Part XIII: Calibration Stars (Tables)

Table I
Right Ascension and Declination Calibration Stars

      RA(2000) DEC(2000)
STAR STAR NAME Mv HR MIN DEG MIN
a Eri ACHERNAR 0.6 01 37.72 - 57 14.20
a Cru ACRUX 1.4 12 26.60 - 63 05.93
a Tau ALDERBARAN 1.1 04 35.92 +16 30.55
a Aql ALTAIR 0.8 19 50.78 +08 52.10
a Sco ANTARES 1.0 16 29.41 - 26 25.92
a Boo ARCTURUS 0.0 14 15.66 +19 10.95
g Ori BELLATRIX 1.7 05 25.13 +06 20.98
a Ori BETELGEUSE 0.5 05 55.17 +07 24.42
a Car CANOPUS -0.7 06 23.95 - 52 41.73
a Aur CAPELLA 0.2 05 16.69 +45 59.88
a Cyg DENEB 1.3 20 41.43 +45 16.82
a PsA FOMALHAUT 1.2 22 57.65 - 29 37.33
b Gem POLLUX 1.2 07 45.32 +28 01.57
a CMi PROCYON 0.4 07 39.30 +05 13.50
a Leo REGULUS 1.3 10 08.37 +11 58.03
b Ori RIGEL 0.12 05 14.54 - 08 12.10
a Cen RIGEL KENT 0.1 14 39.60 - 60 50.12
a CMa SIRIUS -1.5 06 45.15 - 16 42.97
a Vir SPICA 1.0 13 25.19 - 11 09.68
i Car TUREIS 2.2 09 17.09 - 59 16.52
a Lyr VEGA 0.1 18 36.94 +38 47.02

To use these stars to set the right ascension (RA) setting circle, it is assumed the telescope is properly aligned, just center one of the stars, from the table above, in the eyepiece and rotate the RA setting circle until it reads that star's RA. The setting circle is now calibrated and a new star can now be found by moving the telescope to the new star's listed RA and DEC.

Note:
The RA and DEC are given in hours / minutes and degrees / minutes respectively. The Declination circle of the telescope can also be checked with these stars.

Reference: THE BRIGHT STAR CATALOG, Fourth Revised Edition 1982

Table II
UBV Calibration Stars

    RA (2000) DEC      
STAR HR# HR MIN DEG MIN V B-V U-B
n Phe 0370 01 15.19 - 45 31.90. 4.96 0.58 0.11
t Cet 0509 01 44.07 - 15 56.25 3.50 0.72 0.21
i Ari 0553 01 54.64 20 48.48 2.64 0.13 0.10
a Ari 0617 02 07.17 23 27.75 2.00 1.15 1.12
z2 Cet 0718 02 28.16 08 27.60 4.28 - 0.06 - 0.12
k1 Cet 0996 03 19.36 03 22.22 4.83 0.68 0.19
o Tau 1030 03 24.81 09 01.73 3.60 0.89 0.61
e Eri 1084 03 32.93 - 09 27.05 3.73 0.88 0.59
g Tau 1346 04 19.79 15 37.65 3.65 0.99 0.82
d1 Tau 1373 04 22.93 17 32.55 3.76 0.98 0.82
e Tau 1409 04 28.62 19 10.82 3.53 1.01 0.88
p3 Ori 1543 04 49.84 06 57.68 3.19 0.45 -0.01
p4 Ori 1552 04 51.21 05 36.30 3.69 -0.17 -0.81
h Aur 1641 05 06.51 41 14.07 3.17 - 0.18 -0.67
b Eri 1666 05 07.85 - 05 05.18 2.79 0.13 0.10
u Ori 1855 05 31.93 - 07 18.10 4.62 - 0.26 -1.07
i Ori 1899 05 35.43 - 05 54.60 2.77 - 0.24 -1.08
z Lep 1998 05 46.96 - 14 49.32 3.55 0.10 0.07
134 Tau 2010 05 49.55 12 39.07 4.91 - 0.07 -0.17
l Gem 2763 07 18.09 16 32.42 3.58 0.11 0.10
r Gem 2852 07 29.11 31 47.07 4.18 0.32 -0.03
k Gem 2985 07 44.45 24 23.88 3.57 0.93 0.69
b Cnc 3249 08 16.52 09 11.13 3.52 1.48 1.77
h Hya 3454 08 43.22 03 23.92 4.30 - 0.20 - 0.74
q Hya 3665 09 14.36 02 18.85 3.88 - 0.06 - 0.12
11 LMi 3815 09 35.66 35 48.60 5.41 0.77 0.44
21 LMi 3974 10 07.43 35 14.68 4.48 0.18 0.08
l UMa 4033 10 17.10 42 54.87 3.45 0.03 0.06
r Leo 4133 10 32.81 09 18.40 3.85 - 0.14 - 0.96
b Vir 4540 11 50.69 01 45.88 3.61 0.55 0.11
d UMa 4660 12 15.43 57 01.95 3.31 0.08 0.07
g Crv 4662 12 15.81 - 17 32.52 2.59 - 0.11 -0.34
78 UMa 4931 13 00.73 56 21.98 4.93 0.36 0.01
b Com 4983 13 11.87 27 52.68 4.26 0.57 0.07
61 Vir 5019 13 18.40 - 18 18.68 4.74 0.71 0.26
80 UMa 5062 13 25.22 54 59.28 4.01 0.16 0.08
70 Vir 5072 13 28.43 13 46.72 4.98 0.71 0.26
109 Vir 5511 14 46.25 01 53.57 3.72 - 0.01 - 0.03
o Lup 5528 14 51.64 - 43 34.52 4.32 - 0.15 -0.61
a1 Lib 5530 14 50.88 - 15 59.83 5.15 0.41 - 0.03
a2 Lib 5531 14 50.94 - 16 02.52 2.75 0.15 0.09
b Lib 5685 15 17.01 - 09 22.98 2.61 - 0.11 -0.36
a Ser 5854 15 44.27 06 25.53 2.65 1.17 1.24
b Ser 5867 15 46.19 15 25.30 3.67 0.06 0.08
l Ser 5868 15 46.44 07 21.18 4.43 0.60 0.11
e Crb 5947 15 57.59 26 52.67 4.15 1.23 1.28
t Her 6092 16 19.74 46 18.80 3.89 - 0.15 -0.56
z Oph 6175 16 37.16 - 10 34.03 2.56 0.02 -0.86
g Oph 6629 17 47.89 02 42.43 3.75 0.04 0.04
g Lyr 7178 18 58.94 32 41.37 3.24 - 0.05 -0.09
z Aql 7235 19 05.41 13 57.80 2.99 0.01 -0.01
k Aql 7446 19 36.89 - 07 01.65 4.95 0.00 -0.87
b Aql 7602 19 55.31 06 24.40 3.71 0.86 0.48
a Del 7906 20 39.64 15 54.72 3.77 - 0.06 -0.21
10 Lac 8622 22 39.26 39 03.02 4.88 - 0.20 -1.04
i Psc 8969 23 39.95 05 37.58 4.13 0.51 0.00

Reference: THE BRIGHT STAR CATALOG, Fourth Revised Edition 1982

Table III
Stars for Determining
1st-Order Extinction Coefficients

    RA (2000) DEC      
STAR HR# HR MIN DEG MIN V B-V U-B
q And 0063 00 17.09 38 40.90 4.61 0.06 0.04
s And 0068 00 18.33 36 47.12 4.52 0.05 0.07
l1 Phe 0125 00 31.42 - 48 48.22 4.77 0.02 0.04
h Phe 0191 00 43.35 - 57 27.78 4.36 0.00 - 0.02
q Cas 0343 01 11.10 55 09.00 4.33 0.17 0.12
58 And 0620 02 08.49 37 51.55 4.82 0.12 0.14
d Hyi 0705 02 21.75 - 68 39.57 4.09 0.03 0.05
r Cet 0708 02 25.95 - 12 17.43 4.89 - 0.03 - 0.07
z Ari 0972 03 14.90 21 02.67 4.89 - 0.01 - 0.01
l Per 1261 04 06.58 50 21.08 4.29 0.02 - 0.04
49 Ori 1937 05 38.88 - 07 12.78 4.80 0.13 0.11
136 Tau 2034 05 53.33 27 36.73 4.58 - 0.02 0.03
q Lep 2155 06 06.16 - 14 56.12 4.67 0.05 0.02
16 Lyn 2585 06 57.62 45 05.65 4.90 0.03 0.05
d Mon 2714 07 11.96 - 00 29.57 4.15 - 0.01 0.02
21 Lyn 2818 07 26.71 49 12.70 4.64 - 0.02 - 0.01
d Hya 3410 08 37.66 05 42.22 4.16 0.00 0.01
d Pyx 3556 08 55.53 - 27 40.92 4.89 0.11 0.14
26 UMa 3799 09 34.82 52 03.08 4.50 0.01 0.04
a Sex 3981 10 07.94 - 00 22.30 4.49 - 0.04 - 0.07
60 Leo 4300 11 02.33 20 10.78 4.42 0.05 0.05
b Crt 4343 11 11.66 - 22 49.55 4.48 0.03 0.06
p Vir 4589 12 00.87 06 36.85 4.66 0.13 0.11
r Vir 4828 12 41.88 10 14.13 4.88 0.09 0.03
b Cir 5670 15 17.51 - 58 48.07 4.07 0.09 0.09
p Ser 5972 16 02.30 22 48.27 4.83 0.07 0.06
D Sco 6070 16 18.30 - 28 36.84 4.78 0.02 0.00
69 Her 6436 17 17.67 37 17.48 4.65 0.05 - 0.03
n Ser 6446 17 20.83 - 12 50.80 4.33 0.03 0.05
68 Oph 6723 18 01.75 01 18.32 4.45 0.02 0.00
d UMi 6789 17 32.21 86 35.18 4.36 0.02 0.03
g Sct 6930 18 29.20 - 14 33.95 4.70 0.06 0.05
b Cra 7254 19 09.47 - 37 34.27 4.11 0.04 0.08
p Dra 7371 19 20.67 65 42.87 4.59 0.02 0.06
r Aql 7724 20 14.28 15 11.85 4.95 0.08 0.01
29 Vul 7891 20 38.52 21 12.07 4.82 - 0.02 -0.08
q Cap 8075 21 05.95 - 17 13.97 4.07 - 0.01 0.01
m Psa 8431 22 08.38 - 32 59.32 4.50 0.05 0.05
o Peg 8641 22 41.76 29 18.45 4.79 - 0.01 - 0.01
r Peg 8717 22 55.23 08 48.97 4.90 0.00 0.00
d Scl 9016 23 48.93 - 28 07.82 4.57 0.01 - 0.02

It is important when observing the above stars for determination of the First-Order Extinction Coefficients that the stars be picked for B - V close to zero and U - B close to zero. In addition, it is very important that the stars vary in altitude by about 60 degrees. If the stars are too close together, very misleading results can be obtained.

Reference: THE BRIGHT STAR CATALOG, Fourth Revised Edition 1982

Table IV
Suggested Program Stars
Be Stars
Program Stars Comparison Star
Zeta Tau HR 1860 (Use for all 3 stars)
120 Tau 
V731 Tau 

    RA (2000) DEC      
STAR HR# HR MIN DEG MIN V B-V U-B
z Tau 1910 05 37.64 21 08.55 3.00 -0.19 -0.67
120 Tau 1858 05 33.53 18 32.42 5.69 0.01 -0.76
V731Tau 1961 05 43.32 23 12.25 6.21 -0.06 -0.64
  1860 05 33.65 20 28.45 6.218 -0.022 0.402

Algol-Type Stars
Program Stars To P V
RZ Cas 2,439,025.3025 1.1952499d 6.18 to 8.39)
b Per (Algol) 2,440,953.4657 2.8673075d 2.12 to 3.40)
l Tau 2,435,089.2040 3.952955d 3.47 to 3.80)

    RA (2000) DEC      
STAR HR# HR MIN DEG MIN V B-V U-B
RZ Cas 815 02 48.92 69 38.05 6.18 0.18 0.10
b Per 936 03 08.17 40 36.80 2.12 -0.05 -0.37
lTau 1239 04 0.68 12 12.47 3.47 -0.12 -0.62

B Lyrae-Type Stars
Program Stars To P V
s Agl 2,422,486.797 1.19026d 5.17 to 5.36)
m Her 2,427,640.654 2.0510272d 4.82 to 5.28)
b Lyr 2,436,379.532 12.93016d 3.45 to 4.34)
h Ori A 2,4333,420.215 7.98926d 3.36 to 3.35)
VV Ori 2,440,545.899 1.48537769d 5.34 to 5.51)
V Pup 2,428,648.3048 1.4544867 4.41 to 5.25)

    RA (2000) DEC      
STAR HR# HR MIN DEG MIN V B-V U-B
s Agl 7474 19 39.19 05 23.87 5.17 0.03 -0.60
m Her 6431 17 17.32 33 06.00 4.82 -0.17 -0.76
b Lyr 7106 18 50.08 33 21.77 3.45 0.00 -0.56
h Ori A 1788 05 24.47 -02 23.82 3.36 -0.17 -0.92
VV Ori 1868 05 33.52 -01 09.37 5.34 -0.18 -0.90
V Pup 3129 07 58.24 -49 14.70 4.41 -0.17 -0.96

Table V
Long-Period Variable Stars

Epsilon Aurigae
Epoch: To= JD 2,435,624 P=9885 days (27.1 yr)
Comparison Star Aurigae
Check Star: ?
Next Eclipse: 2009

    RA (2000) DEC      
STAR HR# HR MIN DEG MIN V B-V U-B
e Aur 1605 05 01.97 43 49.40 2.99 0.54 0.33
l Aur 1729 05 19.14 40 05.95 4.71 0.63 0.12

VV Cephei
Epoch: To= JD2,435,931.4 P=7430.5 days (20.34 yr)
Comparison Star ?
Check Star: ?

    RA (2000) DEC      
STAR HR# HR MIN DEG MIN V B-V U-B
VV Cep 8383 21 56.65 63 37.55 4.91 1.77 0.39

31 Cygni
Epoch: To= JD 2,437,685.65 P= 3784 days (10.4 yr)
Comparison Star: 30 Cygni
Check Star: 26 Cygni

    RA (2000) DEC      
STAR HR# HR MIN DEG MIN V B-V U-B
31 Cyg 7735 20 13.63 46 44.48 3.79 1.28 0.42
30 Cyg 7730 20 13.30 46 48.95 4.83 0.09 0.15
26 Cyg 7660 20 01.36 50 06.28 5.05 1.11 1.02

32 Cygni
Epoch: To= JD 2,433,225.1 P= 1147.6 d (13.15 yr)
Comparison Star: 30 Cygni
Check Star: 26 Cygni

    RA (2000) DEC      
STAR HR# HR MIN DEG MIN V B-V U-B
32 Cyg 7751 20 15.47 47 42.87 3.98 1.52 1.03
30 Cyg 7730 20 13.30 46 48.95 4.83 0.09 0.15
26 Cyg 7660 20 01.36 50 06.28 5.05 1.11 1.02

Zeta Aurigae
Epoch: To= JD 2,438,386.525 P= 972.164 days (2.7 yr)
Comparison Star Aurigae
Check Star: ?

    RA (2000) DEC      
STAR HR# HR MIN DEG MIN V B-V U-B
z Aur 1612 05 02.48 41 04.55 3.75 1.22 0.38
l Aur 1729 05 19.14 40 05.95 4.71 0.63 0.12

Vulpeculae
Epoch: To= JD 2,445,942.3 P= 249.1 days
Comparison Star: HD192712
Check Star: 18 Sge

    RA (2000) DEC      
STAR HR# HR MIN DEG MIN V B-V U-B
22 Vul 7741 20 15.50 23 30.52 5.17 1.04 0.70
HD192712   20 15.50 23 44.50 7.15 1.00 0.72
18 Seg 1729 20 16.33 21 35.92 6.13 1.04 0.92