Data updates

You can update some of the data files used by your copy of CyberSky 4 by using the links and instructions found below.

Asteroid catalog

The Minor Planet Center (MPC) at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory maintains a catalog of “bright” asteroids that reach opposition during the current calendar year. This catalog contains the orbital elements and magnitude parameters needed to calculate the positions and magnitudes of these asteroids.

The orbital elements of asteroids change over time, and asteroids are added to and removed from the MPC’s catalog. You should therefore periodically replace the catalog your copy of CyberSky is using with the latest one from the MPC’s Web site so that you have the most up-to-date information.

Small catalog icon Asteroid Catalog
Catalog file
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Bright/2008/Soft00Bright.txt

If CyberSky is running, quit the program before updating the asteroid catalog.

To update the asteroid catalog

  1. Right-click the link above, and then click Save Target As.

    The Save As dialog box appears.

  2. Find the file ‘Asteroids’ in the following folder:

    C:\Program Files\CyberSky 4\Data\Asteroids\

  3. Click the file ‘Asteroids,’ and then click Save.

The next time you run CyberSky, the program will use the new asteroid catalog.

Comet catalog

The Minor Planet Center (MPC) at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory maintains a catalog of potentially-observable comets. This catalog contains the orbital elements and magnitude parameters needed to calculate the positions and magnitudes of these comets.

The orbital elements of comets change over time, and comets are added to and removed from the MPC’s catalog. You should therefore periodically replace the catalog your copy of CyberSky is using with the latest one from the MPC’s Web site so that you have the most up-to-date information.

Small catalog icon Comet Catalog
Catalog file
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Comets/Soft00Cmt.txt

If CyberSky is running, quit the program before updating the comet catalog.

To update the comet catalog

  1. Right-click the link above, and then click Save Target As.

    The Save As dialog box appears.

  2. Find the file ‘Comets’ in the following folder:

    C:\Program Files\CyberSky 4\Data\Comets\

  3. Click the file ‘Comets,’ and then click Save.

The next time you run CyberSky, the program will use the new comet catalog.

Meteor shower catalog

The meteor shower catalog used by CyberSky has been corrected and updated with new information for 2008. If you have not yet replaced the 2007 catalog supplied with CyberSky 4.0, 4.0.1, 4.0.2, and 4.0.3 with the 2008 catalog, you should do so now so that you have the most up-to-date information.

Small catalog icon Meteor Shower Catalog
Catalog file
Meteor Showers.txt

If CyberSky is running, quit the program before updating the meteor shower catalog.

To update the meteor shower catalog

  1. Right-click the link above, and then click Save Target As.

    The Save As dialog box appears.

  2. Find the file ‘Meteor Showers’ in the following folder:

    C:\Program Files\CyberSky 4\Data\Meteor Showers\

  3. Click the file ‘Meteor Showers,’ and then click Save.

The next time you run CyberSky, the program will use the new meteor shower catalog.