[Aavso-photometry] Photometry with an Optec SSP-3

[Jeff Hopkins]

Hello Larry,

Good to see others still doing single channel photometry. I am in 
contact with several others using the SSP-3. While I do not have an 
SSP-3, I do use a UBV single channel photon counter and JH band SSP-4 
as well as a BVRI CCD photometer.

I have always had similar problems with determining Comparison stars 
unless there is a program set up where suggested stars and magnitudes 
are presented. What I do is do a search of the AAVSO and IBVS files 
to see what others may have used. Then do some general searches on 
the star. As a last resort, since my system is calibrated, I 
determine the magnitude of the stars in the bands of interest that I 
might consider as comparison stars. I do this with all-sky 
photometry. Do it over several nights and average the results. Pick a 
star close in color ((B-V).

If someone else has already done this I hope they can chime in.

Good luck.

Jeff

At 10:29 -0700 09/04/2007, Larry Gorski wrote:
>Hello:
>
>While I've observed variable stars for several years most of 
>observational work has been visual and many years ago.  Years ago I 
>purchased an Optec SSP-3  (Generation 1) photometer but I haven't 
>used it for years until I recently tbrushed off the cobwebs.  One 
>star that I used to monitor photometrically was R Sct so my 
>inclination was to start with R Sct again.  My setup at home is 
>simple.  Optec SSP-3 (Generation 1) at the back end of C-8 (circa 
>1980).  In order to improve the quality of my efforts, I searched 
>the AAVSO PEP Charts for a R Sct "P" chart .  There wasn't any.  My 
>question is "Which star, if any, is the star that is typically used 
>as a comparison star and a check star?"
>
>Thanks for your input.
>
>Larry
>_______________________________________________

-- 
Jeff Hopkins
HPO SOFT
Counting Photons
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Hopkins Phoenix Observatory
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