Many kind people have answered many questions around the forum, but when you’re new, you have no way of knowing the information you seek is at hand. Geoff Roynon had the terrific idea that we set up a place with shortcuts straight to all the places where questions are asked and answered. The following was almost entirely drafted by him, and the links it includes were mostly written by the wonderful people who visit this forum regularly. This is what I love about Galaxy Zoo and astronomy generally - we all help each other here.
These are the most frequently asked questions. You may well find yours here. If not, or if there’s anything else you think should be included, please let us know. We aim to keep adding to this and updating it.
Forum FunctionsHow to post pictures.When you post a picture in the forum please include the reference number (also called the object id), preferably surrounded by spaces so the forum search engine can find it easily.
Instructions on posting pictures into an entry in the forum.Posting Images:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=5.0If you can't do it that way:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=4859.msg30296#msg30296Trouble with images:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=299.msg1423#msg1423Why do I just get this
?
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=5172.msg33388#msg33388SDSS Image Usage Policy:
http://www.sdss.org/gallery/usage_policy.htmlThe path from Newbie to Hero Member.When posting in the forum you start life as a 'Newbie' and work your way up to 'Hero Member' depending on the number of posts to the forum. This has nothing to do with how many galaxies you have classified.
Link:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=5172.msg50199#msg50199Adding colour to your replies.It is possible to change the colour of part or all of your text in your forum entry.
Link:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=5172.msg40220#msg40220Signature composed of galaxies.To make a composite image of galaxies for your signature (on the bottom of your forum posts) follow the link.
Link:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=5172.msg48357#msg48357Classifying and finding out more...Why is the SDSS picture different from the Galaxy Analysis picture?If you go into SDSS and see the image is rotated, or mirrored, or in black and white . . . don't worry, this is the bias study.
Brief explanation:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=270731.0News:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=8745.0Also check the Galaxy Zoo Blog.
Classify all or part?Should you classify an object which is part of a larger object or classify the larger object?
Link:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=1368.msg7965#msg7965Finding further information on an object.If you’re unsure about how to classify an object there are tools which you can use which may help.
Link:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=8333.msg76473#msg76473My object is too blurry to classify!If the object in the classification window is blurry you should click on the "Galaxy Ref:" link on the right-hand side of the window and on the next window displayed, click on the picture of your object. This will display a window where you can "zoom out" using the tool on the left, and this may help you to classify the object.
Link:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=8303.0If it is a star, it will probably look like
this or
this . . .
If it is just too distant to see clearly, it will probably look like
this . . .
If it is too close to see clearly, it may be one of
these . . .
Objects with funny coloursIf you see an object that is blue, red and green, it may well be an asteroid.
The Asteroid Thread:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=3393.0Some useful asteroid posts:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=10649.0Searching for objects.If you find an amazing object and want to post it in the forum, you should check if it has been posted before by searching the forum using the 18-digit Object Id/Reference Number. You should always search from the top level of the forum by clicking on the "Home" button, then pasting the Object Id into the search field and clicking "Search".
Finding threads:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=4858.msg30293#msg30293Search box? Where is this Search box you keep going on about?In the top right-hand corner, next to the magnifying glass. If you can't find it, try this link:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=271855.0Are these objects merging?Link:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=871.msg5315#msg5315Reclassifying an object.You can't! If you click the wrong button when classifying an object you cannot go back and redo the classification. You should ignore the mistake and keep going. Remember that at least 29 other people will classify this object so your "wrong" answer will not matter - it will be seen as a sort of "minority vote".
Link:
http://www.galaxyzooforum.org/index.php?topic=7316.msg59690#msg59690
