Browse canonical deep-sky and Solar System object pages, understand catalogue aliases and moving-body data, record your interest states and connect objects to your astronomy.
Objects are shared reference pages for the sky and Solar System. Instead of every member creating a separate “M31” or comet record, Astro Corner uses canonical objects and catalogue aliases so observations, projects, images and guides can connect to the same astronomical target.
Browse object types
The Objects area groups the library by astronomical type and presents compact cards with the available catalogue and preview information. Open an object for its canonical page.
Catalogue aliases help different naming systems point to the same object. Astro Corner supports Messier, NGC, IC and Caldwell deep-sky identities, plus NASA/JPL catalogue records for comets and minor planets.
Read an object page
Object pages bring together reference information such as designations, object type, constellation, coordinates, angular size and other available catalogue details. For moving Solar System bodies, orbital data is shown instead of pretending a single fixed RA/Dec remains valid.
They also act as a hub for Astro Corner records that have been linked to that object, making it easier to move from reference data into practical member activity.
Deep-sky catalogues and moving bodies
Messier, NGC, IC and Caldwell identifiers are reconciled onto shared canonical objects wherever they describe the same target, so catalogue expansion does not create duplicates.
Comets and minor planets are sourced from NASA/JPL Small-Body Database. Their apparent sky position changes with time, so Astro Corner stores orbital catalogue data separately and only uses date/location-specific coordinates when an ephemeris is available.
A moving object may still be saved to target lists and linked to observations/projects even when static-sky planning actions are unavailable.
Mark your relationship with an object
Use the available object-state controls to mark things such as a favourite object, something you want to observe, something you want to image or a target you are currently working on.
These states are useful inputs for your own planning and other astronomy features; they are not XP or a popularity score.
Use objects throughout Astro Corner
Whenever a creation form offers an object picker, link the canonical object rather than only typing its name in free text. This is especially valuable for observations, projects, target lists and images.
If a real target is not yet represented in the library, some astronomy-record forms can preserve coordinates/context so the observation is not lost while catalogue coverage evolves.
Browse object types
The Objects area groups the library by astronomical type and presents compact cards with the available catalogue and preview information. Open an object for its canonical page.
Catalogue aliases help different naming systems point to the same object. Astro Corner supports Messier, NGC, IC and Caldwell deep-sky identities, plus NASA/JPL catalogue records for comets and minor planets.
Read an object page
Object pages bring together reference information such as designations, object type, constellation, coordinates, angular size and other available catalogue details. For moving Solar System bodies, orbital data is shown instead of pretending a single fixed RA/Dec remains valid.
They also act as a hub for Astro Corner records that have been linked to that object, making it easier to move from reference data into practical member activity.
Deep-sky catalogues and moving bodies
Messier, NGC, IC and Caldwell identifiers are reconciled onto shared canonical objects wherever they describe the same target, so catalogue expansion does not create duplicates.
Comets and minor planets are sourced from NASA/JPL Small-Body Database. Their apparent sky position changes with time, so Astro Corner stores orbital catalogue data separately and only uses date/location-specific coordinates when an ephemeris is available.
A moving object may still be saved to target lists and linked to observations/projects even when static-sky planning actions are unavailable.
Mark your relationship with an object
Use the available object-state controls to mark things such as a favourite object, something you want to observe, something you want to image or a target you are currently working on.
These states are useful inputs for your own planning and other astronomy features; they are not XP or a popularity score.
Use objects throughout Astro Corner
Whenever a creation form offers an object picker, link the canonical object rather than only typing its name in free text. This is especially valuable for observations, projects, target lists and images.
If a real target is not yet represented in the library, some astronomy-record forms can preserve coordinates/context so the observation is not lost while catalogue coverage evolves.