Articles
UBVRI photometry using CCD cameras ... Richard Miles
Methods for determining the magnitudes of astronomical objects using CCD cameras are discussed. A filter set for measurement in the Kron-Cousins U, B, V, R, and I passbands is recommended. Practical techniques and hardware are discussed. A CCD calibration procedure based on observation of the open cluster M67 is described with worked examples. (10 pages)
Information sources for deep sky astronomy ... Owen Brazell
With the increasing availability of computer systems and with more information becoming available through magazines and books, amateur astronomers now have access to a wide variety of material on non-stellar deep sky objects. The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the sources of information open to deep sky astronomers and to clarify the nature of the plethora of designations used to describe non-stellar astronomical objects. (4 pages)
Origins of the ancient constellations: II. The Mediterranean traditions ... John H. Rogers
The classical map of the sky, with the 48 Greek constellations, was derived from at least two different pre-Greek traditions. One tradition comprised the 12 signs of the zodiac, with several associated animal constellations, all of which developed over ~3200-500 BC in Mesopotamia in a religious or ritual tradition. These were taken over by the Greeks around 500 BC. However the other Babylonian constellations, their farming-calendar tradition, were not adopted. The other tradition was not Mesopotamian; it comprised large constellations which appear to date from ~2800 BC, probably from the Mediterranean region, devised for the navigators of ships. They include huge bears and serpents which marked the celestial pole and equator at that time, and probably the four anonymous giants which we know as Hercules, Ophiuchus, Bootes, and Auriga, as well as some of the large southern 'marine' constellations. The origins of some other constellations, including the Perseus tableau and various animals, are unknown; they may have been new creations of the Greeks. The Greeks assembled the classical sky-map from these different sources between 540-370 BC, but many of the familiar legends were only applied to the constellations later. (11 pages)
The comets of 1992 ... J. D. Shanklin
This report is the third in the annual series which gives for each comet: the discovery details, orbital data and general information, magnitude parameters and BAA Comet Section observations. It continues the series which last appeared in the Journal in 1950, with irregular notes appearing until the early 1960s. Observational reports were published in the Comet Section newsletter Isti Mirant Stella from 1973 to 1987 and a couple of papers were published in the Journal in the early 1980s. Further details of the analysis techniques used in this report are given in an earlier paper. Ephemerides for the comets predicted to return during the year can be found in the International Comet Quarterly Handbook.(9 pp)
Contributing to the Journal of the BAA ... Hazel McGee
All members of the BAA are encouraged to share their observations and ideas with others by contributing to the Journal, either directly or through reports published by Directors of Sections. This paper provides guidance on preparing and submitting material for publication. (2 pp)
Four solar cycles of aurorae from the United Kingdom ... R. J. Livesey
This paper reviews observations of the aurora made from the United Kingdom and particularly from Scotland in the years 1952 to 1996. (5 pp)
(Copies of any of these articles may be ordered from the BAA office.)