Re: Tass Software Challenge

[Chris Albertson <chrisalbertson90278@yahoo.com>]

Why not use the pipeline that Michael Richmond
put together based on his Xvista package?  

One shouldn't need a special written program to
reduce Mark IV data.  I've been able to look at
samples of Mark IV data using software that I've
collected and installed before the Mark IV was
working.  Now "hands off" automation is something
different.  I don't think we want to go that far in
one jump.  You just write  one little bit of script
at a time



Tom Droege wrote:
> 
> I am beginning to take what I hope will be good data.  Last night I got a
> flat run and three good fields.  Each field contains 56 V and I images
> taken over several hours.  Well, not perfect data.  Sometime through the
> night the V camera started sticking.  Since the telescope is following the
> sky, this results in streaks only from the readout.  The I data looks
> good.  I fixed the shutter, and may get more data this evening.
> 
> I am thinking of offering a prize to the person that produces software that
> allows me to reduce the data I have been taking to calibrated star
> lists.  The sort of prize I have been thinking of is a nice plaque for your
> wall and a very nice computer.  I think of this as in the $1000 to $1500
> range.  The winner would specify what I should buy.
> 
> Some thoughts on rules:
> 
> Rules would be minimal in keeping with tass.  The goal would be software
> that would allow *me* to reduce data to star lists and to plot data for
> stars.  If faced with two good programs that ran on different systems and
> which gave great results I would probably give two prizes.  If several of
> you work on this, I will give at least one prize.
> 
> *I* have to be able to run it.  This does not rule out a Linux
> system.  Anything I can load on one of my computers an run is OK.   You
> just have to provide enough CDs and instructions on how to load them.  OK,
> the computer that is is to run on will be a 500 or faster MHz PC, 256Meg of
> memory, CD R/W drive, Hard Drive, etc..  There should be some
> flexibility.  In general if it will process DS-19 to a well calibrated star
> list and make plots of the interesting stars, then it meets my
> requirement.   We will have to agree on a format for the final star list.
> I would be happy with either a GUI or a command line interface.  For the
> command line interface, I would want to give the program an edited file of
> what it is to do.  This should allow reasonable selection of the modules
> that are to be run.  Note that this is not the complete problem.  No data
> base is involved.  That might come later, though Bohden Paczynski has said
> he will do it if I send him data.
> 
> Obviously there are lots of problems to be solved.  It should get the best
> possible calibration of the stars.  I don't know how to specify this
> (yet).  Part of the job is writing up the process used so that others can
> study it to understand the errors.
> 
> I have done OK in the stock market recently.  The event of Sept. 11 caught
> me holding puts on the expectation that the market would eventually figure
> out that the stocks were overvalued.  The expectation was resolved much
> faster than I thought it would be.  I have made enough money to offer a
> prize or two.
> 
> This is just a test to see if anyone is interested.  The data is piling
> up.  I want to start reducing it.  If enough people express interest, I
> will write this up in more detail.  Possibly I will have tass approved as a
> research foundation by the time this is completed, then the prize will come
> from tass.  Otherwise I will do it.
> 
> Send me a note if you think you might be interested in working on this.  No
> matter if you are doing it already for your own work.  The hard part may
> then be fixing it up so I can run it.
> 
> Tom Droege

-- 

--
   Chris Albertson             
   chrisalbertson90278@yahoo.com
   Redondo Beach, California
   home: 310-376-1029
   cell: 310-990-7550