectral energy distributions (SEDs);
Find the best-fit model to your data set; etc..."

ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN OBSERVATORY: CALCULATORS & APPLETS

ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN OBSERVATORY CALCULATORS - Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO), Epping, Australia VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE. For more information see AAO Observation Information or the Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO)

Some examples of Signal-to-Noise Calculators include

AAOmega Multi-Object Spectrograph S/N Calculator
AAOmega Multi-Object Spectrograph S/N Calculator
"...Magnitudes are in the Johnson system. All grating efficiencies assume they are used at the most efficient angle for that band, except 580V and 385R which assume a blaze of 4750A and 7000A respectively..."

IRIS2 Imaging Calculator
IRIS2 Imaging Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Focus; Read Mode; Read Speed; Filter; Magnitude; Seeing FWHM; Season..."

UCL Echelle Spectrograph Signal-to-Noise Calculator
UCL Echelle Spectrograph Signal-to-Noise Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Slit; Detector; Grating; Readout Speed; Seeing; Phase of Moon;
Zenith distance; Wavelength; Spatial Binning; Magnitude; Npix;
Number of Exposures; Exposure Time..."

AUSTRALIA TELESCOPE NATIONAL FACILITY (ATNF) & PARKES OBSERVATORY: CALCULATORS & APPLETS

ATCA OBSERVING CHARACTERISTICS CALCULATOR - B. Sault, Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF), Australia VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
ATCA Observing Characteristics Calculator
"...provides a means of estimating the characteristics of an ATCA observation. This includes the theoretical RMS noise in an resultant image (Stokes I, Q, U, or V). The corresponding brightness temperature sensitivity is also calculated..."
ATCA Observing Characteristics Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Configuration; Centre Frequency; Observing Bandwidth;
Number of Channels; Image Weighting Scheme; etc..."
For more information see Bob Sault's Home Page; ATNF Telescope Documentation; Observing with ATNF Telescopes or the Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF)

PARKES OBSERVATORY TOOLS - Parkes Observatory, Australia Telescope National Facility (ATNF), Australia VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE. For more information see Observer Information or Parkes Observatory

Some examples from over "14" Observatory Calculators include

Parkes Receiver Sensitivity Calculator
Parkes Receiver Sensitivity Calculator
"...returns 1-sigma theoretical RMS noise estimates for line and continuum observations using selected Parkes receiver/correlator configurations..."
Parkes Receiver Sensitivity Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Receiver; Centre Frequency; Bandwidth; Number of Channels;
Observing Mode; Integration Time..."

Planets
Planets Calculator
"...calculates Right Ascension, Declination (J2000), rise/set times and angular size for the Sun, Moon and planets at a chosen site..."
Planets Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Date & Time; El Limit;
Site (Choose from over 60 different Sites)
Eamples include: ATNF Mopra Observatory; Adelaide SA;
Anglo-Australia 3.9m Telescope;
Apache Point 3.5m Telescope; Bloemfontein 1.52m Telescope;
Brisbane QLD; Cambridge 1 Mile; Canada-France-Hawaii 3.5m Telescope; etc..."

Radial Velocities (RV)
Radial Velocities Calculator
"...calculates radial components of an observer's velocity..."
Radial Velocities Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Observatory (Choose from over 40 Observatories);
UT; RA/DEC; Number of days to generate report for..."

CANADA-FRANCE-HAWAII TELESCOPE: CALCULATORS & APPLETS

THE CFHT ADAPTIVE OPTICS BONNETT: PREPARING YOUR ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS - Jean-Luc Beuzit, Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CRFHT) (the National Research Council of Canada, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique of France & the University of Hawaii), Hawaii VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
The CFHT Adaptive Optics Bonnette
"...The PSF image will be a 128x128 image, therefore showing a field which side is 128 times your requested pixel size. This program uses pre-computed images at selected guide star magnitudes, seeing values and guide star to object distances to obtain your image. The attenuation of the modulation transfer function brought by anisoplanatism effects has been..."
For more information see The CFHT Adaptive Optics Bonnette; Imaging Instruments; Instruments & Manuals or Canada France Hawaii Telescope

CFHT DIRECT IMAGING EXPOSURE TIME CALCULATOR (DIET) FOR MEGACAM - Jean-Charles Cuillandre, Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CRFHT) (the National Research Council of Canada, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique of France & the University of Hawaii), Hawaii VERY EXTENSIVE.
MegaCam Direct Imaging Exposure Time Calculator (DIET) is
"...a versatile exposure time calculator allowing the computation of various quantities related to the MegaCam observing performance..."
MegaCam Direct Imaging Exposure Time Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Type (Point Source, Nearby Galaxy, Galaxy or Extended Source);
Seeing Range; Filter; Mag. AB; SNR; Sky; Airmass; etc..."
For more information see CFHT Products; MegaPrime Home Page or Canada France Hawaii Telescope

TWILIGHT FLAT CALCULATOR FOR MAUNA KEA - Jean-Charles Cuillandre, Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CRFHT) (the National Research Council of Canada, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique of France & the University of Hawaii), Hawaii
Twilight Flat Calculator for Mauna Kea
"...calculates recommended times for twilight flat field exposures at Mauna Kea as calculated by..."
For more information see Calculators or Canada France Hawaii Telescope

CARMA

CARMA - Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA)
Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy (CARMA)
"...merges two university-based millimeter arrays - the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) millimeter array and the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association (BIMA) millmeter array - to form a powerful astronomical tool for the new millennium..."

EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY: CALCULATORS & APPLETS

OPTICAL IMAGING; OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY; INFRARED IMAGING & INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY CALCULATORS - European Southern Observatory ESO VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
Eposure Time Calculators (ETCs)
"...play an important role in the overall process of ESO science operations. They are intended to give astronomers the ability to predict the signal to noise achieved under a set of assumptions about the performance of an instrument and the observing conditions. The accuracy of these predictions will improve as the instrument is calibrated and tracked under actual operational conditions. For the moment, ETC accuracy is dependent on preliminary calibrations and estimates of operational conditions..."
For more information see Observing Tools and Services or the European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Some examples from over "22" Exposure Time Calculators include

Infrared Long Wavelength Spectroscopy Mode: VISIR Exposure Time Calculator
ISIR Exposure Time Calculator INPUT Values include:
Flux Distribution
"...Uniform; Blackbody; Greybody; Single Line; etc..."
Target Doppler Shift
"...No Doppler Shift; Doppler Shift..."
Sky Conditions;
Instrument Setup; etc..."

Optical Imaging Mode: EMMI Exposure Time Calculator
EMMI Exposure Time Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Flux Distribution;
Sky Conditions;
Instrumental Setup; etc..."

BIMA Sensitivity Calculator
BIMA Sensitivity Calculator
"...calculates realistic rms noise for a single track of the BIMA array, given inputs about weather, frequency, and array configuration..."

EUROPEAN VLBI NETWORK (EVN): CALCULATORS & APPLETS

EVN CALCULATOR - Z. Paragi, The European VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) Network (EVN) VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
EVN Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...EVN, VLBA or GLOBAL;
Observing band & data rate;
On-source integration time;
Number of spectral channels, integration time, and maximum baseline length;
Number of polarizations, subbands per polarizations, and bandwidth of a subband..."
For more information see the European VLBI Network (EVN)

FLORENCE & GEORGE WISE OBSERVATORY: CALCULATORS & APPLETS

ASTRONOMICAL UTILITIES - CALCULATORS - The Florence and George Wise Observatory, Tel-Aviv University, Israel VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE. For more information see The Florence and George Wise Observatory

Some examples from over "8" Astronomical Calculators include

Signal to Noise (S/N) Calculator
Signal to Noise Calculator
"...could be used for estimating the exposure time needed for imaging an object with a given S/N..."
Signal to Noise Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Zero Point; Gain; Seeing (FWHM); Aperture radius;
Sky Background Area; Flat Level; Sky Brightness; Air Mass;
Number of Frames; Object Magnitude; etc..."

Refraction Calculator
Refraction Calculator
"...While the light from celestial object is passes throgh the Earth atmosphere it is refracted by the air, the refraction depends on the light path distance, temperature, atmospheric pressure, etc. The net change of the refraction is to lower the apparent altitude of the celestial objects (relative to its geometric position)..."
Refraction Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Altitude; Temperature; Pressure..."

Calculate the Gegenschein Coordinates
Gegenschein Coordinates are
"...also known as the Counterglow. The Gegenschein is very faint light seen on the ecliptic, 180o from the Sun. It is part of the zodiacal light and it is a reflection of light by dust particles in the ecliptic plane of the solar system..."

GALAXY EVOLUTION EXPLORER: CALCULATORS & APPLETS

GALAXY EVOLUTION EXPLORER (GALEX) TOOLS - S.G. Neff & J.D. Offenberg, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
Galaxy Evolution Explorer
"...an orbiting space telescope that will observe galaxies in ultraviolet light across 10 billion years of cosmic history...will tell scientists how galaxies, the basic structures of our Universe, evolve and change..."
For more information see Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX); Goddard Space Flight Center or the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) Home page at Caltech

Some examples from over "9" Galaxy Evolution Explorer Calculators & Tools include

GALEX Avoidance Angle Calculator
GALEX Avoidance Angle Calculator
"...computes the angle between a celestial position and one of a list of alternative "Reference Bodies", as a function of time. "Reference Bodies" include bright solar system objects and other directions that are meaningful for observation planning, and each of which must be avoided by a specified minimum angle during GALEX observations..."

GALEX Nearby Star Finder
GALEX Nearby Star Finder
"...locates all stars in the SAO and ACT catalogs within the specified brightness range and within the specified radius..."

GALEX Zodi Light Calculator
GALEX Zodi Light Calculator
"...computes the GALEX background due to the zodiacal light (sunlight scattered off dust in the ecliptic plane). Since this background is scattered sunlight it, is much larger (~1000 times) in the NUV channel than the FUV..."

GEMINI OBSERVATORY: CALCULATORS & APPLETS

GEMINI INSTRUMENTAION TOOLS: INTEGRATION TIME CALCULATORS - P. Puxley, The Gemini Observatory, Tucson Project Office, Tucson, Arizona; Northern Operations Center, Hilo, Hawaii; and the Southern Operations Center, La Serena, Chile VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE. For more information see Gemini Instrumentation; Gemini Observatory Science Operations Contents or the The Gemini Observatory

Some examples from over "7" Integration Time Calculators include

Near-IR Imager with Grism Spectroscopy (NIRI) Integration Time Calculator
Near-IR Imager with Grism Spectroscopy (NIRI) Integration Time Calculator INPUT Values include:
Spatial profile and brightness
"...Point source (nominal PSF) with spatially integrated brightness;
Extended source having, etc..."
Spectral distribution
"...Library spectrum of a non-stellar object;
Library spectrum of a star with spectral type; etc..."
Instrument optical properties
"...Camera; Filter; Disperser; etc..."

Acquisition Camera (Optical Imaging) Integration Time Calculator
Acquisition Camera Integration Time Calculator INPUT Values include:
Astronomical source definition
"...Spatial profile and brightness;
Spectral distribution..."
Instrument (Acquisition Camera) and Telescope Configuration
Instrument optical properties;
Detector properties;
Telescope configuration..."
Observing condition constraints
Image quality;
Sky transparency (cloud cover); etc..."
Details of observation
"...Calculation method;
Analysis Method; etc..."

HUBBLE TELESCOPE: CALCULATORS & APPLETS

HUBBLE TELESCOPE TOOLS - European Coordinating Facility VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE. For more information see HST Science Instruments or the Space Telescope: European Coordinating Facility

Some examples of Hubble Telescope Calculators include

NICMOS Tools
NICMOS Tools include over "10" Calculators & Tools including:
"...Synthetic Dark Generator
Generate synthetic dark reference files corresponding to a specific temperature for MULTIACCUM data;
Synthetic Flat Generator
Generate synthetic flatfield reference files corresponding to a specific temperature for any imaging filter;
Color Dependent Flats
Two routines to generate color dependent flatfield reference files;
GRISM Tools
Tools for spectrum extraction, object identification and classification and tips on estimating GRISM exposure times;
Imaging Exposure Time Calculator
Estimate integration times and Signal-to-Noise Ratios on a point-like or extended source, derive detection limits, and check saturation limits;
SAA Crossing Calculator
Find out how long after SAA passage your data was taken; etc..."

FOC Exposure Simulation - FOCSIM
The FOC Exposure Simulator
"...provides the capability to simulate almost any FOC exposure and to calculate diagnostics about the image. FOCSIM, the FOC exposure SIMulator, uses the most current description of the FOC and its filters along..."

STIS Exposure Time Calculators
Examples of STIS Exposure Time Calculators include:
"...STIS Imaging Exposure Time Calculator;
STIS Spectroscopic Exposure Time Calculator;
STIS Target Acquisition Exposure Time Calculator; etc..."

INTERAMERICAN OBSERVATORY: CALCULATORS & APPLETS

CTIO R-C SPECTROGRAPH EXPOSURE TIME CALCULATOR - M. Keane, Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory, Chile VERY EXTENSIVE. The Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory
"...is a complex of astronomical telescopes and instruments located approximately 80 km to the East of La Serena, Chile at an altitude of 2200 Meters..."
CTIO R-C Spectrograph Exposure Time Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Filter; Slit Width; Grating;
CCD Binning (Dispersion); CCD Binning (Spatial);
Seeing; Airmass; Moon; Wavelength;
Source Flux; Flux Units;
Max Exposure Time; Total Integration Time; etc..."
For more information see The 4.0-m R-C Spectrograph; CTIO Optical Spectrographs or the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory

Examples of other Spectrograph Exposure Time Calculators include

CTIO 4m Echelle Spectrograph Exposure Time Calculator
CTIO 4m Echelle Spectrograph Exposure Time Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Filter; Slit Width; Decker Height;
Folding Flat & Collimator;
Echelle Grating; Cross Disperser;
Camera/CCD; CCD Binning (Dispersion);
CCD Binning (Cross-Dispersion); Seeing;
Airmass; Moon; Wavelength;
Source Flux; Flux Units; Max Exposure Time; etc..."

ISAAC NEWTON GROUP OF TELESCOPES: CALCULATORS & APPLETS

SIGNAL: EXPOSURE TIME CALCULATOR FOR ING INSTRUMENTS - C. Benn, Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING), Observatorio de Roque de los Muchachos, Spain VERY EXTENSIVE.
SIGNAL
"...calculates the number of object and sky photons which will be detected during an imaging or spectroscopic exposure of a point or extended source with one of the common-user instruments of the Isaac Newton Group of telescopes..."
Exposure Time Calculator INPUT Values include:
Instrument Setup
"...Instrument; Detector; Grating; Band; Bandwidth; etc..."
Object Information
"...Object; Apparent Magnitude..."
Sky Conditions; etc.
For more information see Chris Benn's Home Page; William Herschel Telescope (WHT) Home Page; Astronomy or the Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes (ING)

JAMES CLARK MAXWELL TELESCOPE: CALCULATORS & APPLETS

HETERODYNE INTEGRATION TIME CALCULATOR (HITEC) - Joint Astronomy Centre, Hawaii, & the James Clark Maxwell Telescope (JCMT), Mauna Kea, Hawaii VERY EXTENSIVE.
James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT)
"...is the largest astronomical telescope in the world designed specifically to operate in the submillimeter wavelength region of the spectrum. The JCMT is used to study our Solar System, interstellar dust and gas, and distant galaxies. It is situated close to the summit of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, at an altitude of 4092m..."
Heterodyne Integration Time Calculator INPUT Values include:
"...Select Receiver; Frequency; Estimated Trx;
Select Tau or Select Weather Band;
Assumed Zenith Angle; DAS mode; etc..."
For more information see Heterodyne Integration Time Calculator Home Page; Observing Spectral Lines: Heterodyne Receiver Information; James Clark Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) or the Joint Astronomy Centre

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE: CALCULATORS & APPLETS

JWST SCIENCE SIMULATIONS - James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
The JWST Science Simulations
"...The simulations presented here are simulations of what imaging observations might look like on real JWST detectors..."
For more information see James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) or Astronomy Resources at STScI

NASA/IPAC - TOOLS & CALCULATORS

NASA/IPAC INFRARED SCIENCE ARCHIVE (IRSA): TOOLS & CALCULATORS - NASA/IPAC InfraRed Science Archive (IRSA), Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, JPL & NASA VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
Infrared Science Archive
"...The archive node for scientific data sets from NASA's infrared and sub-millimeter astronomy projects and missions..."
For more information see the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center

ROYAL OBSERVATORY (U.K.) - CALCULATORS & APPLETS

ASTRO UTILITIES - Joint Astronomy Centre, Hawaii & the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT), UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, U.K. VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT)
"...The world's largest telescope dedicated solely to infrared astronomy, UKIRT is sited in Hawaii near the summit of Mauna Kea at an altitude of 4194m above sea level..."
For more information see Utilities, Calibration & Standards; United Kingdom Infrared Telescope; Joint Astronomy Centre or the UK Astronomy Technology Centre

Some examples UKIRT Astro Calculators include

UKIRT Catalogue Search Calculator
UKIRT Catalogue Search Calculator - Bright Star Finder
"...Finding nearby SAO or BS stars..."

UKIRT Rise, Set, and Transit Times Calculator
UKIRT Rise, Set, and Transit Times Calculator INPUT Values include
"...Enter RA and Declination to get target availability..."

STSCI: CALCULATORS & APPLETS

NICMOS EXPOSURE TIME CALCULATOR - Near Infrared Camera and MultiObject Spectromete (NICMOS), Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
Exposure Time Calculator is
"...a tool for estimating integration times and Signal-to-Noise Ratios on a point-like or extended source, for deriving detection limits, and for checking saturation limits..."
For more information see Tools; Near Infrared Camera and MultiObject Spectromete (NICMOS); Instruments and Calibration or Astronomy Resources at STScI

Some more examples of NICMOS Calculators & Tools include

Synthetic DarGenerator
Synthetic DarGenerator
"...Generates synthetic dark reference files corresponding to a specific temperature for MULTIACCUM data..."

THE LINEAR RAMP FILTER CALCULATOR - Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2), Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) VERY EXTENSIVE.
Linear Ramp Filter Calculator
"...will calculate (x,y) target positions, POS TARGs (distance, in arc seconds, from the -FIX position of the chip), and wavelengths for WFPC2 Linear Ramp Filter observations..."
For more information see WFPC2 Software Tools; Wide Field Planetary Camera 2; Instruments and Calibration or Astronomy Resources at STScI

Some more examples of WFPC2 Calculators & Tools include

WFPC2 CTE Estimation Tool for Point Sources Calculators
WFPC2 CTE Estimation Tool for Point Sources Calculator
"...allows users of WFPC2 to estimate the effects of CTE losses on point sources..."

WFPC2 Exposure Time Calculators
WFPC2 Exposure Time Calculators
Estimates WFPC2 Exposure Time/SNR for:
"...Point sources; Extended sources;
Point sources + stellar background; Extended sources + stellar background..."

Astronomy & Astrophysics Databases & Catalogues

ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS DATABASE & CATALOGUES

THE VIZIER CATALOGUE SERVICE - Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS, Strasbourg), France Multimedia Astronomical Databases & Catalogues (Text & Images). VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
VizieR Catalogue Service
"...provides access to the most complete library of published astronomical catalogues and data tables available on line, organized in a self-documented database..."

ASTRONOMICAL DATABASES WW - (ENGLISH & FRANÇAISE) - Canadian Astronomy Data Center Multimedia Astronomical Databases & Catalogues (Text & Images). VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
Canadian Astronomy Data Centre Astronomical Databases & Catalogues includes:
"...Hubble Space Telescope Archive at CADC;
CADC's Gemini Science Archive (GSA);
Canadian Virtual Observatory: Observation Catalog Exploration Tools (Octet);
CADC's CFHT Catalog;
Canadian Galactic Plane Survey Archive; etc..."
For more information see the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics

ASTROPHYSICS DATABASES - National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) NASA Multimedia Astrophysics Databases (Text, Images & Videos/Movies). VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE. For more information see National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC)

MAPS - University of Minnesota Multimedia Astronomical Databases (Text & Images). VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.

MOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY - JPL Molecular Spectroscopy, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA Multimedia Molecular Spectroscopy Database (Text & Images). VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
Molecular Spectroscopy
"...The on-line version of the catalog contains individual files for each molecular species..."
For more information see the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

NATIONAL VIRTUAL OBSERVATORY (NVO) DATASCOPE - High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC), Exploration of the Universe Division (EUD), Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Multimedia Astronomical Databases & Catalogues (Text & Images). VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
The National Virtual Observatory (NVO) Datascope
"...allows the user to query many different services but also returns results in common standardized formats, allows access to many remote archives, and will send selected datasets into analysis tools like Aladin, OASIS, VOPlot and VOStat..."
For more information see the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC); Exploration of the Universe Division (EUD) or the Goddard Space Flight Center

SKY IMAGE PROCESSOR (SIP) - J.H. Simonetti, Department of Physics, Virginia Tech Multimedia Astronomical Databases & Catalogues (Text & Images). VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
The Sky Image Processor (SIP)
"...provides simple, yet quite general tools that enable the user to carry out standard CCD image processing procedures. Complicated procedures (e.g., unsharp masking) can be accomplished in a step-by-step fashion, using the tools provided, allowing the user to learn and understand how the procedures work (no "black box" procedures)..."
For more information see the Department of Physics

SKYVIEW - High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC), NASA Multimedia Astronomical Databases (Text & Images). VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE. For more information see HEASARC

STARS IN OPEN CLUSTERS DATABASE - J.C. Mermilliod, Institute of Astronomy, University of Lausanne, Switzerland Multimedia Stars in Open Clusters Databases (Text & Images). VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
Stars in Open Clusters
"...The database tries to collect all published data for stars in open clusters that may be useful either to determine the star membership, or to study the stellar content and properties of the clusters..."
For more information see Institute of Astronomy

Sky Charts in Real-Time

EXAMPLES OF ONLINE SKY CHARTS

ASTRONOMICAL ALMANAC - Jodrell Bank Observatory, U.K. VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
The Jodrell Bank Observatory Astonomical Almanac
"...can calculate the position of any astronomical object for any time, date and location on Earth. It also provides details for the Sun, Moon and planets..."
For more information see Jodrell Bank Observatory

JSKYCALC - John Thorstensen, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dartmouth College VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
JSkyCalc
"...computes time-and-the-sky information useful to optical astronomers..."
For more information see John Thorstensen's Home Page or the Department of Physics and Astronomy

SKY CHART: HEAVENS-ABOVE (JAVA APPLET) - C. Peat, Heavens-Above GmbH, Germany VERY VERY VERY...EXTENSIVE.
Heavens-Above Sky Chart
"...not only provide the times of visibility, but also detailed star charts showing the satellite's track through the heavens. All our pages, including the graphics, are generated in real-time and customized for your location and time zone..."

SKY VIEWS (JAVA APPLET) - Pangolin Communications, Auckland, New Zealand VERY VERY EXTENSIVE. For more information see Alamanac On-line or Pangolin Communications

NAVIGATOR STAR FINDER (JAVA APPLET) - O.F. Reis, São Paulo, Brazil VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
Navigator Star Finder
"...shows the celestial bodies used in celestial navigation (most visible stars (56) and planets (4), Sun and Moon)..."
For more information see Navigation Home Page

YOUR SKY (JAVA APPLET) - J. Walker, Switzerland VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
John Walker's Your Sky is an
"...interactive planetarium of the Web. You can produce maps in the forms described below for any time and date, viewpoint, and observing location..."
For more information see John Walker's Home Page

SMALL-BODY (SB) IDENTIFICATION - Solar System Dynamics Group, JPL VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
JPL's Small-Body Identification
"...provides a list of small-bodies only (asteroids and/or comets) which are likely contained in the specified field on the specified date/time..."
For more information see SSD-JPL; Observer's Tool Corner or Solar System Dynamics Group

SMALL-BODY (SB) WHAT'S OBSERVABLE - Solar System Dynamics Group, JPL VERY VERY EXTENSIVE.
JPL's Small-Body What's Observable
"...provides a list of small-bodies only (asteroids and/or comets) which are optically observable from the specified location on the night of the specified date/time with the specified observing constraints satisfied..."
For more information see SSD-JPL; Observer's Tool Corner or Solar System Dynamics Group

Astronomy, Astrophysics & Astrobiology Center

Calculators On-Line Center ~ Home Page