Software

• Pep software

Table of Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Part I Introduction
What is Astronomical Photoelectric Photometry
Detectors
Amateur Contribution

Part II History of Photometry
Measuring the Brightness of Stars


• Stellar Magnitudes
• Absolute Magnitude
• Apparent Magnitude
  
Counting Individual Photons

Part III Getting Started
Types of Astronomical Photoelectric Photometry Equipment

• Charge-Coupled Devices (CCD)
• Photodiodes (PD)
• Photomultiplier Tubes (PMT)
  Why Single Channel Photometry
  
  Part IV Basic Equipment
  Robotic Observatories
  The Backyard Observatory
  Permanent Pier
  Mount
  Telescope
  
• Figure 1 - Hopkins Phoenix Observatory Equipment
• Figure 2 - Blue Hills Observatory Equipment
Finder Scope
Roll-Off/Slide-Off Roof

• Figure 3 - Hopkins Phoenix Observatory
Dome

• Figure 4 - Blue Hills Observatory


Part V Photometry Equipment
Buying Commercial Units

• OPTEC SSP-5 Photometer
• Figure 5 - OPTEC Model SSP-5 Photometer
• Figure 6 - OPTEC Model SSP-7 Photometer
• EMI Gencom STARLIGHT-1
• Figure 7 - EMI Gencom STARLIGHT-1 Photometer


Part VI Building Your Own
Introduction

• Figure 8 - Astronomical Photon Counting System Block Diagram
• Figure 9 - Telescope and Photometer Head
• Figure 10 - 10 MHz Pulse Counter and -1,000 VDC Power Supply
Photometer Head

• Figure 11 - Basic Photometer Head
• Figure 12 - Photometer Head Top View Drawing
• Figure 13 - Photometer Head Inside
• Figure 14- Fabry Lens Mounting
• Figure 15 - UBV Photometer Head

Photomultiplier Tube

• Figure 16 - 1P21 Spectral Response
• Figure 17 - 1P21 Photomultiplier Tube
Voltage Divider

• Figure 18 - Voltage Divider Schematic
Socket

• Figure 19 - 1P21 Tube Socket
Magnetic Shield

• Figure 20- 1P21 Photomultiplier Tube Magnetic Shield
Mirrors
Pre-Viewer (Optional)
Post-Viewer
Relay Lens

• Figure 21 - Relay Lens Holder
Diaphragm

• Figure 22 - Diaphragm Plate
Fabry Lens

• Figure 23 - Fabry Lens Calculation
Filters

• Figure 24 - UBV Filters Transmission Spectral Curves
• Techniques For Mounting Filters
• Slides
• Wheels
• Cages
• Figure 25 - Filter Cage
Cooling
High Voltage Power Supply

• Introduction
• Figure 26 - High Voltage Power Supply Schematic
• Low Voltage Section
• Oscillator Section
• High Voltage Section

Low Voltage Power Supply

• Introduction
• Circuit
• Figure 27 - Low Voltage Power Supply Schematic

Data Output

• Analog
• Display
• Meter
• Chart Recorder
• Voltage-to-Frequency Converter/Counter
• Pulse Counting (Photon Counting)
• Figure 28 - Photon Counting Block Diagram
• Pulse Conditioner
• LeCroy MVL 100
• Figure 29 - LeCroy MVL 100 Pulse Conditioner
• New Pulse Conditioner
• Figure 30 - New Pulse Conditioner Schematic
• Circuit Description
• Video Amplifier
• Voltage Comparator
• Monostable Multivibrator
• Frequency/Pulse Counter
• Introduction
• Figure 31 - 10 MHz Pulse Counter


Part VII Preliminary System Calibration
Introduction
Signal -to-Noise Adjustment

• Figure 32 - Signal-to-Noise Calibration Setup
What High Voltage Setting to Use

• Figure 33 - High Voltage vs. Photomultiplier Tube Sensitivity


Part VIII Final System Calibration
Introduction
Photomultiplier Tube Saturation
Dark Counts
Dead Time (Photon Counting)

• Figure 34 - Dead Time Calibration Mask
• Determining Color Transformation Coefficients
  
• Figure 35 - Transformation Coefficients e and zv
• Figure 36 - Transformation Coefficients m and zbv
• Figure 37 - Transformation Coefficients y and zub
Zero Points
Shortcuts

Part IX Stellar Photometry Observing Technique
Introduction
Red Leak Measurements
All-Sky
Differential

• Check Stars
• Sky Readings
• Differential Photometry Observing Sequence
• Differential Photometry Data Logging
• Figure 38 - Sample Data Logging
• Manual Data Logging (Form)
Automatic /Computer Data Logging
Tips

Part X Data Reduction
Introduction
Extinction

• Airmass
• Figure 39 - Air Mass
• Extinction Coefficients
• Figure 40 - Determination of Second Order Extinction Coefficient k"v
• Figure 41 - Determination of Second Order Extinction Coefficient k"bv
• First Order Coefficients k'v and k'bv
• Figure 42 - Determination of First Order Extinction Coefficient k'v
• Figure 43 - Determination of First Order Extinction Coefficient k'bv
• Figure 44 - Determination of First Order Extinction Coefficient k'ub
Transformation Coefficients
Dates and Times

• Introduction
• Universal Time
• Local Sidereal Time
• Double Dates
• Julian Date (JD)
• The Origin of Julian Date
• Heliocentric Julian Date (HJD)
Manual Data Reduction
Software

• Figure 45 - Data Reduction Program Main Menu
• Figure 45 A - UBV RAW Data Menu
• Figure 45 B - UBV RAW Data Entry
• Figure 45 C - UBV Data Reduction Menu
• Figure 45 D - UBV Data Reduction Display


Part XI Observing Projects
Lunar
Solar Photometry
Planetary Photometry
Planetary Satellite Photometry
Asteroid Photometry
Comet Photometry
Nova and Supernova Photometry

Part XII Stellar Photometry Observing Projects
Introduction
Intrinsic Variables
Eruptive Variables
Extrinsic Variables

• Calculating Phase
• RS CVn Systems
• Be Stars
• Eclipsing Systems
• Figure 46 - Eclipsing Binary Star System
• Suggested Long Period Eclipsing Binary Star Systems
• Epsilon Aurigae (Aur)
• Figure 47 - Epsilon Aurigae Star System
• VV Cephei (Cep)
• 31 Cygni (Cyg)
• 32 Cygni (Cyg)
• Zeta Aurigae (Aur)
• V777 Sagittae (Sgr)
• 22 Vulpeculae (Vul)


Part XIII Calibration Stars (Tables)
Right Ascension and Declination Stars
Extinction Stars
UBV Calibration Stars
RI Calibration Stars

PART XIV Organizations
IAPPP
AAVSO
WGPAC
CBA
SAS (Formerly IAPPP West)