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Variable Star Plotter (VSP)

 
WHAT IS THIS?
The Variable Star Plotter (VSP) is the AAVSO's online chart plotting program that dynamically plots star charts for any location on the sky, or for any named object currently in the Variable Star Index (VSX). By creating charts this way, every chart utilizes the most current data available. Through the use of unique Chart IDs generated by the Variable Star Plotter, one user can plot a chart, and another user in different part of the world can plot an identical chart by simply using the same Chart ID. The Variable Star Plotter is the tool you should use to create any chart that you would like to use.
WHAT CAN I DO?
By entering an object name or its coordinates on the sky, the Variable Star Plotter can produce a star chart for that object or location, and tailor it to your specific observing requirements. Many different parameters are adjustable via this interface, allowing you to get the perfect chart for the job. Customizable field of view, print resolution, magnitude limit, and orientation can be set for any chart plotted, or these values can be auto-assigned by selecting from one of the legacy chart scales familiar to many of our long-time observers. The charts produced by this tool include comparison star sequences for visual magntitude estimations.
HOW CAN I GET HELP?
We have two help guides available for the Variable Star Plotter in Portable Document Format (PDF). These document may be read using the free Adobe Reader program. The One-page Help Guide is a concise reference sheet for the VSP interface, and the Detailed Help Guide is a more in-depth narrative on how to use this tool. If you need further assistance, send us an E-mail at: aavso@aavso.org. We also have instructions for a GET method API to directly plot charts from your web site or custom software.
PLOT A QUICK CHART...
WHAT IS THE NAME, DESIGNATION, OR AUID OF THE OBJECT?
Required if no coordinates are provided below
CHOOSE A PREDEFINED CHART SCALE
A is larger, slower; G is smaller, faster.
CHOOSE A CHART ORIENTATION
DO YOU WANT A CHART OR A LIST OF FIELD PHOTOMETRY?
ADVANCED OPTIONS
DO YOU HAVE A CHART ID?
A Chart ID will allow you to reproduce prior charts
PLOT ON COORDINATES
Required if no name is provided above
RIGHT ASCENSION
DECLINATION
WHAT WILL THE TITLE FOR THIS CHART BE?
Displayed at the top-center of the chart
WHAT COMMENTS SHOULD BE DISPLAYED ON THE CHART?
Displayed beneath the chart star field
MISCELLANEOUS OPTIONS
FIELD OF VIEW *
MAGNITUDE LIMIT *
RESOLUTION *
WHAT NORTH-SOUTH ORIENTATION WOULD YOU LIKE?
WHAT EAST-WEST ORIENTATION WOULD YOU LIKE?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISPLAY A DSS IMAGE ON THE CHART?
If Yes, retrieves and displays an image from the Digitized Sky Survey
WHAT OTHER VARIABLE STARS SHOULD BE MARKED?
WOULD YOU LIKE ALL MAGNITUDE LABELS TO HAVE LINES?
If Yes, this will force lines to be drawn from all magnitude labels to the stars
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THE OUTPUT?
If HTML, headers/footers and other extra information will be shown
 
AAVSO 49 Bay State Rd. Cambridge, MA 02138 aavso@aavso.org 617-354-0484