User Manual

Search in BDIP database

On the index number :

The index numbers are unique in the database, regardless of the planet

  • Jupiter : index numbers range from 1 to 2715 ;
  • Saturne : index numbers range from 2716 to 3072 ;
  • Mars : index numbers range from 3073 to 7533 ;
  • Vénus : index numbers range from 7534 to 8368 ;
  • Mercure : index numbers range from 8369 to 8473.

On the dates :

The search can be performed either on the full date format Year-Month-Day (eg. 1935-03-28) or the single year (eg 1935). In this case:

  • the default minimum date (on left) is the 1st of January of the requested year ;
  • the default maximum date (on right) is the 31th of December of the requested year .

On the observatory :

A pull-down menu allow to select one of the observatories where photographs have been made. This list is specific to each planet.

In some cases, the observatory mentioned in the catalogue is uncertain. Such uncertainties are flagged with an asterisk (*).

On geometric data :

For Mars, Venus and Mercury: LCM = Longitude of the Central Meridian in planetographic system.

For Jupiter et Saturn : LCM1 = Longitude of the Central Meridian in System I (equatorial zone).

Pour Jupiter seulement : LCM2 = Longitude of the Central Meridian in the System II (higher latitudes zone).

The central meridian is the virtual line joining the planet poles, and poing through the center of the side visible from Earth. Due to the differential rotation of the giant planets, the central meridian longitude is not the same in the equatorial zone than in the highr latitudes.

λ is the heliocentric longitude of the planet (mean heliocentric ecliptic longitude for the equinox J2000) : in the ecliptic coordinates system, an object longitude is the angle between the ecliptic plane and the vernal equinox.

Displaying search results

Results can be displayed in two different modes, which can be specified in the search form (radio button):

Short display : only major fields of the database are displayed :

  • Index number
  • Date
  • Time
  • LCM for the three telluric planets
  • LCM1 for Jupiter and Saturn
  • LCM2 for Jupiter only
  • Longitude
  • Filter
  • Observatory

Long display : the same fields as those of the short display, plus :

  • Observers
  • Instrument
  • Diameter
  • DE (sub-earth point latitude)
  • Phase (Earth-planet-Sun angle)
  • Number of images(number of single images together into a single image)
  • Comments

Features available on search results page

Images :

By clicking on the thumbnail, you will get a low-resolution image in JPEG format..

Checkboxes :

The checkboxes allow to select images :

  • either to print the description of all the images selected in a file (.csv) for use in a spreadsheet ;
  • or to download the selected images in TIFF format (high resolution) in a zipped file.