Variable Star Observing Using Orchestrate Software

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Variable Star Observing Using Orchestrate Software

• John Donovan
• Pomona College Astronomy
• November 20, 2002

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The Goal

• To summarize the manual in 5 to 10 minutes
• Give you the resources to start scripting right
  away.
• http//aci50.astronomy.pomona.edu/common/webdocume
  nts/astro101/

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I. Scripting
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Orchestrate Scripting

• A Software Bisque product
• Creates scripts for TheSky and CCDSoft
• Easy-to-Use interface

5
The Interface

• Each line gives one command and consists of
• - Command Argument Comment -
• List of commands on p.9-11 of the Orchestrate
  manual.
• Check http//aci50.astronomy.pomona.edu/common/web
  documents/

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Taking a Light Curve

• Youll need
• Images of your object over time.
• Images of a standard star to make sure that the
  light curve is real (vs. light pollution).
• Sky flats taken at longer intervals.
• Dark Frames because its easy to take them
  seperately.
• Note if you dont have a standard yet, you can
  pick from a list (also on the webpage).

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Sky Flats
Before
After
8
Sample

• Try 3 cycles of
• Variable Star
• Standard Star
• Repeat x3
• Sky Flats
• Dark Frame

Take Image
Take Standard
Take Image
Take Standard
Take Image
Take Standard
Sky Flats
Dark Frame
repeat
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Images with Orchestrate

• Take an odd of images.

• Average them in IRAF/MIRA to get one data point.

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Sky Flats in Orchestrate

• go North, take a pic
• go South, take a pic
• go East, take a pic
• go West, take a pic
• go N-W, take a pic
• Median combine them to get a flat

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Script-lets (fragments)
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Put It Together
Initial Conditions
Take Image
Take Standard
Take Image
Take Standard
Take Image
Take Standard
Sky Flats
Dark Frame
repeat

• Try 3 cycles of
• Image (5 pics each)
• Standard (3 pics each)
• Repeat x3
• Sky Flats (5 pics)
• Dark Frame (1 pic)

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II. Orchestrate
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Orchestrate the program

• Connect to Telescope (TheSky) and Camera
  (CCDSoft)
• Start Orchestrate
• Connect Orchestrate to