Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Tue, 01/17/2023 - 23:18
AAVSO Alert Notice 809 announces an observing campaign on the YSO AB Aur beginning immediately. Please see the notice for details and observing instructions.
There are threads for this campaign under the following AAVSO forums:
- Campaigns & Observation Reports: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023
- Young Stellar Objects: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023-01
Please subscribe to these threads if you are participating in the campaign so you can be updated. Join in the discussion or ask questions there!
Many thanks, and Good observing,
Elizabeth O. Waagen, AAVSO HQ
AAVSO Alert Notice 811 reports on the exact times of HST observations of AB Aur and has an important note about which check star to use. Please see the notice for details and observing instructions.
There are threads for this campaign under the following AAVSO forums:
- Campaigns & Observation Reports: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023
- Young Stellar Objects: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023-01
Please subscribe to these threads if you are participating in the campaign so you can be updated. Join in the discussion or ask questions there!
Many thanks, and Good observing,
Elizabeth O. Waagen, AAVSO HQ
This post was inadvertently made twice yesterday in the Campaigns forum instead of once there and here. Apologies!! Please observe AB Aur tonight and tomorrow night (and then continue as instructed in the Alert Notice below).
AAVSO Alert Notice 814 reports on the exact times of the second set of HST observations of AB Aur. Please see the notice for details and observing instructions, including information about which check star to use.
There are threads for this campaign under the following AAVSO forums:
- Campaigns & Observation Reports: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023
- Young Stellar Objects: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023-01
Please subscribe to these threads if you are participating in the campaign so you can be updated. Join in the discussion or ask questions there!
Many thanks, and Good observing,
Elizabeth O. Waagen, AAVSO HQ
Dr. Lauren Biddle asked me to share this update with you:
AAVSO Alert Notice 842 announces a new observing campaign on the YSO AB Aur beginning immediately. Please see the notice for details and observing instructions. The notice also contains information about a free webinar on this star and campaign being held on November 19.
There are threads for this campaign under the following AAVSO forums:
- Campaigns & Observation Reports: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023
- Young Stellar Objects: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023-01
Please subscribe to these threads if you are participating in the campaign so you can be updated. Join in the discussion or ask questions there!
Many thanks, and Good observing,
Elizabeth O. Waagen, AAVSO HQ
Hi folks. Quick reminder that the webinar on AB Aur results (so far) and this year's AB Aur campaign is tomorrow (Sunday) at 2PM Eastern, 19:00 UTC. Dr. Biddle will tell us some about the AB Aur system, their work on it with McDonald Observatory and HST, and discuss some particulars of this year's AAVSO campaign. Plenty of time is set aside for questions and discussion.
Register for the webinar at this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4116999884483/WN_Vr3GfhiDRMSrQpGyvrzUlA
Clearest skies,
Walt
Observers are reminded of the very interesting webinar on AB Aur and this campaign that took place on November 19, 2023. View the video on the AAVSO's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPrW99Icrg8
Good observing,
Elizabeth
AAVSO Alert Notice 844 reports on the HST observations that have been scheduled for the bright YSO AB Aur. Please see the notice for details and observing instructions.
There are threads for this campaign under the following AAVSO forums:
- Campaigns & Observation Reports: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023
- Young Stellar Objects: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023-01
Please subscribe to these threads if you are participating in the campaign so you can be updated. Join in the discussion or ask questions there!
Many thanks, and Good observing,
Elizabeth O. Waagen, AAVSO HQ
AAVSO Alert Notice 846 announces the exact timing of HST observations scheduled for 2024 January 17-18 UT on the YSO AB Aur. Please see the notice for details and observing instructions.
There are threads for this campaign under the following AAVSO forums:
- Campaigns & Observation Reports: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023
- Young Stellar Objects: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023-01
Please subscribe to these threads if you are participating in the campaign so you can be updated. Join in the discussion or ask questions there!
Many thanks, and Good observing,
Elizabeth O. Waagen, AAVSO HQ
Dr. Biddle has just informed us that the HST observations of AB Aur scheduled for today (Jan 17-18) have been CANCELLED. HST has gone into safe mode, for reasons not yet given. When more information is available about future scheduling, it will be shared here.
Please continue to observe AB Aur according to the cadence given in Alert Notice 846. Many thanks!
Good observing,
Elizabeth
AAVSO Alert Notice 852 gives the exact HST schedule on 2024 February 21-22 for the YSO AB Aur. Please see the notice for details and observing instructions.
There are threads for this campaign under the following AAVSO forums:
- Campaigns & Observation Reports: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023
- Young Stellar Objects: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023-01
Please subscribe to these threads if you are participating in the campaign so you can be updated. Join in the discussion or ask questions there!
Many thanks, and Good observing,
Elizabeth O. Waagen, AAVSO HQ
There are two stars labelled 120 on the AAVSO chart.
Please can you ID which is to be used using the chart reference ID as I don't know which is GSC 2387-0935
Thanks
Use the #120 thats close…
Hi
Use the #120 thats close to the Target.
Gary
Hi,
While the 1 degree FOV finder chart does display two 12.0 reference stars, one more distant from the target than the other, the comparison stars provided by VPhot as applied to the more limited FOV of itelescope-T21, only shows the correct 12.0 comparison star near the target. The calibrated, VPhot compatible FITS images provided by itelescope are all plate solved allowing determination of the coordinates of all AAVSO catalog stars in the image.
I have pasted the VPhot data for the subject 12.0 check star below (not stacked).
Edit Sequence
ADU Readings
General information:
120
Instr.Mag,:-5.189
SNR:51
Error (SNR):0.021
Airmass:1.349
FWHM:2.46
Centroid X:2056.97
Centroid Y:1153.59
RA Catalogue:74.10280
Decl. Catalogue:30.58246
RA Estimate:04:56:24.67165
RA Estimate:74.10280
Decl. Estimate:30:34:56.85216
Decl. Estimate:30.58246
The comp star 104 is…
Hi
The comp star 104 is about 16' from AB Aur so you must be just barely missing it in the 32x49' FOV of T21.
I use T18 (Spain) a lot and it has a FOV of 49 x 75 which should be plenty wide if you want to give that a go. I did some exposure testing with that scope using the I filter (used for exoplanet work) but you'd have to do testing with the available Ha or V filter on T18 to be sure you don't saturate the Target.
I'd be interested to know what filter and exposure you used for the observation with T21.
Good Luck
Gary
Hi,
Both the 12.0 check star and the 10.4 comp star are well within the T21 FOV and 10.4 is not really too close to the edge. I'm reporting Ha data only and the 3nm astrodon filter reduces the flux enough so that saturation of AB Aur isn't a problem with a 60 second exposure, according to the VPhot Measurement Details and ADU display. I also report data from a 5x60 sec stack for better S/N but the improvement is small.
I have pasted the signal characteristics data from the VPhot Measurement Details and ADU display for AB Aur, the 10.4 comparison star, and the 12.0 check star below. These data are from a single 60 sec exposure.
AB Aur
Signal Circle Statistics:
Intensity:549267
Max:51755
Min:258
Nbr. of Pixels:135
10.4 comp star
Signal Circle Statistics:
Intensity:25785
Max:2286
Min:99
Nbr. of Pixels:135
12.0 check star
Signal Circle Statistics:
Intensity:6924
Max:797
Min:92
Nbr. of Pixels:135
Steve (KSLA)
Hello,
Sorry for asking maybe dumb questions.
I Imaged AB Aur for couple of nights with Ha filter.
Tried to do photometry using couple of software alternatives (ASTAP being one of them) and I get somewhat dimmer magnitudes as others.
So decided to try VPHOT (for the first time if I recall) and it doesn't accept Ha as a valid filter.
What should I do.
Best
Tapio Lahtinen
LTAA
Hi Tapio
You just need to edit the filter in your fits headers ( on the upload files) to say “R” and select R in the filter drop-down in the Quick Upload panel. After that, go through the VPHOT magnitude analysis using just the two specified ( by Lauren and Walt) Check and Comp stars. Once your photometry is done, create the AAVSO report. Before uploading the Report to Webobs, change the R in the Report name to HA and the R in the body of the Report to HA. Then upload the observation report. For me, the upload file is a single stacked image based on 15 images taken at low enough exposure to avoid saturating AB Aur. The stacked image should achieve an SNR of 100 for comp star 120.
Good Luck…
Gary
AAVSO Alert Notice 854 reports on the exact times of HST observations of AB Aur on 2024 March 04 and 05. Please see the notice for details and observing instructions.
There are threads for this campaign under the following AAVSO forums:
- Campaigns & Observation Reports: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023
- Young Stellar Objects: https://www.aavso.org/ab-aur-campaign-2023-01
Please subscribe to these threads if you are participating in the campaign so you can be updated. Join in the discussion or ask questions there!
Many thanks, and Good observing,
Elizabeth O. Waagen, AAVSO HQ