[Aavso-photometry] HMXB queries

[Gordon E. Sarty]

Hello Tim and Mike,

I'm on this list in digest mode, so my apologies for the delayed 
response. (You can e-mail me directly with questions too.)

Please see my notes below:

> RE AN #348 ? Request to Observe HMXB?s 
> 
> This presented as an April/May effort
> 
> In reading the referenced article:  ?Finding Periods
> in High Mass X-Ray Binaries,? specifically pages 6 & 7
> (Observing Methods):
> 
> http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0702248
> 
> The request appears to be for ?Continuous Coverage?
> similar to that of the SS Cyg campaign, if I am
> reading it correctly.
> 
> In addition the request is for BVRI observations.
> 
> If the above two criteria are in fact what is being
> requested of for the four targets presented I think it
> would be wise to have observers post to this list the
> following:
> 
> Subject Box: HMXB Obs
> 
> AAVSO Desig. #
> UT Start Obs Time
> Estimated Ending UT Time
> Filter(s) Using
> 
> So that other observers can best determine how to
> ?maximize? their own contributions.
> 

This is an excellent idea! For these 4 stars for April and May. The HMXB 
project itself will (I hope) be organized as an ongoing project to get 
the longer periods in addition to the occasional campaign like the 
current one.

> In as much as only one of the four targets has comps
> currently available it is suggested that we submit the
> differentials (mobj ?mcheck) directly to Dr. Sarty.
> 
> I think that in the case of TS this could be ?awkward?
> until comps are generated and would suggest only some
> mid point or single obs be reported directly, at this
> time?.. But it?s not my decision; this one is up to
> the Dr. I will go with the flow and do what is
> requested.  
> 

I am updating the charts as quickly as I get new information so please 
check every few days for revisions. I don't need the data immediately 
because I will correlate the photometry to the spectroscopy after my 
observing run. So the best plan is to simply hold on to your data until 
the standard stars on the charts are finalized (hopefully by the end of 
May). Then reduce you data and submit to AAVSO in the normal way. That 
way the work should be kept to a minimum.

If the charts are still in flux and we've found something that needs to 
be published right away, then I'll ask for differential data. Otherwise 
just hang on to the data until the charts are final.

> My initial 2 cents 
> 
> Ad Astra
> 
> Tim Crawford CTX
> Arch Cape Observatory
> 

> 
> I notice that the comp star "d" for 1930+53 (AAVSO 1936+541) is much 
> redder than the target star:
> 
> 	The Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogues (ESA 1997)
> Star	RAJ2000		DEJ2000		Vmag	BTmag	VTmag	B-V
> ------	------------	------------	-----	------	------	------
> Target19 32 52.313	+53 52 45.40	10.60	10.375	10.568	-0.170
> d	19 32 57.715	+53 53 38.57	10.24	11.987	10.398 	1.331
> A	19 32 44.504	+53 49 39.42	9.68	9.707 	9.683 	0.019
> 
> 	TASS Mark IV Photometric Survey of Northern Sky (Droege+, 2006)
> Star	RAJ2000		DEJ2000		TASS4ID	Vmag	Imag	V-I
> ______	___________	____________	_______	______	______	______
> Target19 32 52.34	+53 52 46.1 	2668236 10.440 	10.359	0.081
> d	19 32 57.72	+53 53 39.0 	2668242 10.343 	9.032 	1.311
> A	19 32 44.52	+53 49 39.4 	2668229 9.680 	9.608	0.072
> 
> "A" is much closer in color to the target, though about a magnitude 
> brighter.
> Also the quoted magnitude for the target star (9.8) seems to be a little 
> bright (unless it's a maximum, and not an average).
> 
> Mike SVI
> 

Thanks Mike - I'll update the chart with your new info. "A" does look 
better as long as there is no trouble saturating it to get good S/N on 
the target. The mag for the target is from SIMBAD, where ever it came 
from...

Clear skies
Gord