[Aavso-photometry] Global Rent A Scope CV reconnaissance wuth a TAK Epsilon 250 and a ST-8XE

[KBPaxson at aol.com]

Everyone,   
I have just begun  to experiment with CV recon with the above mentioned 
equipment (10" f3.3  hyperbolic astrograph)... 
With no filter it is  possible to get to magnitude 17.0 with a 60 second 
exposure, but with a low  SNR... 
With a 3 minute exposure  and a V filter, it is possible to get to nearly to 
magnitude 17 or slightly  beyond, but with low SNR also... 
Darks, bias and flats  frames with been applied... 
My desire is to identify  CV outbursts early and go deeper than some visual 
"fainter than"  observations... 
Is my limit of  deductibility stars which exceed a SNR>3 or some other 
criteria  ? 
I envision single  exposures unfiltered exposures of 120 seconds get to 
nearly magnitude  18... 
I am also doing some work  with M67 and unfiltered calibrations... 
Is this a worthy endeavor  ?  Comments of single exposure filtered and 
unfiltered photometry  please... 
At rates of  $100  per 4 hours or so, longer exposures or stacking multiple 
exposures in V could be  more costly over time... 
Thanks,  Kevin  Paxson (PKV)



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