Hi Dave,
Sorry this is long. Read all this or just go straight to the links at the bottom.
Easiest if I go through my set up.
30cm LX200R on Alt/Az Goto mount (light gathering). Optec F7 focal reducer (wide field of view). Starlight Xpress SXVH9 monochrome camera (very sensitive and good QE) Observatory, warm/mozzie proof room.
The Sky6 (telescope control) and Orchestrate (scripting).
My target list is of 1000 far Southern Spiral Galaxies brighter than mag 14.
Now most important - Reference Images.
Initially the Thompson/Bryan Supernova Search Charts (ok visual not so for imaging) and Alex Wassillieff (New Zealand) CCD images - about 3,000 Southern Galaxies, a great reference, becoming dated. But more important my own reference image library that I have built up over the last few years (same scale, compare apples with apples).
So what I do is make a script in Orchestrate to slew to a target set of galaxies, typically 100 per night. I then take 25 second images and compare them visually (on the screens) to ones I have saved in The SKY6. 25 seconds is a good compromise in that I can get down to mag 18.
While this viewing one on one slows my data collection down it has brought very good results with 3 Supernova in 15 months. I was Johnnny on the spot so to speak, unlike most of my colleagues I didn't automate the process i.e. take lots of images then blink them (overlay reference image on new image) the next day and run the risk of it being announced by someone else in the meantime, while waiting to take a confirming image the next night. I had each of the 3 right in front of me right then so I knew something was not right, and all I had to do was image them over the next few hours to eliminate the possibility of an unknown minor planet (would move over several hours) or a Klingon vessel being photon torpedoed by the Enterprise - would disappear (just checking you are still awake).
So each night I archive all my images in date order (just in case I miss one, and I have). If the new images are better than what I have previously kept as reference images (better seeing, transparency) I keep those and have written a script into the SKY6 (with lots of help from Daniel Bisque, thanks!) so that when I click on the SKY6 screen that galaxy reference image comes up.
Ok so now a suspect (and that's all it is at this stage).
First let me say that it is vital you read the links below to the IAU (International Astronomical Union) / CBAT (Central Bureau Astronomical Telegrams) and fully understand their requirements. I do not want to give any wrong advice and CBATs is very clear in what they expect. What I will now write is just based on my experiences.
Take several (many) images and if the suspect object is still in the same position after say at least an hour, during which time you will have checked for known minor planets and variable stars, as well as a rough (or good) position and magnitude, then seek the assistance of others to take a confirming image. While you can confirm your own discoveries, in the first instance/report having someone else also confirm would be very useful, and we have a pretty good network of willing people to assist anytime of night.
You need accurate Astrometry and Photometry from sources such as Astrometrica to give the precise position, magnitude and offset of the suspect object (arc seconds NSEW galaxy centre).
You need a previous negative image that has a limiting magnitude below the faintest in your image. The Digitised Sky Survey Images are very useful here i.e. "Nothing is visible at the position of the Supernova suspect on a Digitised Survey Image from 1996 10 04 limiting red magnitude 20R (red)."
If you are using other amateurs images as negative reference images then it is important that the limiting magnitude of your image is not greater than theirs, otherwise it might just be a star visible in your image and not theirs.
Kirk to bridge damage status... (good you are still here).
Armed with all this information you can then compile a report to send to CBAT - ALWAYS must be in PLAIN text and NEVER ever send images. CBAT are the filter for lots of nonsense (I saw a UFO, a Comet, 3 inches to the left of the Moon last week) and they have to assess what is real and if your information is not precise and in the manner outlined below it is likely to end up in the trash can or just be left until more info is sent. If you are very lucky they may request more info. Remember when CBAT issue the CBET (email advice) it goes to major observatories, subscribers etc who rely on on that advice being accurate. Major observatories may even break into valuable observing runs or act on the advice. CBAT do not like having to retract a CBET, especially if you didn't do your homework i.e. not checking for known minor planets and variable stars, this is absolutely not acceptable.
So what happens next? Well if all is correct with confirmation data etc it will be issued as a CBET with a discovery number i.e. SN2008fa in NGC6722 discovered by Marples etc.etc.etc.
If for some reason there is information still needed i.e You only got one image then it clouded or dawn broke and you will get another image tomorrow night you can still send report with all the information you would include in a normal report, noting you will provide confirming data later (and why). It will then most likely be placed on the CBAT Unconfirmed Objects Page for all interested to see - your report has been taken seriously but more info is required. From this page other interested parties anywhere in the world may be able to confirm your discovery i.e. we have seen Supernova on this page confirmed by say the Brazillian Supernova Search Team. By being on the Unconfirmed Objects Page once confirmed you will still get full discovery status as it has now been reported here, just hasn't been announced yet.
From here your discoverey will be listed on the official IAU site, The Bright Supernova Page etc. From the CBET professional astronomers will likely take spectra of your discovery to "Type" it, that is determine if it is a Type 1a, Type 2 etc and gain valuable knowledge from the data. They will compare it to other SN to see if it is similar to them based on a SN identification system they use. It maybe that your SN has some unusual characteristics and get even more follow up as one of Stuart Parkers did when the VLA turned its attention to it.
The future for me is to experiment with some automation, a blinking tool to increase my numbers (and make sure I don't miss another), but still check the images before closing the observatory roof.
I consider myself lucky that I have several talented friends who assist in the follow up process so I don't do much of the astrometry and photometry. With my discoveries, Stuart Parkers discoveries and assistance on a couple of others we have now had involvement in 10 discoveries in less than 15 months. We have a good understanding that this is not competetive rather co-operative and we are all mates.
Sorry this has waffled on long enough, suffice to say one discovery will set you up financially for life, least that is what I once said to my wife, now I say no its 5.....
A fun part of a great hobby.... err obsession.
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/HowTo...Discovery.html
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/DiscoveryInfo.html
Peter M.
