quick reference cards

Several years ago TAAS Member Derek Wallentinsen created a series of object cards as a way of helping National Park Service rangers he worked to quickly access information for telescope interpretation during astronomy programs.

Starting as "Fifty DINO Summer Sky Showpieces" (DINO is an NPS acronym for Dinosaur National Monument), it eventually evolved into a list of 108 objects plus eight planets. The cards were printed out, laminated and then velcroed to a handy tripod leg for easy access by a ranger with a night-sky-friendly red or amber flashlight.

The information presented on a typical card includes a 4-digit number that's the approximate right ascension of the object, a public domain image or credited Stellarium-type screen grab, distance, physical size, constellation, brief description, find-it star-hopping instructions, GOTO mount list name, and credits.

The selection of objects includes many bright and popular ones, plus a few idiosyncratic choices like Stephan's Quintet and Van Maanen's Star that he used for specific programs.

The table below contains two Telescope Quick Reference Cards (TQRC) Summary Files, in Excel and PDF format, that list the objects with Name, Type, RA, Dec, Mag, Culmination, and Constellation. You can sort the Excel file to create a list that suits your needs. Objects are broadly grouped as Galaxy, Open (cluster), Star, Double, Planetary, Emission, Dust Cloud,  and Globular.

The reference cards are available as a complete set named All Deep-Sky Cards and All Planet Cards of as individual object files.

Enjoy!