Quote:
Originally Posted by deanm
I guess someone could come up with an algorithm (an App!) that optimises sampling rate versus magnitude for a given aperture + stellar magnitude.
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I've thought about something similar, a graphical representation, for several years, being keeper of the observing manual, and I've had someone else suggest similar to me as well. But as Tony has explained, it just ain't that easy. I've kept a log of my settings for each event I've monitored and conditions vary greatly from night to night. Sometimes I can get a mag 12 star with only x4 integration, other times I've needed x24 on a night of bad seeing and the Full Moon within 5 degrees of the target star! Nonetheless I think there some "rules of thumb" that could be formulated, such as the timing needed to clearly detect the passage of the rings of Chariklo, and I'll ruminate on them a bit more for next update of the manual, I think. The best thing at the moment is to observe frequently and get to know how your current set-up performs, and what it can and can't do - and write it down so you don't forget!