[Aavso-photometry] Comparison Stars for VSP/VSD are "Frozen"

[arne]

We have updated another 100 stars, filling in the sequences
for YZ And, W Com, U Cas, AE Aqr, and DH Aql.  At this point,
we are not making any more wholesale changes to the VSD database.
We are reviewing the CHET errors, and correcting the obvious
errors (misidentified comparison stars and the like), and will
soon update some fields with previous photometry from Ron Zissell
and the southern PEP calibrations.  However, these are small
with respect to the 37,000 comparison stars that we've already
updated.  There will always be a few errors that creep in when
when you do a massive update, so please bear with us as we correct
those errors reported through CHET.

Observers should start using the new VSP charts at their
earliest convenience.  Note that we have thousands of observers
who will probably want hundreds of charts apiece, so you will overwhelm
our chart software pretty quickly!  Aaron is busy writing a
batch mode access tool for VSP, where we will ask you to mail us a
text file of what charts you want, and we'll return them.  This
tool is designed to balance the load on the chart generator.
For now, download those charts you are *currently* using,
and wait on the rest until you actually need them
(or until the batch mode tool is announced).

For the international associations - we are creating a one-time DVD that
has all of the AAVSO program stars on it (like the old chart CDs)
in common scales.  I'll bring a copy with me to BAV/Potsdam, and we'll
distribute other copies to any group that requests it.  These are
only to be used to update observers who don't have good internet
access, as they are *only* current for today.  If we update a
sequence tomorrow, they won't reflect that new photometry.  We'll
implement a logfile soon so that observers can see what photometry has
changed after this current version, and see whether they need to
update their charts in the future.

I think we are in pretty good shape, especially compared to where we
were a year ago.  This wouldn't have been possible without the diligent
work of the comparison star sequence team, and by the many volunteers
that have helped make VSP the great system it is today.  Our main
thrust in the future will be in correcting and extending the current
sequences, and adding new sequences for recent important objects.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering to help in this effort is
welcome!  Please contact Mike Simonsen for more details and to sign
up for the aavso-sequence maillist.
Arne