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Hah! The old “to calibrate or not to calibrate” debate! My view: calibration is needed on scientific images, where one intends to extract data, such as photometry. But if it’s purely for images, then the choice is yours. The proof of pudding is in the eye of the beholder (to mix two sayings). I have seen many wonderful images which were not calibrated, which also convey the beauty of the night sky. I also think that for beginners, who may be keen to get their first results, then there is no real issue in not calibrating – they can move onto that later.
A similar debate has run in CCD photometry on the use of photometric filters (he ventures, not really wishing to trigger another subject of debate). There is certainly a place for using these, depending on the objective of the work. But I have noticed that some beginners have been put off even starting CCD photometry because they are worried about getting V filters etc. I say: have a go unfiltered to start with and select you targets with that in mind. If you find you like the work, then by all means invest in filters later.
Go well!
JeremyA slightly better night last night: clear(ish) from 2115-0030 and 0210-0320.
The 2 cameras caught a total of 90 meteors, of which 34 appear to be Perseids.Hope others had some luck.
Go well!
JeremyA bit of a frustrating night here at Bunbury, with drifting cloud banks, although some breaks between 21.40-00.00 and 02.30-03.15 UT. I shouldn’t complain as the wx forecast was for complete cloud cover. In total, the 2 video cameras (3.8 mm f/0.8 pointing SSE and 12 mm f/0.8 pointing N) caught 61 meteors of which 19 were Perseids.
I fared a bit better the previous night (Aug 11/12), although again there were many cloud banks moving through. A total of 106 meteors, of which 25 were Perseids.
Go well!
JeremyThanks for the tip Callum. I have fixed some of the links, but the page keeps crashing when I try to Edit – will try and fix the others soon.
In the meantime I can report that the current outburst of the dwarf nova was a normal outburst of ~3 days as Juan-Luis Gonzalez Carballo had it fading to mag 17.1 last night.
Go well!
Jeremy
This dwarf nova was in bright outburst for about 13 days from July 1 – a light curve with observations by Ian Miller, Roger Pickard, Richard Sabo, Jeremy Shears can be seen on the VSS web site here: http://www.britastro.org/vss/css_121005.htm
At the peak of the outburst it was mag 15.9, ~4 to 4.5 mags above quiescence. Time series photometry revealed humps in the light curve, but the runs weren’t really long enough to draw definitive conclusions about their period. The humps certainly looked like superhumps, although intriguingly there appeared to be more complex structure in them towards the end of the outburst
The most recent observation was on Jul 19.957 when the star was at mag 19.2 (Ian Miller).
We are now eagerly awaiting the next outburst of this frequently outbursting dwarf nova. It will almost certainly be a short, or “normal”, outburst lasting a couple of days. Continued monitoring is needed to determine how often the system goes into outburst, so please feel free to join it (you can upload your data to the VSS and/or AAVSO databases – and do let me know how you get on). In addition, further time series photometry during future long outbursts will be required.
For more details go to: http://www.britastro.org/vss/CSS%202126%20campaign_20140511%20(1).pdf
Go well!
Jeremy
Thanks Nick. Whenever I try and paste the link it cuts off the .pdf extension. Let’s try again in plain text: http://www.britastro.org/vss/CSS%202126%20campaign_20140511%20(1).pdf
…that doesn’t work either. So for those wanting to look at the doc I suggest either of the following options:
1. cut and paste the complete url (including the .pdf extension) into your browser, or
2. Use the link in my original posting to the BAA VSS web page and then click on the link to the campaign note that you will find there.
Go well!
Jeremy
The dwarf nova CSS 121005:212625+201948 continues to be active. As previously reported, it was in bright outburst during the first half of July, fading towards quiescence on July 13. There was then a brief outburst (<3 days) around July 20. Recent data from Ian Miller and Juan-Luis Gonzalez Carballo have it currently in outburst (Aug 2, 3, 4) at ~16.4. It will be interesting to see how long this outburst lasts.
Further observations are welcome. For more details go to: http://www.britastro.org/vss/CSS%202126%20campaign_20140511%20(1).pdf
Go well!
JeremyI can watch all the videos online with good sound – Chrome, Vista
Great meeting, by the way. I was unable to attend this one, so have really appreciated the facility to be able to catch up via the videos.
Go well!
Jeremy
This Dwarf Nova has been in outburst since last Sunday (6 July) and was still at 16.9C this morning (Richard Sabo, Bozeman, US).
Time-series photometry conducted on several nights this week by Ian Miller (Swansea, UK) and Richard Sabo has shown superhumps with superhump period, Psh ~ 0.088 d. There is some uncertainty on the period and significant aliasing associated with the short runs that are necessitated by the short nights at these 2 observatories at this time of year. These data are consistent with the dwarf nova being a member of the SU UMa family. The measured value of Psh suggests is is probably not an ER UMa system.
The campaign will continue as we still need to determine the outburst and superoutburst periods. In addition, further photometry during future superoutbursts will help to confirm the Psh of this frequently outbursting dwarf nova. Further info on the BAA VSS website.
Go well!
Jeremy
The star was once again in outburst last night (Jul 6.941 16.0C). Ian Miller carried out time series photometry which reveals what may be a (super)hump, although runs at this time of year are necessarily short. Further photometry encouraged.
Go well!
Jeremy
Great to hear the latest developments in your variable nebula project, Mike. (For some reason the image attached in your last Mr G posting didn’t come across, although the link to it you gave shows the image)
The short-term changes in NGC6729 are especially interesting.
Keep up the good work and sharing your results of this worthwhile venture.
Go well!
JeremyThe observing campaign was launched at last week’s VSS meeting in York and there a write-up in the current Section Circular (VSSC 160).
On returning home from the meeting, I found the star rising to outburst (Jun 22.977) at 16.9C and 24 hours later was slightly brighter at 16.2. Since then I haven’t been able to obtain further obs.
Best of luck to anyone wanting to join in the observing fun. Do let me know how you get on.
Go well! Jeremy
Hello Mike,
it’s good to see this worthwhile project progressing.
I wonder if you have considered measuring the brightness of the nebula and the star, PV Cep. David Boyd had a paper on their variability in the 2012 June JBAA.
Keep up the imaging!
Go well!
Jeremy
That’s an interesting image, Mike. Do post some more showing the orbital motion. Good luck with the project!
Go well!
Jeremy
Hello Cameron,
That’s a really nice image of M27. Well done. It’s amazing what can be achieved in spite of light pollution – you should be very proud of your result. I do hope you will submit your image to the Deep Sky Section.
I trust there will be many more to come in the future.
Congratulations and go well!
Jeremy Shears
There’s a short report of NEMETODE efforts to capture the CAMs by video camera here: http://www.nemetode.org/
William Stewart and I had a clear spell for a couple of hours after 00h UT on the 24th, but not much doing.
Go well!
Jeremy
Sad news indeed and the end of an era. I always enjoyed the entertainment of meeting Dudley Fuller when I visited Telescope House in London. For several years as a teenager I owned a Fullerscopes 6-inch reflector with “A” grade optics in a shiny white tube on a MkIII mounting. And one of the best views of M13 I have had was with the 18-inch Fullerscopes Newtonian at Charterhouse (Nick, I didn’t break it – it was somebody else who grabbed hold of a massive tube counterweight which came off in his hand – I just had to stand there balancing the tube on my head whilst help was summoned!).
Jeremy
Great to hear you are interested in visual variable star observations, Mike. There’s plenty of work to be done in this field. Best of luck with developing your technique – and don’t firget, if you have any questions, ask away. We’re here to help you!.
Go well!
Jeremy
