This is one of two ASCII formats that the AAVSO accepts for variable star observations. (The other format is the Official AAVSO Extended Format.) Observations in this format may be submitted to the AAVSO by e-mailing them to observations @ aavso.org or uploading them via WebObs' Batch Upload Tool.

The visual format has two components: parameters and data.

The format is not case sensitive.

Parameters

Parameters always begin with a # at the start of the line. A certain number of keywords are required to be entered as parameters. The following five parameters are required to exist at the top of the submitted data file.

#TYPE=Visual
#OBSCODE=
#SOFTWARE=
#DELIM=
#DATE=
#OBSTYPE=

• TYPE: Should always say Visual for this format.
• OBSCODE: The observer's code, previously assigned by the AAVSO.
• SOFTWARE: Name and version of software used to create the format. If it is private software, put some type of description here. For example: "SOFTWARE=Excel Spreadsheet by Gary Poyner."
• DELIM: The delimiter used to separate fields in the report. Any UNICODE ASCII character or its assigned UNICODE number is acceptable as long as it is not used in any field. Suggested delimiters are: comma (,), semi-colon(;), exclamation point(!), and pipe(|). The only character that cannot be used is the pound (#) and the " " (space). If you want to use a tab, use the word "tab" instead of an actual tab character. Note: Excel users who want to use a comma will have to type "comma" here instead of a ",". Otherwise Excel will export the field incorrectly.
• DATE: The format of the date used in the report. Convert all times from UT to one of the following formats. This can be any of the following (in order of preference):
  • JD: Julian Date (Ex: 2454101.7653)
  • EXCEL: , the format created by Excel's NOW() function (Ex: 12/31/2007 12:59:59 a.m - seconds are optional)
• OBSTYPE: Thisis an optional field. It can be visual, WP or PTG. If absent, it is assumed to be visual. If PTG, place a description of your film response and any filter(s) used in the notes filed.

Personal comments may also be added as long as they follow a pound sign (#). These comments will be ignored by the software and not loaded into the database. However, they will be retained when the complete file is stored in the AAVSO permanent archives.

The OBSCODE and DATE parameters may also be included elsewhere in the data. Our data processing software will read these parameters and will expect all following data to adhere to them. (For example, you can add "#OBSCODE=TST01" to the report and all subsequent observations will be attributed to observer TST01.)

Data

After the parameters come the actual variable star observations. There should be one observation per line and the fields should be separated by the same character that is defined in the DELIM parameter field. The list of fields are:

• NAME: The star's identifier. It can be the AAVSO Designation, the AAVSO Name, the GCVS Name or the AAVSO Unique Identifier
• DATE: The date of the observation, in the format specified in the DATE comment field.
• MAGNITUDE: The magnitude of the observation. Prepend with < if a fainter-than.
• COMMENTCODE: A list of one-character comment codes. (If no comments, use "na".) Possible codes are:
  • B: Sky is bright, moon, twilight, light pollution, aurorae.
  • U: Clouds, dust, smoke, haze, etc.
  • W: Poor seeing.
  • L: Low in the sky, near horizon, in trees, obstructed view.
  • D: Unusual Activity (fading, flare, bizarre behavior, etc.)
  • Y: Outburst.
  • K: Non-AAVSO chart.
  • S: Comparison sequence problem.
  • Z: Magnitude of star uncertain.
  • I: Identification of star uncertain.
  • V: Faint star, near observing limit, only glimpsed.
    • Retired Comment Codes: These comment codes are no longer accepted, but may be found in archival observations.
      • A: AAVSO Atlas.
      • F: Unconventional method (out of focus, visual photometer, etc.).
      • G: Non-AAVSO chart with Guide Star Catalog magnitudes.
      • H: Haze, mist, fog.
      • J: Non-AAVSO chart with HIPPARCOS magnitudes.
      • M: Moon present and inteferes.
      • N: Angle, position angle.
      • O: "Other" comment.
      • P: Magnitude derived from step magnitude (internal use only).
      • Q: Questioned by HQ (internal use only).
      • R: Color comment (star is red, blue, etc.).
      • T: Non-AAVSO chart with Tycho magnitudes.
      • X: Rejected by HQ (internal use only).

Multiple comment codes should be separated by spaces or not separated at all. (Ex: "A Z Y" or "AZY").

• COMP1 (comp1_C): The first comparison star used, periods should be used for the decimal place. A step magnitude sequence (a.k.a. light estimate) can also be placed here.
• COMP2 (comp2_K): The second comparison star used (if none, use "na".)
• CHART (charts): This should be the latest date you see anywhere on the chart, entered as YYMMDD. If you do not see a date, use the copyright year (Ex: "Copyright 2007" would be 070101).
• NOTES (comments): Comments or notes from the observer. This field has a maximum length of 100 characters.

Examples

Here a simple example:

#TYPE=VISUAL
#OBSCODE=TST01
#SOFTWARE=WORD
#DELIM=,
#DATE=JD
SS CYG,2450702.1234,<11.1,na,11.0,11.3,070613,This is a test

Here is the same example but with an extra comment line:

#TYPE=VISUAL
#OBSCODE=TST01
#SOFTWARE=WORD
#DELIM=,
#DATE=JD
#NAME,DATE,MAG,COMMENTCODE,COMP1,COMP2,CHART,NOTES
SS CYG,2450702.1234,<11.1,na,11.0,11.3,070613,This is a test

Note the existence of the #NAME... line in the above format. Since it is prepended with a pound sign and doesn't start with any of our special parameter keywords, it will be ignored by our software as a comment. Feel free to do this if it makes writing and reading the format easier for you.

Here is a complex example:

#TYPE=VISUAL
#OBSCODE=TST01
#SOFTWARE=WORD
#DELIM=,
#DATE=JD
#OBSTYPE=Visual
SS CYG,2450702.1234,<11.1,na,11.1,na,070613,na
SS CYG,2450703.2341,<11.1,na,11.1,na,070613,na
SS CYG,2450704.1567,<11.1,IZ,11.1,na,070613,LEFT MY CHART AT HOME, DID FROM MEMORY
SS CYG,2450706.1890,<11.1,na,11.1,na,070613,na
SS CYG,2450707.1001,9.3,Y,9.3,9.5,070613,OUTBURST!
SS CYG,2450709.1501,9.1,na,9.0,9.3,070613,na
SS CYG,2450710.1781,9.1,na,9.0,9.3,070613,na
#OBSCODE=TST02
#DATE=EXCEL
SS CYG,1/1/2007 16:15 a.m,9.3,na,9.0,9.5,070613,FIRST OBSERVATION BY TST02! - DAUGHTER of TST01
#OBSCODE=TST01
#DATE=JD
SS CYG,2450709.1900,9.3,na,9.0,9.5,070613,na
SS CYG,2450719.1,<11.1,na,11.1,na,070613,na
 

In this example, the observer changes the observer and the date format in the middle of the report. But then they change back.

Do you have a question? Try our Submitting Observations FAQ page.

To keep your observer information up-to-date in the AAVSO records, please make any necessary changes using our online Update Observer Information Form.