[Aavso-photometry] Mentoring for your 0.5 meter Cass

[Greg Crawford]

Hi Steve,

First, make sure you have the latest update to version 9, namely, 9.4.0.2 from
the updates page here:
http://www.minorplanetobserver.com/MPOSoftware/V9Updates.htm

In short, you go into "PhotoRed", (which stands for photometric reductions), and
click on Utilities|Generate Batch Reference File. There you select the "User"
catalogue and establish which stars you will use as check and comparisons. The
User catalogue is made up chiefly of Henden sequences, though you can add others
to it. (For example, I have added the Southern Landolt Standards to it.) You can
edit the magnitudes for each comparison and check, should the AAVSO have come up
with revised numbers. The purpose of this step is to match the comparisons/check
in your image to the catalogue stars and their values.

Later, the images are loaded using the Batch Definition File (which is different
to the Batch Reference File), where they are automatically "automatched" to the
catalogue and measured. You access this on the Reductions page where you select
"AAVSO Batch". In this process, you can choose the option to have your
transformation coefficients added into the equations of the processing. Behind
the scenes, the program crunches away with the catalogue values and your
instrumental values and T/Cs. At the end of all the automatic processing, the
AAVSO Report Form appears with, amongst other things, a button to generate a
report for the AAVSO in their new format.

The latest update available for download includes the new help file and is found
in Lesson 26: AAVSO Batch Processing. Of course, always follow the documentation
in preference to my description.

Frankly, it makes standardised variable star photometry a snack!

Greg

-----Original Message-----
From: aavso-photometry-bounces at mira.aavso.org
[mailto:aavso-photometry-bounces at mira.aavso.org] On Behalf Of Steven Orlando
Sent: Thursday, 3 January 2008 9:40 AM
To: aavso-photometry at mira.aavso.org
Subject: Re: [Aavso-photometry] Mentoring for your 0.5 meter Cass

Hello Greg,

I have Brian Warner's book and software as well.

I read the pdf files. How do you load AAVSO data and edit them?

Can you please provide a link or tell me where in the DOCS I should look?

Steve
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Greg Crawford" <gc at nelsonbay.com>
To: <aavso-photometry at mira.aavso.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 4:00 PM
Subject: Re: [Aavso-photometry] Mentoring for your 0.5 meter Cass


> One book I have found extremely helpful, while waiting for the next 
> edition of
> "Astronomical Photometry", is Brian D. Warner's book, "A Practical Guide 
> to
> Lightcurve Photometry and Analysis 2nd edition". See here:
> http://www.minorplanetobserver.com/pgbook/PracticalGuide.htm
>
> Interestingly, it has a review by the *other* Brian Warner, the South 
> African
> variable star specialist. (Brian D. Warner is an American.)
>
> Also, Brian D. Warner's latest "Canopus" software, version 9.4.0.2 makes
> standardised photometry of variable stars *so*  easy. Calculation of
> transformation coefficients is done internally in the program. Also, when 
> a
> variable star field with AAVSO data is measured, it can load the AAVSO 
> data on
> the comparison stars, (or allow you to edit them if newer values have 
> become
> available), and internally calculate all elements of the standard 
> transformation
> equations to enable you to out put measurements in the new AAVSO format.
>
> Greg Crawford
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: aavso-photometry-bounces at mira.aavso.org
> [mailto:aavso-photometry-bounces at mira.aavso.org] On Behalf Of arne
> Sent: Wednesday, 2 January 2008 2:49 AM
> To: aavso-photometry at mira.aavso.org
> Subject: Re: [Aavso-photometry] Mentoring for your 0.5 meter Cass
>
> Derek C Breit wrote:
>
>>>>As for a camera, that is an issue.. The observatory and I both own the
>>
>> same camera, an ST 7.. Mine I am 99% sure is an ABG camera. It is 
>> possible
>> the observatory's camera is an NABG model.. I am pretty convinced that I 
>> can
>> learn the ropes with it, but will quickly reach the limits of the 
>> precision
>> capable with this camera.. This is after rereading Tom Krajci's
>> ST 7 Linearity Testing page..
>>
>> So I posted this to the group to get an answer or two about whether to 
>> get
>> "Astronomical Photometry" now or wait for an updated version (This might
>> also be something we already have but have not found yet), and can an ST7
>> ABG camera be used to do photometry to 0.01m or better??
>>
> While progress continues to be made on the new book, you should consider
> another book for your immediate needs.  Astronomical Photometry is good
> for UBV photometry and shows you in complete examples the process of
> differential photometry, extinction and all-sky photometry.  Many of
> the more recent books do an excellent job of explaining CCD cameras and
> how to calibrate them, but do not give good explanations of scientific
> photometry.  So I can't recommend a single book right now, but many
> combinations of texts will do the job.  The AIP Handbook should probably
> be your starting point, and you should spend the cash to upgrade to
> version 2.
>
> I think I will take the time to place some book reviews online for
> everyone - let's see if I can get this done in January (Yet Another
> New Year's Resolution!).
> Arne
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