AAVSOnet Telescope Specification

Affiliation
None
Tue, 07/17/2012 - 17:06

A few years ago i used an AAVSOnet telescope for observations of EE Cep for a coordinated project with John Pry. That went well.

I am currently involved with the AZ Cas Campaign and am considering submitting a proposal for use of the telescopes again. One thing very important for AZ Cas is the U band. Most CCD observers cannot observe in the U band. I seem to remember discussion about at least one sytem being able to do U band work, but I cannot find any detailed specifiations on the AAVSOnet telescopes and photometers. Can any of the systems work in the U band?

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
U-band capability

Hi Jeff,

Currently, SRO50 (Sonoita) and K35 (Astrokolkhoz) have U-band filters.  The upcoming 61cm systems will also have U-band, but that is realistically next year.

Both SRO50 and K35 are in the Southwest, and so both are shut down until September.  At 9th magnitude V, AZ Cas should be pretty straightforward to image with either of these systems, if you want to submit an observing request.

Arne

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Yes, we have no bananas (and U filters)

[quote=HQA]

Hi Jeff,

Currently, SRO50 (Sonoita) and K35 (Astrokolkhoz) have U-band filters.  The upcoming 61cm systems will also have U-band, but that is realistically next year.

Both SRO50 and K35 are in the Southwest, and so both are shut down until September.  At 9th magnitude V, AZ Cas should be pretty straightforward to image with either of these systems, if you want to submit an observing request.

Arne

[/quote]

[quote=HQA]Currently  ... K35 (Astrokolkhoz) have U-band filters.[/quote]

You must be speaking about somebody else's K35 in the Southwest US.  No U filter here.  It was found to be damaged and then removed.

If we get rid of those narrow band (H-alpha, etc) filters, we'll have lots of room for a U filter, and even a star analyzer grating so that we'll have a limited spectral ID capability.

Affiliation
None
Telescope systems

Thanks Arne,

I will write a proposal. Any idea when the user manual will be available. I recall before the whole operation was rather painless, but it would be good to make sure we are doing things properly.

Since I am in Arizona too, I too am off the air until after the monsson. September should be fine. The start of the eclipse is mid-Novemeber, but  a few out-of-eclipse data points would be good.

Jeff (HPO)

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Prvide science justification, and (optional) desired comp stars

If you provide a science justification, any desired comp stars, requirements for cadence, filter sequence, desired SNR, etc.....we can convert that into a workable telescope observing plan.

Affiliation
None
AAVSOnet Proposal

I have been trying to submit a proposal, but keep getting an "oops. something is wrong with the page. Also, to save time trying to figure out the proper formats for the proposal data, it would be very helpful to forvide sample formats. Regarding exposure time, that should be determined for the telescope and equipment. As long as it is sufficient to produce an acceptable SNR it should just be specfied what exposure was used.

Jeff Hopkins (HPO)
Hopkins Phoenix Observatory
187283
2012 ASP Amateur Achievement Award
phxjeff@hposoft.com

 

Affiliation
None
Proposal problem

I still cannot submit a proposal. The Declination shows red but I entered +61:25:16 which is the format indicated and for exposure time I enter 10 I assume that is seconds, but it is red also and then when I hit submit I get an ooops.

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Proposal form works (13 Aug 2012)

I just created a phony/test submission (I was logged in on my AAVSO account as KTC).  No problems, no burps.

Here is the message I received:

AAVSOnet Proposal Form

Thank you for submitting an AAVSOnet request! You will get an email within the next 48 hours from an AAVSO staff member or TAC representative, indicating that the proposal has been received and is being considered. Once a decision has been made, you will get another email indicating that your request is queued for observations; more information is needed; or the proposal is rejected for some reason. If accepted, you will get an email on every day that observations are made and processed, so that you can start your analysis.

----------------------------------

Are you logged in as HPO when you try and submit?  Can you create a screen shot of the submission screet when the error happens, at post it here...any sort of info that helps us troubleshoot this?

Thanks in advance.

Affiliation
None
Proposal Problem

I tried again and got 

 

AAVSO

Oops! Looks like something went wrong on this page. AAVSO staff has been notified of the problem.

I logged into the AAVSO as HPO, but when submitting hte proposal is says phxjeff@hposoft.com and I cannot chanfge it. 

Help

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Hi Jeff,

I just logged in

Hi Jeff,

I just logged in as you and successfully submitted a test proposal.  Could you send me an email with the exact data that you are trying to submit into the form?

Thanks,
Rebecca