[BAA 00142] CCD Photometry Symposium

[Whitters]

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BAA electronic circular No. 00142            http://www.britastro.org/
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PRO-AM CCD PHOTOMETRY SYMPOSIUM

A joint meeting of the Variable Star Section and the Instruments and Imaging Section; supported by the Royal Astronomical Society

Saturday and Sunday, 15-16 May 2004

At the headquarters of Northamptonshire Natural History Society The Humfrey Rooms, Castilian Terrace, Northampton

A meeting designed for all those interested in conducting CCD photometry, and aimed at encouraging discussion and collaboration in this field ________________________

Saturday Programme

Talks:

New CCD Projects for Amateur Telescopes: Professor Tim Naylor, Norman Lockyer Professor of Astrophysics at Exeter University, has supported amateur work on cataclysmic variable stars for many years.

Robotic Telescopes: a Threat to Amateur Observers?: Dr Peter Wheatley is a lecturer at Leicester University, and is one of the instigators of the Wasp Project. His talk will include an update on this project.

CCD Photometry of Transient Objects: Tonny Vannmunster, of the Centre for Backyard Astrophysics, Belgium, has for many years conducted publishable unfiltered time-series photometry on targets of interest.

Photometric Projects using the Faulkes Telescope: Dr Richard Beare is the Faulkes Telescope Project Director of Education, based at the University of Warwick. He will talk about Faulkes Telescope data processing using the free software (DS9) and a spreadsheet to measure and analyse surface brightness profiles of galaxies, together with other techniques.

Workshop sessions:

Nick James: Cometary Photometry
Richard Miles: Asteroid Photometry

It is hoped that there will be time for a discussion session to include the VS Section's initiatives being set up to assist the new observer.
This will also provide an opportunity to tell us how you would like more assistance.

All-day software try-out sessions:

PCs will be available in a side room, providing the opportunity to try out popular photometric software, including the widely-used AIP4Win.
This software is being updated regularly, and we would appreciate your feedback so that we can collate all comments to convey to the authors.
There will also be an opportunity to try the VS Section's data template, being designed to help the organisation and checking of reduced photometry. All feedback will be welcomed.

Poster displays of current work:

There will be poster displays of the VS Section's CCD target list (the new CCD charts will also be available on the day) and of real science already being undertaken by amateurs. Existing collaborations can be joined, and new collaborations can be set up. Members' posters and displays will be welcomed, to encourage discussion and collaboration.

CCD linearity testing:

John Saxton has kindly agreed to bring equipment for testing the linearity of CCD cameras, so if you would like to know exactly how well your camera performs, then bring it with you for testing. (You will also have to bring all that you need to operate your camera and save images for analysis. If you are unsure of what is required, please contact the meeting organisers in advance.) ________________________

Sunday Programme

Amateurs will talk about their work and discuss the finer points of good photometry. This will be a more relaxed session, at which all are encouraged to attend and contribute (even very short items). Attendees who are already planning on speaking at this session include David Boyd, Richard Miles, Steve Parkinson, Roger Pickard, John Saxton and Stan Waterman.

If you would like to contribute, please inform the organisers in advance
- although it is hoped that there will be plenty of time for unscheduled talks on the day. All types of equipment and media can be accommodated.
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Hotel Accommodation

The most convenient hotel - close to the railway station, and a ten- minute walk from the Humfrey Rooms - is the recently built (and ugly) Ibis Hotel, Sol Central, Marefair (01604 608900). Prices begin at £37.95 per room. Car parking is extra, as follows:

6 pm-8 am, £2
Other times: up to 2 hours, £1; 4 hours, £3; 6 hours, £6; 8 hours, £8; 10 hours, £10; max 24 hours, £12 ________________________

Fees and Lunch

There will be a fee of £2.50 per day to cover in-house morning and afternoon refreshments. It will not be possible to organise a lunch-time buffet, but the rooms will remain open for anyone wishing to bring their own lunch, and there are numerous eating parlours and drinking dens in the area.
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Meeting Organisers

Karen Holland: karen.holland@xcam.co.uk
Bob Marriott: ram@hamal.demon.co.uk

Enquiries concerning talks and photometric equipment should be addressed to Karen Holland.

Enquiries concerning lecture equipment and media, and general enquiries, should be addressed to Bob Marriott.

A location map of the Humfrey Rooms is available at http://www.hamal.dem on.co.uk/location.htm

This message will be posted on the Instruments and Imaging Section web
site: http://www.britastro.org/iandi/

R.A. Marriott
Director, Instruments and Imaging Section


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(c) 2004 British Astronomical Association    http://www.britastro.org/
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[Ian]

anyone feel like taking a webcam?

[Rick]

Details of the CCD Photometry Symposium may be found on http://www.britastro.org/iandi/ .