[Aavso-photometry] Some Random thoughts RE Am Her Observation Request

[Aaron Price]

 Hi, Tim. I think you asked some good questions and also answered them in 
the same e-mail. :) I'll just expand a bit.
Getting time approved on one of these major observatories is a tremendous 
challenge in an of itself. The application process takes a tremendous amount 
of time and the chances of success are slim (sometimes as low as 10%). So 
when one gets approved one doesn't complain about the schedule. I believe an 
observer can request certain dates and times but the only real control you 
have is over the cycle period you submit into. Also, scheduling these 
observatories is a complicated endevour. Some of the things they have to 
take into consideration is the location of the Earth, Moon, Sun, and South 
Atlantic Anomaly (well for LEO satellites). In addition they have to plan 
time to have the panels perpendicular to the Sun and probably a million 
other constraints I don't know about. I don't envy the satellite schedulers 
at all. That and scheduling a major league baseball season are probably 
thankless endevours. 
So one takes what one can get. Now should the AAVSO filter observations 
based on observer location? We do with the GRB network because affterglows 
dissapear so quickly. But otherwise I would advise against it. No one knows 
better than the observer what they can observe. And often one observer 
cannot cover it, but they may know someone else who can who is not 
subscribed to the Alert Notice (we get many new observers that way). Also, 
it is important that our members know what is going on in the organization. 
HQ is definitely aware of where we have weaknesses in coverage. I bet 
everyone reading this can guess where those places are too. We have a plan 
to perform major outreach to these areas next year. The extent that we can 
do that is strongly dependant on a couple of grant applications we have 
submitted. There are reasons those areas have less coverage. These are 
hurdles that require careful work to overcome. Some of it is economic, some 
linguistic, etc. But we have a plan and are working on it. As you mentioned, 
the best thing you can do to help is to spread a positive word of mouth 
about the AAVSO among the online communities and especially to anyone you 
know in those areas.

Aaron


On 7/14/05, Tim Crawford <tcarchcape at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> Some Random thoughts RE Am Her Observation Request
> 
> Given the Declination of this object, and more on
> point, the times that the amateur community is being
> asked to make observations I suspect that there are
> not many contributing observers who will fall within
> this window.
> 
> While I realize that there are probably a lot of very
> complex issues involved with professional use of
> equipment, i.e. the satellite XMM Newton, I have to
> wonder if any advance consideration of amateur support
> was factored into the professional teams planning. I
> do realize that it could very well be that it was but
> the chosen observing windows were necessary because of
> other constraints.
> 
> Additionally, it crosses my mind that if HQ was able
> to include observers latitude and longitude into their
> observer data base then it would be much easier FOR HQ
> to then work with those observers who would, in
> theory, fall within the window of an objects location
> and the UT time observations requested for from third
> parties. OK… maybe a bit of a programming challenge
> but I bet a doable one.
> 
> In fact, with a study of the lat and lon of observers
> it would be easier to identify were serious gaps in
> world wide coverage of targets is….then maybe, and it
> is a big maybe, when the gaps are well identified it
> might be possible to try and locate observers in those
> areas, though the collective efforts of all of the
> membership…. It is increasingly getting to be a
> smaller and smaller world as technology and increased
> interaction between peoples of different countries
> continue to shrink it. Although I suspect that HQ is
> pretty much already well aware of where there are gaps
> in observer coverage's…. AND, if they do then maybe
> some noise should be made about it and see if the
> collective membership might not be able to close some
> of those coverage gaps though friends and friends of
> friends, etc….
> 
> Anyway….. as I said some random thoughts ….. and maybe
> some food for thought for others.
> 
> Cloudy weather allows for the formation of Random
> thoughts that might otherwise pass un-noticed….. ;
> )…. Although my hopes are still strong for tonight
> (Thursday).
> 
> CS
> 
> 
> Tim Crawford CTX
> Arch Cape Observatory
> 
> http://homepage.mac.com/windwalker1/ACObserv.htm
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> This is a free service of the AAVSO.
> If you feel like supporting the AAVSO please contribute to the Janet 
> Mattei Research Fellowship:
> https://www.variablestars.com/janetfund.shtml
> 
> Aavso-photometry mailing list
> Aavso-photometry at mira.aavso.org
> http://www.aavso.org/mailman/listinfo/aavso-photometry
> 



-- 
Aaron