[Aavso-photometry] CCD 'fainter-than' question

[Michael Newberry]

Brian,

I disagree with your disagreeing with my disagreement. ;-)

First, estimating the limiting magnitude is *not* dirt simple. I thnk there 
is benefit to understand what is going on. Do we want observers reporting 
"fainter than 17.2" when in actuality their data have a limiting magnitude 
of 17.8? At the faint end, with few photons relative to the sky, the noise 
has a lot of leverage and getting some things "a little off" can make a big 
difference.

Second, I responded to Wolfgang about how to do this using a specific piece 
of software because I know the software he is using.

About "perception being reality", I don't think that is appropriate for 
doing science.

Michael

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian D. Warner" <brian at minorplanetobserver.com>
To: <aavso-photometry at aavso.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 7:25 PM
Subject: [Aavso-photometry] CCD 'fainter-than' question


> Michael,
>
> And I'll disagree with the disagreement. Too often, IMHO, discussions
> get too bogged down into the theoretical details when answering a simple
> question. This, again in my opinion, does more to scare people away from
> doing science because they think that "good enough" is not good enough.
> I've heard it too often in discussions with people at SAS meetings. 
> They've
> seen threads like this and wonder if they should even bother trying.
> Indeed, most of the laments I've heard are more the result of discussions
> on AAVSO groups than any other. Whether or not you agree, that is the
> perception I'm hearing. As we all know, perception is reality.
>
> The more theoretical discussions, especially when they become 
> software-specific,
> are better handled with white papers or other tools on a vendor's web 
> site, or
> off-line among the few who are really interested.
>
> We should keep in mind that the majority of the members are not experts, 
> who
> need straightforward answers that don't require that they have a specific 
> piece
> of software to follow along.
>
>
>
> Clear Skies,
> Brian D. Warner
>
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