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Help with the Record Measurements Function (F10)

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When you are in the Examine Image mode, the F10 key provides a convenient means to record your measurements in an ASCII file that can be edited for a variety of purposes. As we use JIMSAIP to measure asteroid and comet data for subsequent reporting to the Minor Planet Center, we have adopted their reporting format. Thus, each press of the F10 key will write an 80 character data string to a file named MEASURE.AIP located in the directory where you started JIMSAIP. The data fields are as follows:

COLS   Description             Source


1-15   Object Name             Fits Header Object Name


16-32  Date of Observation     Fits Header Date, UT


33-44  Observed RA             Measurement Function (F10)

45-56  Observed DEC            Measurement Function (F10)


57-65  Blank


66-69  Observed Magnitude      Measurement Function (F10)


70     Blank


71     Filter or Band          Fits Header Filter (first character)


72-77  Blank


78-80  Observatory Code        Fits Header Comment 1 (First 3 Characters)
As you can see from the table above, you must prepare a little if you are going to achieve maximum utility from this function. JIMSAIP will help as much as possible but you must put in your contribution.

Depending on the type of file loaded, JIMSAIP will fill in much of the data needed here, but you should always check. If the file is a camera file, JIMSAIP should be able to read in the date and time of the exposure, but probably won't be able to get the name of the object. You can examine and edit these fields in the VIEW-View Image Parameters function.

If you are reading in SBIG files, the time of the exposure is given as the START of the exposure and you may want to change this to the MIDPOINT of the exposure, for example, by adding one-half the exposure time to the starting time. Note that leading zeros are important if you are editing the date or time. Use, for example 03:15:01 or 01/05/96. Note also that the FITS format for dates is dd/mm/yy (thus the example is the first of May 1996).

You can also take advantage of the Configuration routine to store commonly used data such as the Observatory Code (if you have one) in the Comment 1 field.

If you are going to be reporting data to the MPC, you should be familiar with their format (you can get it from their WEB site) and then adapt to the idiosyncrasies of JIMSAIP and the Basic compiler used with it. Thus, if you enter the Object name correctly, you will be saved a lot of typing time later on.

For example, if you are reporting a numbered asteroid, in the View Image Parameters function (under the VIEW menu) you would enter a five digit number (with leading zeros if necessary) as the Object name, e.g., 03814 or 00714.

If you are reporting an asteroid with a provisional designation, e.g. 1983 SS4, you must use the packed format specified by the MPC and start it in column 6. Because JIMSAIP will ignore leading blanks, you must start with some character (a '.' will work nicely) in the first column followed by 4 blanks and then the packed designation. E.G. ".bbbbJ83S04S" where the 'b' signifies a blank or space. You can edit out the '.' later.