Re: [TASS] photometric vs. non-photometric

["Arne A. Henden" <aah@NOFS.NAVY.MIL>]

Peter and Tom mentioned the two-plate cloud
monitor.  That works for specific types of clouds,
and is used primarily for remote weather monitoring
when you want to shut down before rain occurs.
It is less effective with cirrus (the curse of
photometrists).
  You are already taking photometric data; use
that photometry to make your decisions.  As a
further example, once the sky has been captured
once by one of the photometric sites, that catalog
can be used as a quick check of photometric
conditions anywhere in the sky.  That first pass
will occur quickly from a site such as Flagstaff
and will probably be available before most Mk4
sites get their cameras.
Arne