Re: [AAVSO-DIS] Lists of stars and colors on charts

[Tom Droege <tdroege2@earthlink.net>]

It seems to me that you need to automate this process.  I am now working on 
the tass data so that I can tie some raw data to any found variable.  I 
want to do this to study the quality of the data.  Once we have a data 
base, then I want to be able to extract a raw but flat and dark corrected 
image, a light curve, and then an extracted finder chart that is like that 
one we can presently get from tenxcat.  This would use some rules to select 
and mark the comparison stars.  Tass will find light "curves" for many more 
fixed stars than variable ones.  There should be lots of useful comparison 
stars in this data.  Once this software is developed, then the generation 
of thousands of observer's data sets will take only a few 
minutes/hours?  One advantage of an automated system is that it will allow 
extraction of finder charts that match the field of view of the telescope 
used.  One would also be able to customize the chart to suit one's 
preferences as to the range of magnitudes shown.

All the pieces to do this are within sight.  Many of them are working 
individually.  The tass engineering run will produce data that can be used 
for 5.5 to 9.5 degrees north.  I should finish this area this year.  Then 
we can start trying to generate what I describe above.  I think we are only 
a few years away from measuring the whole norther hemisphere.

I think the AAVSO should settle for nothing less than a completely 
automated system for the generation of finder charts.  Nothing is perfect, 
and automated finder chart and data sets will have their problems.  As with 
all automated systems, one just has to solve the problems once, and the 
result is immediately reflected in all the finder data sets.

Tom Droege

At 09:29 AM 3/11/02 -0700, you wrote:
>   However, I also understand that there are thousands of
>stars on the 'program', and such detail would take forever
>to gather together without a lot of help.  You can always
>wish, though!
>Arne