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An Excel Report Form and Macro for

Lunar Occultations

Brad Timerson - USABrad Timerson - USA

John Talbot - NZJohn Talbot - NZ

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Some History

In October 2006, Brad Timerson developed an Excel-based MP In October 2006, Brad Timerson developed an Excel-based MP Report Form and floated the idea with a number of IOTA Report Form and floated the idea with a number of IOTA members and leaders who liked the concept. Dave Herald members and leaders who liked the concept. Dave Herald made the comment “And presumably being in Excel you made the comment “And presumably being in Excel you could automate data extraction”. In late October, Brad sent could automate data extraction”. In late October, Brad sent a copy to Graham Blow and John Talbot. John, who had a copy to Graham Blow and John Talbot. John, who had written a number of Excel macros before, could not refuse written a number of Excel macros before, could not refuse the challenge.the challenge.

John created the macro and presented a paper entitled “A John created the macro and presented a paper entitled “A Semi-Automated Loading of Occultation Results Using Excel Semi-Automated Loading of Occultation Results Using Excel Macros” at the first Trans-Tasman Occultation Symposium Macros” at the first Trans-Tasman Occultation Symposium in July, 2007. Soon after, observers in Australia and New in July, 2007. Soon after, observers in Australia and New Zealand joined their North American cohorts in using the Zealand joined their North American cohorts in using the new Report Form and macro.new Report Form and macro.

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More History

Shortly after the acceptance of the Excel-based MP Report Shortly after the acceptance of the Excel-based MP Report Form, Brad Timerson undertook the task of creating an Form, Brad Timerson undertook the task of creating an Excel-based Form for the reporting of Total and Grazing Excel-based Form for the reporting of Total and Grazing Lunar occultations.Lunar occultations.

The Forms (2, one for each type of event) made extensive use The Forms (2, one for each type of event) made extensive use of drop-down lists so that users didn’t need to look up the of drop-down lists so that users didn’t need to look up the various codes used on the ILOC forms.various codes used on the ILOC forms.

The new Graze Form was “beta-tested” during the Regulus The new Graze Form was “beta-tested” during the Regulus graze on November 3, 2007 by several observers. graze on November 3, 2007 by several observers.

Changes in the Reporting and Archiving of observations Changes in the Reporting and Archiving of observations caused by the demise of ILOC and the release of caused by the demise of ILOC and the release of Occult4Occult4 by by Dave Herald prompted further changes to the new Report Dave Herald prompted further changes to the new Report Form.Form.

John Talbot was kept busy as he optimized the new Form and John Talbot was kept busy as he optimized the new Form and created the macro used to “read” the data into the new created the macro used to “read” the data into the new Archive format and Archive format and Occult4Occult4..

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The Rest of the Story…ILOC announced it would no longer process and reduce lunar ILOC announced it would no longer process and reduce lunar

occultations starting in March, 2009. IOTA announced it would do occultations starting in March, 2009. IOTA announced it would do this job.this job.

Dave Herald and others undertook the job of revising the archive Dave Herald and others undertook the job of revising the archive format to better reflect the way lunar occultations are observed format to better reflect the way lunar occultations are observed and recorded at the present time. The format had to be backward and recorded at the present time. The format had to be backward and forward compatible.and forward compatible.

Eric Limburg is working to revise Eric Limburg is working to revise LOWLOW ( (Lunar Occultation WorkbenchLunar Occultation Workbench) ) to use and produce this new format.to use and produce this new format.

Dave Herald revised Dave Herald revised Occult4Occult4 to use and produce the new format. to use and produce the new format.

Dave Herald wrote a stand-alone version of the Dave Herald wrote a stand-alone version of the Occult4Occult4 module on module on reporting lunar occultations called reporting lunar occultations called LunarReportLunarReport..

The new Excel-based Report Form is now 1 of 4 ways that observers The new Excel-based Report Form is now 1 of 4 ways that observers can use to report their lunar occultations. (Occult4, LunarReport, can use to report their lunar occultations. (Occult4, LunarReport, LOW, Excel Form)LOW, Excel Form)

And so….. Let’s see what the Excel Form will do.And so….. Let’s see what the Excel Form will do.

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Observation page from the Wiggins’ Regulus Graze Observation page from the Wiggins’ Regulus Graze ReportReport

(“beta-test” using the draft form)(“beta-test” using the draft form)

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WigginsWiggins’ telescope data page’ telescope data page(“beta-test using draft form)(“beta-test using draft form)

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Revisions/additions by John Talbot

John Talbot created the macro used to “read” the Excel-based John Talbot created the macro used to “read” the Excel-based MP Report Form and some Text-based Forms. This macro MP Report Form and some Text-based Forms. This macro creates the OBS file used in creates the OBS file used in Occult4Occult4 to analyze the results to analyze the results of asteroid occultation observations.of asteroid occultation observations.

He became involved in taking the Timerson Lunar Forms and:He became involved in taking the Timerson Lunar Forms and:

1) Reducing the 2 Forms into one, all-inclusive Form1) Reducing the 2 Forms into one, all-inclusive Form

2) Working with Dave Herald to create terminology that is 2) Working with Dave Herald to create terminology that is

consistent with use in the Report Form, the new Archive consistent with use in the Report Form, the new Archive

format, and format, and Occult4Occult4..

3) Creating a macro to “read” the new Lunar Occultation 3) Creating a macro to “read” the new Lunar Occultation

Report Form and create an Report file that is compatible Report Form and create an Report file that is compatible with with

Occult4Occult4..

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Basic Layout of the New FormBasic Layout of the New Form

Opens with 4 tabbed worksheetsOpens with 4 tabbed worksheets

1 – 1 – DirectionsDirections: basic use of the Form: basic use of the Form2 - 2 - Observer InfoObserver Info: information about observers, : information about observers, recorders, contact personrecorders, contact person3 – 3 – Telescope InfoTelescope Info: detailed telescope and observing : detailed telescope and observing site informationsite information4 – 4 – ObservationsObservations: detailed observation data: detailed observation data--------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- 5 – 5 – Menu TablesMenu Tables: a worksheet, normally hidden, : a worksheet, normally hidden, containing the menu items for the drop-down containing the menu items for the drop-down

lists lists

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New Form – Directions TopLunar Occultation Report Form

for both Total and Graze events

General Information

Many header cells have Comments attached to explain in more detain what is expected.Comments are indicated by a small red triangle in the top right corner of the cell.To view these hover your mouse over the cell and the comment box should pop up.To use Pull down lists either click on the Arrow button or hold down the ALT and use Up/Down arrow keys to select best fit item.Cell backgrounds are colour coded as follows: Some will change depending on related cell values.

Required data

Optional data

Not Required - usually because not relevant for earlier selections

Email completed reports to your local co-ordinator.Postal reports can no longer be acceptedIn Excel, Save the file with name that includes your name then use File… Send To… Mail recipient (as Attachment) … and enter just one of the names below.

<New Zealand - South Island - Loader> palbrl@clear.net.nz<New Zealand - North Island - Talbot> john.talbot@xtra.co.nz

<Australia - NSW - Gault> daveg@tpg.com.au<North America - Timerson>BTimerson@Rochester.rr.com

<Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia> ???@???.??.??

Updates to this list of addresses will be posted at:http://www.lunar-occultations.com/temp/addresses.txthttp://occsec.wellington.net.nz/temp/addresses.txt

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New Form – Directions BottomSheet 1 – Observer Information

Fill-in the top of the form with the appropriate information. Yellow entries are optional.

Sheet 2 – Telescope Information

Room is provided for up to 10 Telescope Positions. This can be one telescope at different locations or many

telescopes at same location or any combination. Drop-down menus are provided for several items.

You may add new rows but please make sure that the Obs Code is unique letters A-Z, a-z may be used.

Latitude and Longitude should be specified to 0.1 sec if possible

If any of the Telescope Positions include an Assistant, Recorder, etc., that person's name, with the

appropriate Position letter, should be included in the Comments at the bottom.

Sheet 3 – Observations

Enter the Telescope Code to indicate which Position is being used from Sheet 2.

Enter the Year, Month, and Day in the format shown.

Enter the Time of the observation using the format shown. All times are UTC.Use pull downs where appropriate.

Note this form can be used for reporting Grazes or Total Occultations.

Note this form can also be used for Occultations of Planets and Planet satellites.

Updates to this form Updated report forms can be downloaded at:

http://occsec.wellington.net.nz/report.htm

http://www.timerson.net/IOTA/

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New Form – Observers(Basic Form has room for 10 observers – more can be added.)

V2.0a

Report Form for Total and Grazing Lunar OccultationsRepresentative or Observer Name: Brad Timerson

Place Name: Newark, NY USA

Email Address: btimerson@rochester.rr.com

Comments: These comments will not be archived but may be helpful to the Co-ordinator

Observer Names Email address Other notes

A Brad Timerson btimerson@rochester.rr.com

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

Insert new rows above the row above this one.- Add Obs codes

Obs Code

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New Form – Telescopes(Basic Form has room for 10 telescopes/locations – more can be added.)

V2.0a Report Form for Total and Grazing Lunar OccultationsCheck header cells for Comments if help required

`

Horizontal Vertical

ddd mm ss.ssE

Wdd mm ss.ss

N S

Datum Datum

A Catadioptric Equatorial Motor 25 cm 82 cm 77 7 06.22 W 43 0 24.17 N WGS84 138.0 m Mean Sea Level

B cm cm m

C cm cm m

D cm cm m

E cm cm m

F cm cm m

G cm cm m

H cm cm m

I cm cm m

J cm cm m

Insert new rows above the row above this one.- Add Scope codes

Telescopes

Focal

Length

Telescope

Type

Mount

Drive

unit

Height

Aperture

unit

Latitudeunit

Longitude

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New Form – Observations Left(Basic Form has room for 20 observations – more can be added.)

V2.0a

Timings of Events

Check header cells for Comments if help required

Observation #

Telescope

Code

Observer

Code

Catalog Star

WDS Double Star

Component

Graze

Phenomenon

Lunar Limb Duration

Light level used to

define event time

YYYY MM DD HH MM SS.SS Number Letter Y/N s.sss

1 A A 2008 07 22 23 23 54.210 ZC (Zodiacal Catalogue) 1200 N Disappear Dark Limb 50% light level

2 A A 2008 07 22 23 48 34.220 ZC (Zodiacal Catalogue) 1200 N Reappear Bright Limb 50% light level

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

A, B, C etc.

Date (UTC) Time (UTC)

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New Form – Observations MiddleRequired data

Optional data

Not Required

Method of Timing (Time Source)

Personal Equation Application PE Value (secs)

Accuracy

Certainty

use this column first use this column if needed 0.xx 0.xxx

Video with time inserted GPS - OSD 0.030 Sure of event

Video with time inserted GPS - OSD 0.030 Sure of event

Method Of Recording

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New Form – Observations Right

Signal / Noise

Double Star Info

Stability

Transparancy

Remarkable Circumstances

Temp C

Comments related to the observation line (51 char max)

x.x -xx These will not be archived

2.5 Good Good 10

1.6 Good Good 8

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New Form – Menu Items(only shows top portion of this sheet which normally would be hidden)(only shows top portion of this sheet which normally would be hidden)

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Occult4/LunarReport – Header PageNote similarities to the Observers Info Page of the new Form.

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Occult4/LunarReport – Sites PageNote similarities to the Telescope Info page of the new Form.

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Occult4/LunarReport – Events PageNote similarities to the Observations page of the new Form.

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Benefits for new Coordinator(s)

Consistent Form used by most observersConsistent Form used by most observers (using Excel or OpenOffice)(using Excel or OpenOffice)

Encourages all observers to provide complete Encourages all observers to provide complete information about an observationinformation about an observation

No ambiguity in terminology or need to look-up No ambiguity in terminology or need to look-up codes when reporting observations codes when reporting observations

Macro “reads” Form and creates Macro “reads” Form and creates OccultOccult compatible ASCII filecompatible ASCII file

Macro has some ability to “error-trap”Macro has some ability to “error-trap” Form can automatically be sent to a Local Form can automatically be sent to a Local

CoordinatorCoordinator

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Additional NotesAdditional Notes

A Word document and matching Text file containing additional information on using the new Report Form is available.

Many columns on the Form have built-in Help messages when the cursor hovers over them.

Dave Herald has created a stand-alone application based on Occult called LunarReport that users familiar with that program may want to use in place of the Excel Form.

Eric Limburg’s LOW (Lunar Occultation Workbench) can also be used to create lunar occultation reports in the new archive format.

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New Excel-based Lunar Occultation New Excel-based Lunar Occultation Report Form is now, or will soon be, Report Form is now, or will soon be,

available:available: on the Main IOTA webpage:on the Main IOTA webpage:

http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htmhttp://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm

on Timerson’s IOTA Graze page:on Timerson’s IOTA Graze page:

http://www.timerson.net/IOTAhttp://www.timerson.net/IOTA

and on the RASNZ Occultation site:and on the RASNZ Occultation site:

http://occsec.wellington.net.nz/report.htmhttp://occsec.wellington.net.nz/report.htm

Links for Links for OccultOccult, , LunarReportLunarReport, and , and LOWLOW are also on these are also on these pages.pages.

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Questions/Comments

Brad Timerson gratefully acknowledges the help of Brad Timerson gratefully acknowledges the help of John Talbot, Tony George, Dave Herald, Paul Maley, John Talbot, Tony George, Dave Herald, Paul Maley,

David Dunham, and Patrick Wiggins.David Dunham, and Patrick Wiggins.