From: "Lawrence" <lawrence@...>
Subject: [guide-user] Re: unnamed deep sky objects?

> I just followed your suggestion; I gather that it is a nebula isophote -
> apparently unnamed. How can such a large clearly defined object be
> nameless? When I took an image of this region, I then realised that I
> had no name for it - hence my use of the GSC number!

This object owes a name. But because it is a nebula, you have to switch on
the display of nebulae. Then you'll see a (yellow) square at this place and
a
right click will inform us that it is IC 2162.

Personnally, I consider the isophotes as a (more or less) realistic
rendition of the objects, but nos as a "technical one", so I can understand
that it is not labeled. On the other hand, if I want technical info, I feel
natural to switch on the display of the categories of objects I am
interested in (look at Display -> Data shown, Nebulae, On). Maybe not
everybody has the same opinion.

Keep also in mind that sometimes several regions of the some extended
nebulosity have each received their own identification. Which one would be
the correct identification (isophotes are in fact contours that include
sometimes two or more named or numbered objects) ?


Laurent Zimmermann
http://users.skynet.be/zmn