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Eyepiece Views: November, 2001
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THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS
25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
Tel. 617-354-0484 Fax 617-354-0665
http://www.aavso.org
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E Y E P I E C E V I E W S
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November, 2001 Vol 1 No 3
Table of Contents
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1. Introduction
2. "Cataclysmic Variable Stars: How and Why They Vary" by Coel Hellier
-review-
3. Cold Weather Observing
4. The Joys and Comforts of Binocular Observing
5. Seeing Double (Part 2)
6. CV's and Unusual Objects for Winter by Mike Simonsen
7. Postponed Schedule of Cataclysmic Variable Monitoring For XMM-Newton
Observations
8. PCObs 1.4
9. AAVSO Observer Code Format Reminder
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1. WELCOME TO THE THIRD ISSUE OF EYEPIECE VIEWS
As cold weather closes in on the northern hemisphere, the southern
hemisphere will be warming up soon. We have many stars in the southern
hemisphere that need more observations. If you are lucky enough to live south
of the equator, please pay special attention to the southern program stars to
help us fill in the gaps. Now is the time to pad those observer totals with
some valuable observations!
For those of us in the northern hemisphere, we have a nice article about
preparing for observing in the cold. After reading this article you have
no excuse for staying indoors this Winter!
Finally, as you read this the 90th Anniversary Annual Meeting of the
AAVSO will be just about underway in Somerville, MA. If you could not make it,
please consider joining us in Hawaii this summer for the 90th Spring
Meeting. Details are available at http://www.aavso.org/meetings/ .
Good observing!
Gamze Menali (MGQ)
Aaron Price (PAH)
Mike Simonson (SXN)
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2. CATACLYSMIC VARIABLE STARS: HOW AND WHY THEY VARY- Review
"Cataclysmic Variable Stars: How and Why They Vary" by Coel Hellier is
one of those rare books that successfully toes the line between being a
scientific and a popular book. This book is so popular with HQ staff that it
frequently is taken home and has to be tracked down when someone needs it!
It works as both a reference and a straight-through read. As a reference,
one can confidentally refer to it when coming across any type of unfamiliar
CV. As a straight-through read, it is clearly structured and written in a
lively style that makes it easy to go from start to finish.
The majority of the book is broken up into sections about the different
types of CVs. Each section is well illustrated with light curves (many coming
from AAVSO observations from observers like you), historical background, a
breakdown of the system with easy-to-read diagrams, theory, and more. When
mathematics is introduced it is always in a sidebar or appendix which allows
those interested to get involved but does not require an understanding of the
equations for those who wish to avoid math.
The book is not simply an encyclopedia of CVs, though. It covers everything
from basic visual and CCD observing techniques to how to derive a stellar mass
from your observations.
This is a book that every CV lover should own along with anyone who is
interested in learning more about these enigmatic objects. The layout,
illustrations, structure, and writing have all come together to create what is
almost the perfect book on CVs. I hope the team that put together this book
continues to work together on future endevours. If so, the future of variable
star publications looks not variable at all, but bright and steady.
"Cataclysmic Variable Stars: How and Why They Vary"
Coel Hellier
Springer-Praxis, 2001. 210pp $39.95
ISBN 1-85233-211-5
Amazon.com URL:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1852332115/qid=1004109362/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_10_2/002-2321889-8516852
Barnes & Noble.com URL:
http://shop.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=65L9K4YA27&mscssid=222Q2F5WNL0R9PJGC11Q2R186659DGG9&isbn=1852332115
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3. COLD WEATHER OBSERVING
By Mike Simonsen SXN
When winter arrives in the Midwest it is rarely subtle. Suddenly,
sometimes overnight, we have to deal with snow on the ground, below-zero
wind-chill,low clouds that never seem to part, and a whole new set of
rules for survival.
Here are some rules I have learned, observing from Michigan in
temperatures down to -40C :
1- Wear warm boots. When I meet people new to astronomy, they always
want to know what the best telescope is and what accessories to buy.
I always tell them, "the most important piece of equipment you will ever
buy is warm boots". When it is clear, it is cold. If your feet are cold,
you are miserable. If you are miserable, you are done.
2- Wear a hat. Most of the heat in your body escapes through the top
of your head like a chimney. Cover your head and retain body heat.
3- Keep your hands warm. Mittens are better than gloves, but they are
awkward to use when dealing with focuser knobs, charts, pens, pencils, etc.
If you insist on wearing gloves, keep your hands in your pockets as much
as you can and out of the wind. If your fingers begin to hurt from
the cold, go inside or get in your car and warm them up thoroughly.
Frostbite can be very painful.
4- Get out of the wind. Most of the time it's not the air temperature
that gets you, it's the wind-chill. Put a building or a hedge or an
observatory between you and the wind and you will be able to endure
the cold for twice as long. The added bonus of not having the telescope
shake will save you time in making estimates.
5- Don't breathe on optics. Breathing on cold glass means instant
frost. If you wear a scarf over your face, be sure not to let the warm
air you exhale spill out over the top of the scarf and down onto the
eyepiece. Set up your finder so you are not breathing on the eyepiece
when looking through the finder. On very cold nights I usually have
a large patch of frost to scrape off the back of the mirror cell of
my SCT, caused by my breathing on the cell while looking through the finder.
6- If you have dew heaters, use them right from the start of your
session. They are much better at preventing frosted corrector plates,
secondaries, eyepieces and finders than they are at removing frost.
A heated box or holder for eyepieces can be a great benefit. If you only
switch between a few, keep them in your pockets to stay warm.
7- Keep your pen warm or the ink will freeze. I keep mine tucked
behind my ear to keep it warm. I have one of those "astronaut pens".
Even that froze at 40 below.
8- Use a plastic flashlight. If you are like most of my friends who
read charts and log observations by flashlight, you put the flashlight
in your mouth to write. A very cold metal flashlight can be hard to remove
from your lip without losing a bit of flesh.
9- Take breaks every hour or half hour, depending on the weather,
and go warm up. Keep an extra pair of dry socks warming on the dash
of your car, or go in and throw a pair in the dryer for a few minutes.
It's amazing how a nice toasty pair of socks can change your attitude!
10- Be aware of battery life in cold temperatures. The batteries in
your flashlight, telescope, camera, dew heaters, etc., will perform
poorly in cold temperatures. Keep warm extras handy.
11- Keep your own personal battery charged. Plenty of rest, a good
meal,snacks and hot coffee go a long way towards warding off the inevitable
freeze. The search for a thermos that would keep coffee hot in sub-zero
temperatures was my 'Holy Grail' for a long time. I finally found one
at a camping supply store and it makes all the difference to me.
12- Know your limits. You have to be realistic about how much cold,
discomfort or pain you can endure in order to get those last few
observations. Don't wait until it's too late and then decide to tear
down and pack up. That's when you will meet Mr. Frostbite.
With a little planning and common sense you can take advantage of
those long, clear, cold winter nights. Orion, Gemini and Auriga are calling.
Just be careful out there.
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4. THE JOYS AND COMFORTS OF BINOCULAR OBSERVING
Wayne M. Lowder
The following is a revised version of a recent e-mail response of mine
to a flurry of messages in the AAVSO Discussion Forum on a subject dear
to my heart. I couldn't resist putting my two-cents in. This version is
likely to reach a larger audience (gang), and I welcome any comments at
wmlwdr@aol.com.
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Hi Gang - I've read with interest the various messages on observing
bright variables stimulated by Dave Strout's request for guidance on "the
smallest scope to do useful work". I agree with practically all that's
been said concerning the good things that can be done with just a pair of
binoculars. I'd like to point out that I and my good friend Ed Oravec
have each made considerably more than 100,000 observations using "just"
binoculars. There are many hundreds of interesting variables whose light
curves are partly or totally brighter than 10th magnitude (for example, see
the AAVSO atlas). I've marked up my Uranometria atlases with AAVSO and
Tycho Catalog sequences for most such variables. Anyone with access to
these sources can do the same, or just use the AAVSO atlas, so that there's
no need to struggle with charts. Thus there is no such thing as "the
smallest scope to do useful work"! After all, the recent brightenings of
the bright Be stars Delta Scorpii and Omega Canis Majoris as well as, for
example, the fascinating variations of Betelgeuse are readily observable
with the naked-eye.
Although I spent many years using an 8-inch telescope and observing
dwarf novae and other interesting stars down to 14th magnitude, I was
forced by moves to poor-horizon sites in the late '70s to take up binocular
observing. I could then move around the yard and the neighborhood
(occasionally just barely avoiding arrest as a suspected peeping
tom........and being innocent, of course) and defeat the trees' efforts to
obscure much of the sky and louse up my observing program and totals.
After a while, I discovered both the joys (many interesting stars, pop-out
observing sessions scattered over many hours including pre-dawn (thus
maximizing the number of available stars and length of observing seasons
for each star), minimal time per observation, good atlases for finding
stars, balancing observing and household demands, total portability, etc)
and the comforts (no set-up and tear-down time and effort, minimal weather
discomfort, light weight, etc) of using binoculars as my main instrument.
By now I've become sufficiently spoiled that I have no desire to struggle
with a telescope. I leave that to others who haven't discovered my big
secret!
As to which binoculars, go for quality rather than the department
store variety. I used a pair of Burnham wide-angle 10x50s for many years
and then graduated to a fine pair of Vixen 16x70s (the type that Ed Oravec
also uses). By the way, except for the increased jitters associated with
hand-holding and a usually somewhat narrower field of view, I feel that
15-16x is better than 10-11x for 70-80 mm instruments. There is less
clutter of stars as they're more spread out at higher magnifications, and
one can see fainter stars against a darker background. And having a
smaller exit pupil diameter also keeps one seeing to the edges of the
field as one gets older as well as when eyes are poorly dark-adapted
under bright skies. Then, in 1998, after problems with my Vixens, I really
splurged and picked up a pair of Steiner 15x80s, German military binoculars
with a 4 degree field and a weight of only 3.5 pounds. They are very
expensive (~$1000), but have superb optics, are ruggedly constructed with
special light-weight materials, and can be hand-held without too much
jiggle, unlike most binocs of this size such as the otherwise superb
Fujinons. I can get down to 10th magnitude with my Steiners near the zenith
on excellent nights under my suburban skies,and would probably go routinely
into the tens under better skies with a mount (though with a mount I might
have gotten the 20x80s instead). I consider such an instrument as worthy
of a lifetime investment. I also have a pair of Bushnell 7x32s from Orion,
mainly for bird-watching and its 13-degree field, which makes for great
panoramic views both in daylight and after dark (showing stars down to 8th
magnitude and great for nova-hunting or Milky Way sightseeing).These are
just examples of the types of binocs available from
many sites on the internet, where one can balance the often competing claims
of cost, quality, aperture, magnification, field of view, and weight
according to one's interests, needs, and bank balance. If I had to pick
one type that very often would be a good compromise, especially for
inexperienced observers, it would be a $200 pair of wide-angle 10x50s.
As in my case, success with these could lead to larger investments in bigger
instruments. Whatever one chooses, there's a lifetime of variable star and
other astronomical (remember the great comets) observing available with an
instrument that one can store in a small drawer and carry anywhere. I will
never forget the spectacular views of the southern Milky Way that I obtained
in my 10x50s from the top deck of a cruise ship in the Caribbean! 'Nuff
said???? I don't mean to discourage anyone from enjoying the fascinating
programs and great rewards available to telescope owners. Many observers
use both telescopes and binoculars in their programs, with the latter being
particularly handy when limited time is available on a clear night or one
must deal with weather uncertainties. But for the beginning observer.....or
the very busy, unlucky (poor horizons, bright skies), infirm, or just lazy
ones.....you can't beat binoculars.
As to available stars, I indicated above that there are many hundreds
of interesting variables within range of 50-80 mm binoculars, e.g., about
9th magnitude under typical skies. These are of many types, for
example..........
MIRAS: Many of these can be seen while not too far from maximum (see the
annual bulletin to find out which ones are bright enough at any particular
time), and a few, such as Mira itself, R Leo, R and S Car, T Cep, X Oph, R
Cen, and R Hya, can be followed through most if not all of their variations.
It's especially interesting to see how the maximum brightnesses of these
stars differ from cycle to cycle.
SEMIREGULARS: While some of these don't do too much, there are many
bright ones with substantial amplitudes that deserve watching. My favorites
include Z UMa, AF Cyg, T Cen, W Hya, Betelgeuse, and some very red stars
like Mu Cep and TX Psc.
RV TAU STARS: There are not many of these, but following the variations
of such stars as R Sct, AC Her, and U Mon is great fun as well as valuable.
CEPHEIDS: There are many bright cepheids along the Milky Way deserving
of continuous monitoring by individual observers. It has been demonstrated
(see Grant Foster's paper from the Sion meeting) that lots of visual
observations by such an observer over many cycles can yield mean light curves
of a quality comparable to those obtained by photoelectric photometry and
detect small period changes. I had this experience notably with SV Vul and
X Cyg, and have reams of data for about two dozen stars over many years yet
to analyze and write papers about. Yes, you can do research with binoculars.
R CRB STARS: Only a few of these fascinating stars are bright enough at
maximum to be worth looking for, including R CrB itself plus RY Sgr and
V854 Cen. They can't be followed through their deep minima, but their
variations near maxima can be observed as well as the beginnings and ends
of their declines.
SYMBIOTICS: There are relatively few of these, but they're among the
most interesting to observe. Try CH Cyg, which has varied by about 5
magnitudes over the past two decades, mostly within binocular range. The
prototype, Z And, is also observable when in outburst, and perhaps AG Peg,
usually about 8.7m, will do something significant one of these years.
It was as bright as 6th magnitude in the 19th century.
DWARF NOVAE: A few of these favorites of the owners of light buckets can
be seen in binocs near maximum, for example, SS Cyg, U Gem, and VW Hyi.
WZ Sge recently had one of its very rare 8th magnitude maxima that aroused
worldwide attention, which could have been discovered by a very optimistic
binocular observer!
ECLIPSERS: There are well over a hundred of these that are bright enough
to be followed through minimum in binoculars. Doing so is great fun,
as one can see large changes in a short time (minutes to hours). Try U Cep
or U Sge for dramatic examples. Minimum timings are always valuable, and
the results are analyzed and published by Marv Baldwin's gang at regular
intervals, with appropriate credit to the observers. But this observer
has also followed several dozen of these stars at all phases of their light
curves and caught unusual behavior in three, i.e., unexpected fadings of up
to 0.7m on many occasions of EI Cep outside of eclipses, probably due to
physical variations in one of the components, and unexpected intervals
(months) of rapid and slow brightenings outside of eclipse of up to 0.6m
above the usual maximum brightnesses in RZ Cas (winter of 1995-6) and WW Aur
(spring of 1998), probably due to major mass-transfer events and activity.
Moral - observers of eclipsers with any instrument might want to check them
at least occasionally at times well outside of eclipses. This can be done
especially readily with binocs. Again, much potential for research with
such instruments.
NOVAE: Many become bright enough to be followed for some time in
binoculars, as several recent examples demonstrate. Moreover, binocs are
great for nova search and occasional discovery, as quite a few amateur
observers have shown.
Unfortunately, I "saw" several 6th magnitude novae in variable star fields
at about the times of discovery without noticing them, so to speak. These
were cases of me being too busy observing my program stars to check out
somewhat strange-looking fields. Another experienced observer missed the
5th magnitude HR Del several times prior to discovery in 1966 while busy
estimating EU and U Del nearby. There's a lesson here somewhere! One
interesting project might be frequent checking of the fields of sufficiently
bright old novae that might have recurring outbursts or might be WZ Sge stars
(large amplitude, long period dwarf novae), and of course monitoring the
fields of known recurrent novae or WZ Sge stars, especially those now
overdue, like T Pyx and RS Oph.
And I could go on. For example, even though very few RR Lyr stars
are bright enough for binocular observation, RR Lyr itself is bright and
fascinating to watch going through its paces. And Eta Car, now near 5th
magnitude and brightening, is a very important star to keep watch on, as it
once was the second-brightest star in the sky and may someday become even
brighter as a supernova! Lists of stars suitable for binocular observing
can be found in (or can be made from) the AAVSO Atlas, supplements to other
atlases, the AAVSO Validation File, and various sites on the internet, e.g.,
Scovil's list (12/1/96) and other discussion in the AAVSO Forum, the list on
the BAAVSS web site (link from the AAVSO site), and Fraser Farrell's list of
southern stars This last and others can be found by websearch using
"binocular bright variable stars" as keywords. Anyhow, I think I've made my
point, namely, that there is no such thing as the smallest instrument for
serious observing. See also Ed Oravec's article in the AAVSO Newsletter No.
14, December, 1994, for more on this subject. Perhaps some armchair
amateurs might be inspired by all this to join the ranks of those who have
already discovered the joys and comforts of following the stars with
binoculars.
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5. SEEING DOUBLE (PART 2)
The following article is the second of two parts written by Mike
Simonsen (SXN). The first part was published in the previous issue of
Eyepiece Views.
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In the last issue, a number of variable stars with close companions
were introduced. These close pairs can make estimating and/or identifying
the variables difficult.
In researching this article, more of these pairs were found than
can be covered in this format. This is not a complete list, just a
sampling of some of the more troublesome or interesting pairs.
Here are a few examples for the winter season:
S ORI 0524-04A
Two for the price of one! S Ori has two close companions.
One, NSV 02014 to the SW, is rather bright. The other, to the SE, is faint
and marked as a possible variable on the d chart.
RU TAU 0546+15C
This variable has a close comparison/companion just NW of it.
Z TAU 0546+15A
Is on the same chart. Two variables in the same field with close
companions!
ST AUR 0607+46A
Located in a very pretty star field, not far away from the
popular cataclysmic variable SS Aur, this one is wedged between two close
companions also. They are the 135 comparison to the SW and a star labeled
var? to the NE.
VV GEM 0619+25
This star has a close 14th magnitude companion. Unfortunately, it's
not shown on the currently available charts for this star. VV Gem fades
to the mid-14's, so I'm sure this companion has confused the situation.
If you see two faint stars where only one is indicated on the chart,
which one is the variable?
S LYN 0635+58
Scatter in the data of this variable near maximum probably indicates
observers with smaller telescopes reporting the combined magnitude of
this star and it's close 138 companion.
SY CMA 0706-19
This is another nice star field. Plenty of bright stars in a
field peppered with fainter and fainter stars. This one could be
considered a double variable. It has a close companion almost due W
that varies from 8th to 14th magnitude just like SY CMa does. As if
that weren't confusing enough, these two form a small triangle with
another suspected variable!
T CMI 0728+11
This variable has a close companion/comparison (134 var?) which may
also be variable. Near minimum, high power will be needed to make the
observation.
RR AQR 2109-03
This variable transits a bit low for me. This makes distinguishing
its close 136 companion/comparison difficult.
DG PEG 2158+13
This is an extremely close pair! This variable and its 14th
magnitude neighbor are the Siamese twins of variables when DG Peg
is near minimum.
RU PEG 2209+12
Unlike EF Peg, which can be seen as a close double only on rare occasions,
this cataclysmic variable and its partner are nearly equal in brightness
most of the time. The relative brightness and proximity of its
companion/comparison make this a challenging star to estimate at other
times.
SV AND 2359+39
The d chart for this star has a note at the bottom which reads,
"SV And is the preceding companion of a close double". The companion
star is not indicated on the chart however. Try observing this one and see
for yourself why.
Perhaps you can pass this list on to members of your astronomy clubs or
organizations who are interested in double star observing. Who knows, you
may spark their interest in variable star observing after they witness the
changing appearance of these interesting doubles.
My sincere thanks to Georg Comello for his insight and contributions
to this list.
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6. CV'S AND UNUSUAL OBJECTS FOR WINTER
By Mike Simonsen SXN
Some of the most enigmatic variables are the R CrB type variables.
They can remain nearly constant in their bright state for months or
years and then suddenly dive into the inner sanctum. Tracking their
fitful,unpredictable returns to maximum can also be quite interesting.
Due to their unpredictable nature, these stars should be monitored
every clear night.
R CrB itself will be lost to the sun for the next few months, but
here are some others you may want to keep an eye on:
DY PER 0228+55
This star doesn't behave like most R CrB types. Comparing its light
curve to other R CrB stars shows a more leisurely pattern of fades and
recoveries. Even though there is plenty of scatter in the recent data,
it seems to have brightened from 12th to 11th magnitude in the last couple
years.
SU TAU 0543+19
This variable is currently in its bright state, hovering in the 10th
magnitude range. However, this star seems to have reversed its pattern
in recent years. Recently, it seems to spend the majority of its time
at or near minimum, with occasional flare-ups into the maximum range.
Before that, it behaved more like other R CrB types, spending most of its
time at maximum with occasional fades.
Z UMI 1501+83
This R CrB variable is just recently recovering from a deep fade.
It may recover to full maximum, or it may again dive below the detection
of modest telescopes. Only time and your observations will tell. Data
for this star doesn't go back very far, but in the time we have been
monitoring it, it has exhibited quite a bit of activity.
SV SGE 1903+17
This variable has just faded as of this writing. It dropped from
11th magnitude to nearly 15th magnitude in a month. This is a fairly
active star, showing some variations even at maximum. Trying to catch
this one on the rise may be challenging as it sets into western horizon.
V482 CYG 1955+33
V482 Cyg has been holding steady around 11th magnitude for several
years. It fades into the 14th magnitude range when it goes. When will
the next fade begin?
U AQR 2157-17
For several years prior to 1998, this star was reported as being
between 11th and 12th magnitude. Then suddenly it dropped off the
R CrB cliff. Positive observations over the last couple seasons have
been in the 15th to 16th magnitude range. Recently, observations have
begun to trickle in at 13th magnitude. Two other precipitous fades
have occurred in the past ten years. This one is an interesting object,
and apparently on the rise.
UV CAS 2258+59
Not much action here. UV Cas has been nearly constant in the 10th
magnitude range as far back as records go. Maybe 2002 is the year for
something surprising from this star. Don't get your hopes up.
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7. POSTPONED SCHEDULE OF CATACLYSMIC VARIABLE MONITORING FOR XMM-NEWTON
OBSERVATIONS
Astronomers at University of California, Santa Barbara, will be
observing several cataclysmic variables in the coming weeks in X-ray
and near-ultraviolet wavelengths with the X-Ray Multi-Mirror Telescope
(XMM-Newton) orbiting observatory. As mentioned in Alert Notice #290
& News Flash #850, they have requested our assistance in monitoring
these objects before, during, and after the satellite observations in
order to provide optical data for correlation.
However, observations of IX Vel, PQ GEm, U Gem, and EI Uma have been
temporarily postponed. Please continue to monitor the stars so that we have
good data prior to the beginning of their monitoring run. Stay tuned to the
AAVSO News Flash for an update as soon as we are given new observing dates.
Charts for all four stars are available at /observing/charts/ .
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8. PCOBS 1.4 RELEASED
Version 1.4 of PCObs, our Windows data-entry software, has been released
via the AAVSO web site. This is an optional upgrade so if you are happy
with the version of PCObs you are using now then there is no need to
upgrade.
New features include:
* Personal Database - You can now add/modify/remove stars to your
database without having to wait to update it via the AAVSO web site.
* Speed Interface - For CV and EB observers this new optional interface
makes entering large number of observations much quicker.
* Persistent codes - Setup comment codes that load by default.
* Ability to disable error checking (in configuration menu)
* Minor changes to some of the error checking routines.
It can be downloaded from the URL below:
http://www.aavso.org/cdata/pcobsinfo.shtml
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9. AAVSO OBSERVER CODE FORMAT REMINDER
This is just a quick reminder about the Official AAVSO Format for
submitting observations. The "Observer Code" field is 5 columns long. So
if your observer code is only 3 letters please put 2 spaces between it and
any comments you use. Recently we have been receiving observations where
people have been moving their comments into the "Observer Code" column.
This takes alot of staff time to fix since it cannot be automated.
Here is an example of a bad observation:
2039+37 DR CYG 2452129.5694 14.5 O 137,142,135PE1979 XXX ACTIVITY
And here is a correct version:
2039+37 DR CYG 2452129.5694 14.5 O 137,142,135PE1979 XXX ACTIVITY
For more information on the Official AAVSO Format visit
http://www.aavso.org/cdata/official.stm .
Remember we have a wide variety of free software you can use to
automatically format your observations that can be downloaded at
http://www.aavso.org/cdata/software.stm . Thanks.
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EYEPIECE Views is published bimonthly and when circumstances warrant
via e-mail. An archive is available at
http://www.aavso.org/eyepieceviews/ . Please send comments and
suggestions to gamze@aavso.org.
To receive EYEPIECE Views via e-mail send a message to
majordomo@aavso.org with "subscribe eyepieceviews" in the body of the
e-mail. To unsubscribe, place "unsubscribe eyepieceviews" in the
e-mail.
The AAVSO has many free online publications including "CCD Views", a
similar newsletter intended for ccd observers. To learn more and
subscribe visit: http://www.aavso.org/mailinglists.stm
Good observing!
Gamze Menali,AAVSO Technical Assistant (MGQ)
Aaron Price, AAVSO Technical Assistant (PAH)
Mike Simonsen, AAVSO Observer (SXN)
Copyright 2001, American Association of Variable Star Observers
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THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS
25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
Tel. 617-354-0484 Fax 617-354-0665
http://www.aavso.org
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