[Aavso-photometry] Data Mining

[arne]

Richard Harvan wrote:
> Daer All,
>     during my revisit to my Z AND images I started taking some action on data mining the image.  I looked thru the AAVSO website on what star names are supported and from what I understood the star either must be in the validation file or have an AUID.  I remember a past post that data mining is in the future but presently WEBOBS is not set up for it.  Has anyone tried this as yet?  I am planning on getting the ASCII file Hubble Guide Star Catalog for the astrometry on AIP4W to identify the field stars.  Is this a good catalog choice to pursue?  Thanks.
> 
> Rich Harvan HAV
> 
Hi Rich,
Congratulations on reaching the stage where you are
datamining your images.  I expect most observers to start
doing this one of these days!

The requirement for data on a star to be archived in our
database is that it needs an AUID.  This can be obtained
by two means right now:

1) submitting a new variable star through the normal VSX
"New Star Wizard" method, where you need to provide sufficient
information (such as a light curve) to prove the star's
variability.  Then it is an "official" variable star, gets
a VSX designation, you get credit as discoverer, etc.
Once the moderators approve your star, it gets an AUID.

2) Trying to submit the data to the AAVSO, in which case
it gets initially rejected but you are led to a form where
you can provide basic information about the star, such as
its GSC/USNO/etc. name and coordinates.  We then enter this
information in our "validation list" (just a list of all
stars for which data is available in our database) and
return to you the AUID for that star in a couple of days.
You can then continue to enter subsequent data, and perhaps
at a later date go through the VSX new star process when
you feel comfortable about the validity of this variable.

We strongly suggest that you follow our normal guidelines
for photometry by using some sort of filter for your
datamining observations (V is the first choice), and
that you double-check VSX to ensure that the star is really
a new variable and not a known one.

GSC 1.2 (which is what I think you are referring to) is an
acceptable astrometric catalog.  When UCAC3 is released this
year, it will be by far the most preferred catalog, so
keep watching for that release.
Arne