yesbird wrote:
> Pictures of good quality with complete objects info, including
> coordinates. This will be a gallery with a pointer to the object's
> location on the sky sphere. Now I rely mostly on NASA/Hubble materials,
> but other sources also can help. This will be a long-term project ...

The keyword for coordinates and data is:
NGC Catalogue.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_General_Catalogue

As I said, I haven't looked for it yet, but if I find something, I'll let you
know. I also made a PHP script with which I can create Povray arrays from
databases, if helpful. But it takes time, sorry.

ma

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Please ignore the last answer, I thought the forum had deleted the first block.
-----------


Now I was curious myself and went on a short search.

Maybe this is the original one:
https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/W3Browse/all/ngc2000.html

The data can be found here (ngc2000.dat):
https://cdsarc.cds.unistra.fr/ftp/cats/VII/118/


A newer version maybe is this here, but I havent found a download-file:
http://www.klima-luft.de/steinicke/ngcic/rev2000/Explan.htm

This one could be a competitor of yours:
https://cosmos-book.github.io/catalogue/NGC/index.html


ma

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hi,

"Maetes" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> ...
> If Povray could execute SQL queries - even if only simple selects - that would
> be really really nice.

one should be able to do this using an ini file, ie have a script executing a
scene or frame specific query and write the result(s) to a POV-Ray-style CSV
file, which would be available in the scene/frame for reading.

<wiki.povray.org/content/Reference:Shell_Command_Options>


regards, jr.

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"jr" <cre### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
> one should be able to do this using an ini file, ie have a script executing a
> scene or frame specific query and write the result(s) to a POV-Ray-style CSV
> file, which would be available in the scene/frame for reading.
>
> <wiki.povray.org/content/Reference:Shell_Command_Options>


I also have a similar workaround.
A PHP script that converts an SQL database into an array.
But it is a detour that is limited in flexibility.

Nevertheless the reference to the shell commands is interesting, I didn't know
them before. I'll take a look, maybe I can use my PHP script a little better
with it.

Thanks,
m

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hi,

"Maetes" <nomail@nomail> wrote:
> "jr" <cre### [at] gmailcom> wrote:
> > ...
> > <wiki.povray.org/content/Reference:Shell_Command_Options>
>
> I also have a similar workaround.
> A PHP script that converts an SQL database into an array.
> But it is a detour that is limited in flexibility.

my guess is that you will be able to use that code with (comparatively) little
adaptation.


> Nevertheless the reference to the shell commands is interesting, I didn't know
> them before.

in which case, likely, the default setting in the global 'povray.conf' will
"trip you up".  you have to set "[Shellout Security]" to 'allowed'.


> I'll take a look, maybe I can use my PHP script a little better
> with it.

:-).



regards, jr.

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On 03/02/2026 14:52, Maetes wrote:
> 
> The keyword for coordinates and data is:
> NGC Catalogue.
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_General_Catalogue

Thanks a lot, I have already taken and tested it, works fine with
AlaSQL, which I am using as a DB engine.

> 
> Images could be a problem, as I am not aware of any valid source that provides
> such data in a uniform format. Maybe it comes down to the fact that you have to
> search for them manually.
> But I can also be wrong, maybe there is something like that in the meantime. If
> I find something, I'll tell you.

Thanks again, I will start an intensive search after completing
application. Filling DB with the content will be an endless
procedure :).

> Chromium on a Raspberry Pi.
> I clicked somewhere and a Box opened with the text "Object" few million times,
> so my Pi was busy to show all text.
> And in dont want to risk it again, don't like crashes.

Sorry for the inconvenience, it was my fault - I forgot
to comment out debug info and all 13979 records of NGC were printed to
browser's page. Now it works fine - no more crashes, I promise :).
-- 
YB

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On 03/02/2026 12:17, Mr wrote:
> This works insanely great on my phone :-) ! (as usual I had to open it there
> because your site is blocked from my corporate proxy :-/ )
> 

Glad to hear it, as I am now taking care about mobile platform(s) too.
In general, it will support desktops, mobiles and VR headsets.

But nothing to see there yet and it's only a template, which I am
turning into a real application very fast. Hope till Saturday it becomes
much more interesting :).
-- 
YB

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On 03/02/2026 15:18, Maetes wrote:
> 
> Now I was curious myself and went on a short search.
> ...

Thanks, very well, I will examine it later, as now I am too busy with
coding. I have also registered in this serious astronomic community:
https://www.cloudynights.com/
and hope for their support.
--
YB

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On 03/02/2026 14:52, Maetes wrote:
> 
> As I said, I haven't looked for it yet, but if I find something, I'll let you
> know. I also made a PHP script with which I can create Povray arrays from
> databases, if helpful. But it takes time, sorry.
> 

The most desired thing for me now is coordinates of constellation
bounds, as I would like to store them as vectors to control separately -
one by one, but not sure if such a thing exists anywhere.
-- 
YB

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On 03/02/2026 18:15, yesbird wrote:
> On 03/02/2026 14:52, Maetes wrote:
>>
>> As I said, I haven't looked for it yet, but if I find something, I'll 
>> let you
>> know. I also made a PHP script with which I can create Povray arrays from
>> databases, if helpful. But it takes time, sorry.
>>
> 
> The most desired thing for me now is coordinates of constellation
> bounds, as I would like to store them as vectors to control separately -
> one by one, but not sure if such a thing exists anywhere.

And I found it:
http://vizier.cds.unistra.fr/viz-bin/VizieR-3?-source=VI/49/bound_18&-out.max=50&-out.form=HTML%20Table&-out.add=_r&-out.add=_RAJ,_DEJ&-sort=_r&-oc.form=sexa

-- 
YB

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