UVB Filters

[pvelez]

I am demonstrating my ignorance here...

I've been reading about UVB filters - used in photometry to determine the peak brightness curve for a given star to work out its temperature and therefore other features eg luminosity.

So I looked at the trusty Bintel website and can find naught on these sorts of filters.

My question is this - are these types of filter readily available in Aus? and if so, what sort of CCD camera do I need to use them? I have a modded 350D which will do the trick for the V and B elements but I doubt it has the responsiveness for the ultraviolet component. How about the trusty Orion Autoguider?

I'm looking at a project for my SOA course which calls for some observation using this technology. I suspect that my humble equipment won't do the trick but if its only a modest expense, I might give it a go

Anyone have any info that might help?

Pete

[citivolus]

Do you mean a UBVRI set? I had the Schuler set from Astrodon until my V fogged. Now it is UBRI :p

I can't find an Australian dealer selling photometric sets, so you may need to import.

Be warned in advance, these are not cheap.

http://www.optcorp.com/ProductList.aspx?uid=319-327-1157-863

http://www.astrodon.com/products/filters/astrodon_photometrics_-_uvbric/

Regards,
Eric

[pvelez]

OUCH!!!

OK, I'd better find another project! Thanks for the tip Eric.

Pete

[citivolus]

Oh, found an Australian dealer for you:

http://www.atscope.com.au/custom.html

[pvelez]

Thanks Eric - prices will kill this idea. Better look at a research projec instead.

That said, photometry looks interesting.

Pete

[pvelez]

Looks like a DSI Pro wil do the trick - pity the filters are so expensive!

Pete

[renormalised]

SOA...what course is that one???

Decent UBVRI filters will set you back quite a bit.

What you could do, though, is use the DSI Pro to track some asteroids, work out their distances and orbital elements from your images. That wouldn't be a bad project to sink your teeth into:D

[Peter Ward]

Guys....OK the ATS site pricing is out of date, but the cost of a Bessel Formula UBVRI set is very close to $A1250 at present.....thanks to Kev and the Yo-Yo $A....then again....a quick phone call to ATS would have made this clear.

[renormalised]

Still not cheap, Peter. OK if you're carrying a black AmEx card but not when you're on a budget....a student's one at that!!!:P:D:D

[Bassnut]

Oh Peter, that 3nm Ha price is seriously "out of date" :P ;) :D.

Anyway, in about 3 weeks, ill have a full set of Custom scientific UBVRI filters for sale for about AU$800 (S/H) if anyone is interested.

[Peter Ward]

True enough...but they cost what they cost.

I actually tried to get an Aussie manufacturer to make a run of filters...the cost was around double the $US175 ea....hence it never happened :(

I dare say had I asked for cricket bats it would have been cheaper....

[Peter Ward]

Yep...out of date for sure...I see CS don't even offer a 3nm filter !!

$800 for a UBVRI set. Pretty dammed good price! (unless the filters were attached to Dremel and used to polish rocks)

[pvelez]

Your are right Carl - I was tempted by the asteroid-related projects - still considering them as an alternative.

Stupidly I enrolled in both HET602 (Exploring the Solar System) and HET603 (Exploring Stars and the Milky Way). I fear I have bitten off more than I could chew - but its for fun so what the heck.

Pete

[renormalised]

True...and they're worth every penny.

Well cricket bats are about as high-tech as they get out here...anything else and you'd get the usual reply "Oh, we can't make those out here...too difficult, don't have the expertise, can't get the parts/materials etc etc etc".

[renormalised]

You're doing two subjects....I'm doing an entire masters degree!!!:P:D

I can't chew:P:D

[pvelez]

I take my hat off to you - v brave.

I'm studying for the first time in 16 years so I fear I am rusty

Pete

[renormalised]

Been nearly that long since I last studied....apart from starting my degree last year. As they say, it's like riding a bike:D:D

[Karls48]

Have look on - Photometry by J.E Hoot. http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002SASS...21...29H (http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002SASS...21...29H) and click “Send PDF”
Article is about using cheap Wratten filters for Photometry.
I have tried #21 and #58 for error ranging from 0.05 to 0.3 magnitudes. I tried it only on one night as filters don’t fit in my filter wheel and changing them manually is a pain.

[renormalised]

The guy that wrote that article....you could say his a real hoot...literally:P:P:D:D:rofl: