Beginner's Photometry Questions

[pfitzgerald (Paul)]

Hi Folks

Sometime this year I would like to try and help my school students to photograph and analyse the varying magnitudes of some cepheids and/or δ-Scuti type variable stars. With a long view to applying a Fourier transform to them to determine their periods.

Equipment-wise we have my trusty SW ED150, HEQ5-Pro, Orion Autoguider and a Canon 60Da (with standard EOS 18 mm-55 mm lens). For processing the images I have a MacBook Pro running OSX-Yosemite - and reluctanly if the need arises - access to PC's, one of which still has Windows 7 installed.

I'd love to know of a Mac based software program that can be used to determine the magnitude of the target stars from a RAW (.CR2) image.

Will the equipment I have be suitable for the task? I'm not sure yet whether or not I need/want to head down the path of obtaining and using U, B and V filters.

Is this an activity that some of the folk at ASV would be able to assist me with?

Any suggestions would be warmly welcomed.

Paul

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Paul,
I'd recommend checking out the AAVSO site first....
They have everything you'd need to know.
http://www.aavso.org/

[pfitzgerald (Paul)]

Thanks for that Ken.

Will your talk at VASTROC cover any of my questions? - I'm thinking about coming up for the day if it does - and am now awaiting a copy of your book that I purchased on the 'bay'.

Paul

PS Am still thinking on an obsy and the thoughts you shared with me and have recently had my pier constructed - so slowly but surely I'm getting there.

[michaellxv (Michael)]

Paul,

I second AAVSO specifically have a read of the DSLR observing manual. http://www.aavso.org/dslr-observing-manual I am in the final stages of one of their courses. I would say it's a very suitable project for students.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Paul,
I will be focused on amateur spectroscopy, but if you are really interested I can bring some photometry books etc along - maybe over lunch?
Ken

[pfitzgerald (Paul)]

Thanks Michael - am trying to get IRIS to run on my Mac via so that I can work through the AAVSO tutorial for beginners.

Thanks for that Ken - PM sent.

Paul

[mathewb]

AstroIMageJ allows you to perform differential photometry, which can then be used to make a lightcurve (that is prettier if you export it into excel).

Its a windows program that also works on the Mac IIRC.

I used it as apart of my masters and its easy to use, certainly for Highschool students.

Cheers,
Matt.

[pfitzgerald (Paul)]

Thanks for that Matt - I'll look into it.

Currently I'm trying to get my head around Wine, WineBottler and Iris!

Paul