Filter Choices in WebObs

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Announcement: New Applications

We are excited to announce the launch of our new applications! We're opening up early access to our new applications for searching, downloading, and submitting photometric observations. You can now access these applications through these links:

• Global Data Search (new) – Search across all of AAVSO’s databases

• Search and Download Photometric Observations – Search and export results in CSV, JSON, or XLSX

• Submit Photometric Observations – Review your observations on a light curve with historical data

We ask for your feedback in order to help us improve these applications. Please send feedback for the applications above to feedback@aavso.org. Note: please avoid duplicating submissions across the two submit applications.

Affiliation

American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)

Thu, 01/19/2023 - 15:47

Is there a way that a category of "Other" (or maybe "H-alpha") could be added to the filter choices given in the drop down menu in WebObs? I have been monitoring M31 for novae (in H-alpha) for several years and have regularly detected several. It would be nice if there was a way to add them to the AAVSO database even if imaged with a non-standard filter.

Tom (RTH)

btschumy

Affiliation

American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)

Thu, 01/19/2023 - 16:44

I think the issue is that Ha…

I think the issue is that Ha is not a standard photometric filter. As such, any observations would not generally be useful to people analyzing variable star data. They would occupy space in the database but no one would do anything with them.

MZK

Affiliation

American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)

Thu, 01/19/2023 - 17:20

HA Filter Name

Tom:

You are correct that the filter drop down box in the individual observation form does not include a menu item for an H-alpha filter. It is not a standard photometric filter used commonly.

However, if you look at the AAVSO Extended File Format page (https://www.aavso.org/aavso-extended-file-format), you will note that HA is a valid filter name.

Have you ever tried to submit your observation as an AAVSO Extended File Format Report with FILT HA? You would need to use software that generated such a report file.

Ken