ifas advanced observing progam
DESCRIPTION
IFAS Advanced Observing Progam. What is the AOP?. An IFAS approved program for all amateur astronomers Program open to all Location Equipment Knowledge and experience Does not necessarily entail advanced astronomy - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
What is the AOP?• An IFAS approved program for all amateur
astronomers• Program open to all
– Location– Equipment– Knowledge and experience
• Does not necessarily entail advanced astronomy• Currently encompasses eight main modules –
covering deep sky and solar system
Credits SN2005EP: Dave McDonald; Lunar fly-by: Anthony Ayiomamitis; Solar: Michael O’Connell; Planets: Dave Lillis
What skills are required?
• The AOP will need skills from all areas
Astrometry
Photometry
Aidedobserving
Visualobserving
Documentation
QC
Infotechnology
Why is it needed?
• IFAS is the co-ordinating body for Irish clubs and societies
• There is only one Irish programs catering for amateur astronomers (beyond beginner’s level) – the IAS VSOP
• Amateur astronomers can and do contribute data to professional programs and educational establishments
When will it begin?
• The AOP will commence with one or two modules by the end of 2006
• These modules will be fully resourced and documented
• Each module will need volunteers with widely varying skills and spare time
• Further modules will be rolled out at later dates
How will the AOP work?
• Key elements of the program are:
DATA
More why’s…
• Provide a co-ordinated program for intermediate/advanced amateurs
• Provide quality science data to professional astronomers and bodies (including educational establishments)
• Foster mutually beneficial links• Disseminate techniques and procedures
Co-ordination
• The AOP will be co-ordinated by a team• Modules will be co-ordinated by a lead• Each module lead will co-ordinate their
resources (including people) to maximise volunteer participation
• The AOP team will report progress to all volunteers and to IFAS at regular intervals
Cost• There is currently no individual cost
associated with taking part• Where possible, funding will be sought• As the program progresses, funding will be
reviewed
Science Data• All science data will be credited to all
contributing members
Deep Sky Solar System
Supernovae PlanetaryCometsMeteors LunarSolarExtrasolarplanets
Uranus moonconjunctions
2006-10
Advanced Observing Programme
Planets Minorplanets
ZHR data
Sunspotdata, flares
AOP
Projects
Modules
Supernovasearch
Cometsearch
Minor planetsearch
Astrometry Photometry
Animations(Jupiter,
moons etc)
Photometry &astrometry
TransientphenomenaPhotometry
Visual,photometry &
astrometry
Stars
Initial Modules
• Supernova Search• Meteor shower data
SN2005ep Discovery ImageCourtesy Puckett/Peoples
SN2005ep Confirmation ImageCourtesy McDonald
Supernova Search
Basic steps
• Image a galaxy• Compare to a previous image• If there’s anything ‘new’, take a
confirmation image with another setup• If confirmed, report to the IAU
Imaging• Dozens of CCD images will need to be taken
and inspected for SN candidates• Images will need to be checked for QC and then
blinked• Software can be used• Comparison images may be retrieved via the
Internet (e.g., the Digital Sky Survey)• Always first compare CCD images with own
reference images before moving on to professional exposures
Image taken by Dave McDonald of a cluster of galaxies. This strategy of taking a number of galaxies at the faintest possible magnitude saves lots of time in imaging individual galaxies
• At Kingsland Observatory J62 there is a repository already of over 1000 images of relevant galaxies, these can be used as a reference.
• This resource will have saved the new AOP a lot of time in creating master images, especially in Irish weather conditions.
• In addition, Celbridge Observatory, J65 has already added 50 master images. This is a total of 1050 master images of galaxies.
Equipment
Science
• We don’t know everything about SN’s• A SN search aims to find SN’s shortly after
they appear• Professionals can then track the SN over
its cycle and gain a better understanding• SN discoveries and follow-up have helped
conclude the universe is expanding
Resources
• We need telescopes and imagers• We need QC folks and blinkers• We need checkers and reporters• We need software gurus and web savvy
folks
Define targets Image targets Target QC Compare beforeand after Yes
No
Re-image Yes
No
Report to IAU Yes
No
PubliciseMudule Leader
Module Team
Process flow
Candidate? Confirmed? Confirmed?
Supernovasearch
Deep Sky Solar System
Supernovae PlanetaryCometsMeteors LunarSolarExtrasolarplanets
Uranusmoon
conjunctions 2006-10
Advanced Observing Programme
Planets Minorplanets
ZHR data
Sunspotdata, flares
AOP
Projects
ObservingSections
Supernovasearch
Cometsearch
Minorplanetsearch
Astrometry Photometry
Animations(Jupiter,
moons etc)
Photometry &
astrometry
Transientphenomen
a
Photometry
Visual,photometry
&astrometry
Stars
Documentation Target list Data reporting Imaging methods QC Methods Comparison methods IAU Reporting methods
Co-ordination Module Leader Website SMS for urgent messages
Quality Control Initial images Candidate images Confirmation images IAU report
Meteor ZHR’s
• Meteor showers will be observed• Log sheets to be completed by all
observers• Data will be submitted to BAA and/or IAU• All you need is a pair of eyes, warm
clothes and good dark site!
Define targets Defineobserving site(s) Prepare charts Prepare
observation logsGather datafrom all sites Report to IAU Publicise
Module Leader
Module Team
Process flow
ZHR Data
Deep Sky Solar System
Supernovae PlanetaryCometsMeteors LunarSolarExtrasolarplanets
Uranusmoon
conjunctions 2006-10
Advanced Observing Programme
Planets Minorplanets
ZHRdata
Sunspotdata, flares
AOP
Projects
ObservingSections
Supernovasearch
Cometsearch
Minorplanetsearch
Astrometry Photometry
Animations(Jupiter,
moons etc)
Photometry &
astrometry
Transientphenomen
a
Photometry
Visual,photometry
&astrometry
Stars
Documentation Target list Charts Observing logs Methods IAU Reporting methods
Co-ordination Team Leader Website SMS for urgent messages
Quality Control Data IAU report