Jakub Černý, Jure Zakrajšek „Comet Siding Spring Close Encounter with Mars Observers“ Workshop August 11, 2014

AGENDA Project description Technologies, database structure Webpage design COBS usage – Submission of observations – Observation analysis COBS Observations statistics

COBS – Project description First version of COBS database in Slovenia created in visually observed comets during A renewed COBS website was designed in 2010 and first introduced on MACE 2010 (Višnjan) conference. – The new site is opened to comet observers all over the world – Submission of observations done with easy web-form – It includes visual and CCD observations – Observational data is displayed in strict ICQ format – It offers real time graphical display and analysis of observations Currently maintained by Team of Observatory Črni Vrh

COBS - Technologies COBS is based on: – Linux server (Ubuntu) – Apache web server – Webpage is written in python programing language – Database uses PostgreSQL database server

COBS – Database structure Database is based on three main tables: – Comets table – Users table – Observations table Tables are linked by item id in observations view Special table for news section

COBS WEBPAGE DESIGN

COBS – Webpage design Welcome page: – Recent observations

COBS – Webpage design Recent observations – Report designed the same way as ICQ Recent Comet Brightness – Report is generated for observations of the last 30 day

COBS – Webpage design Welcome page: – Recent observations – Current light curve – Current comet magnitudes (by Jonathan Shanklin, BAA) – Comet Observing Planner

COBS – Webpage design Comet observation planer – Generates a list of visible comets for a observing session – For registered users the list is calculated for location in their user-profile

COBS – Webpage design Welcome page: – Recent observations – Current light curve – Current comet magnitudes (by Jonathan Shanklin, BAA) – Comet Observing Planner – Latest comet news

COBS – Webpage design News: – Currently more than 210 news articles issued

SUBMISSION OF OBSERVATIONS

Registration User is required to register to the COBS website in order to access the submit forms and analysis page – Registration is done by filling a web-form – Passwords are encrypted and stored in the database – Observer ICQ code is required If observer does not have an official ICQ code, a temporary code is assigned to the user and should be used for observation submission. – Location information is used by Comet Observation Planer COBS – Usage

Submitting observations Observation are submitted using web-based forms – Easy to use (can be prefilled if selected in the user-profile) – Users are guided what information to input (detail explanation describing each field) – Each field is validated according to ICQ format rules (python script) – Errors are shown to the user Two type of submission forms – Single observation form (unexperienced users) – Multiple observation form (experienced users) Observations inserted in ICQ format COBS – Usage

OBSERVATION ANALYSIS

COBS – Observation analysis Data analysis Database is sufficient to provide accurate real-time comet light curves – An example, COBS collected 174 observations for recent comet C/2014 E2 (Jacques) Analysis section allows to do quick analysis of comets in selected time span Web interface offers limited management of web-based analysis. Data are available for download just by one click for further analysis

COBS – Observation analysis Data export and further analysis Because of full compatibility with ICQ data format: – data exported from COBS database are fully compatible with software used for their analysis – format is familiar to all generations of comet researchers Data can be used for: – Description of comet brightness evolution – Calculation of comet survival prospect – Analyses of outbursts and unexpected fading – Water production rates and nuclear mass estimates

OBSERVATIONS OVERVIEW

COBS – Observation statistics Total: Number of observers: 141 of 329 Number of associations: 7 of 12 Number of countries: 16 of 250 Number of comets: 579 of 1024 Number of observations: Visual Observations: CCD Observations: 8950 Observed comets: (579)Total:Visual:CCD: Short-period comets: (192) One-apparition Short-period comets: (82) Long-period comets: (305): Year:Total:Visual:CCD: most observed comets:Total:Visual:CCD: 29P C/2004 Q C/1995 O C/2001 Q P C/2002 C C/2003 K C/2009 P C/2006 W P

COBS – Visits statistics Website is used by users all over the world More than visits since announcement Number of users/visits is rising – Currently on average 60 visits per day