[BAA Comets] Comet Photometry

[denis buczynski]

The reporting of photometric data to Jon or COBS is the procedure at the very end of the process, 
and hopefully the COBS web based interface which finally compiles the data into ICQ format will 
solve the problem for Jon. That is why I pointed out the link in my initial post on this subject. 
However before we get to the reporting we need to have a discussion about how the Section and it's 
members are advised to make those photometric measurements. In essence we need to define a well 
thought out Section Programme with details as to how we want members to participate. My concern is 
that we are starting to discuss this procedure from the end rather than the beginning. Let us 
firstly decide the nuts and bolts of the observing programme and then move onto the reporting of 
results when we are content with operation of the observing programme. We need a discussion about 
the merits of alternative programmes and then choose a route which we all support and can offer to 
our members. Once the observations and measurements are made and the Section programme and 
procedures are followed, then the reporting will normally be undertaken in line with the 
recommendations of the programme. When observers use Astrometrica for the astrometry they submit to 
MPC they report in the format of the programme, they don't then go off and use a different format. 
This should be the case for the BAA Comet Photometry Programme(whatever that might be), this is what 
we need to establish firstly.
Denis Buczynski


-----Original Message----- 
From: Roger Dymock
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2012 7:44 PM
To: 'BAA Comets discussion list'
Subject: Re: [BAA Comets] Comet Photometry

The MPC format is for reporting both astrometry and photometry (of asteroids and
comets). In recent times they have got quite hot on the accuracy of photometrc data.


Asteroid lightcurve data does use a different, ALCDEF, format - see
http://minorplanetcenter.net/light_curve

Agree on the need for a web interface to make life easier for the Director and anyone
else who wishes to access and analyse the data so, as mentioned, will investigate
COBS.

Regards

Roger Dymock
Email: roger.dymock at ntlworld.com
Tel: 023 92647986
Skype: rjvdymock
MPC Observatory Code: 940

-----Original Message-----
From: comets-disc-bounces at britastro.org [mailto:comets-disc-bounces at britastro.org] On
Behalf Of Shanklin, Jonathan D.
Sent: 17 September 2012 18:27
To: BAA Comets discussion list
Subject: Re: [BAA Comets] Comet Photometry

The MPC format is for reporting astrometry, and the magnitudes reported there are
approximate with no metadata.  If you report photometry different information is
required.  As an analogy you wouldn't report the position of a new variable star in
the same format that you submitted a magnitude estimate.

I agree it would be helpful to have only one format for reporting visual
observations, and would be quite happy if only the ICQ format was used (Roger didn't
mention many of the other formats - eg Morris, CBAT etc).  The BAA format is only
marginally different to the ICQ one, but many reports received don't quite match
either format and so need a lot of editing.  A decent web interface that allows quick
and simple input and thence transmission to the Director would be a great help.

Regards, Jon

Director Comet Section, British Astronomical Association
http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/~jds


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