[BAA Comets] Comet Section Programmes

[Erik Bryssinck]

Hi Roger et all,

very interesting discussion on vision and observing comets. We find in
Belgium similar questions, comments, etc.

>1) For some time now I have been submitting data to the Spanish group. 
>Analysing the images with Astrometrica and Focas (developed by them) is 
>very easy and to be encouraged. 
>I didn't go down the Italian route as the filters are quite expensive 
>and not available on SSON telescopes. 

I had a comment regarding the use of expensive filters for the Italian CARA
approach on comet observations, particularly Af(Rho) measurements. The
filters are that be used are, the R and I from the Cousins/Bessel BVRI
filterset, which are also used for the photometry of stars. You're right
that they are not cheap, but still quite affordable as you can see the total
amount of your investment in the telescope setup. It is true that the more
"work" calls for subsequently process the data and determine the afrho,
while the Spanish approach to the data obtained very quickly after using
astrometrica. 
I apply these two methods, the Spanish-approuch (with FOCAS-II software)  as
the CARA approach (with Wafrho-software  - developed by CARA). Only recently
aaply af(rho) to comets were a particular activity is expected and retrieve
magnitude brighter than magnitude 12. Only then it is interesting to apply
Af(rho) values. I checked both approaches in terms of Af(rho) and compared,
and still see the occasional differences. Meanwhile I have already a lot of
experience with the CARA approach. I would recommend it for comets who are
observable for a while and fluctuations are possible or bright comets (eg
comet 29P) and now, for example comet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS), unfortunately
the latter will usually only detectable by the southern hemisphere. A nice
example in the past was comet C/2009 P1 (Garradd) were I have made a lot of
observations, it gives interesting data for Af(rho) ! But indeed, every
comet observer does what he wants or where he is interested.

___________________________________
Kind regards,

Erik Bryssinck
BRIXIIS Observatory (MPC:B96)
http://www.astronomie.be/erik.bryssinck/
___________________________________
CARA - Cometary Archive for Af(rho) : http://cara.uai.it
VVS - Belgian association for amateur astronomers : http://www.vvs.be