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

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

3. COBS – Project description First version of COBS database in Slovenia created in 2002. 35 visually observed comets during 2002-2008. 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

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

5. 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

6. COBS WEBPAGE DESIGN

7. COBS – Webpage design Welcome page: – Recent observations

8. 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

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

10. 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

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

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

13. SUBMISSION OF OBSERVATIONS

14. 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

15. 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

16. OBSERVATION ANALYSIS

17. 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

18. 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

19. OBSERVATIONS OVERVIEW

20. 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: 24171 - Visual Observations: 15221 - CCD Observations: 8950 Observed comets: (579)Total:Visual:CCD: Short-period comets: (192)799146313360 One-apparition Short-period comets: (82)659130529 Long-period comets: (305):15521104605061 Year:Total:Visual:CCD: 20141292676616 20131729931798 2012876465411 201119171029888 20101110521589 20091034418616 200855946990 2007950600350 20061221701520 200520217491272 200418181017801 200319805961384 20021490905585 200142740324 20002182144 1999709 0 19986346322 1997735 0 19961102 0 1995279 0 1994598 0 1993215 0 1992208 0 1991112 0 1990610 0 10 most observed comets:Total:Visual:CCD: 29P964293671 C/2004 Q2896670226 C/1995 O1588 0 C/2001 Q4570401169 103P482360122 C/2002 C142435767 C/2003 K4382197185 C/2009 P137233141 C/2006 W3358193165 17P35832929

21. COBS – Visits statistics Website is used by users all over the world More than 36000 visits since announcement Number of users/visits is rising – Currently on average 60 visits per day