Proposal #194

Proposer	(37929) Peter Bealo (pbealo@comcast.net) obscode: BPEC
Assigned To	(3663) Dirk Terrell
Date Submitted	Feb. 12, 2021
Status	Allocated
Priority	Normal
Proposal	Name: Peter Bealo Code: BPEC Observation Use: Alert Notice 729. Use of Data: Submit to AAVSO Database after VPhot analysis I request that images be sent to VPhot Target Star: V406 VUL Magnitude Range: 16. – 21 mag Comp Stars: from X26198ALP chart – 151, 164, 170, 161 Observation Cadence: Daily if time is available Filters Required: B, V, R, I Number of Exposures per Run: 2X per filter Exposure Times: Site Owner's Best Guess initially, will review following 1st observing run Start Date: Immediately End Date: TBD Target Name Right Ascension Declination Minimum Magnitude Maximum Magnitude Keep Proprietary Proposal V406 VUL 18 58 41.51 +22 39 30.2 21 16 Note: Seems a good target for the NM 60cm...

Targets
Target	RA (H.HH)	Dec (D.DD)	Magnitude	Telescope	Observation Frequency	Expiration Date	Proprietary Term
V406 VUL	18.978197	22.65839	21.0–16.0	TMO61	daily	Aug. 12, 2021	No

Comments

(3663) Dirk Terrell — Feb. 12, 2021, 7:35 p.m.

The TAC has approved this proposal.

(4726) Kenneth Menzies — Feb. 13, 2021, 6:22 p.m.

Committed to TMO61

(37929) Peter Bealo — Feb. 13, 2021, 6:58 p.m.

Thanks Gentlemen.
Peter

(37929) Peter Bealo — March 16, 2021, 3:29 p.m.

It seems that V0406 VUL is down near its quiescent at 20 mag or maybe less. So taking 40 min per run of telescope time is a waste, we just won't see it, especially with trailed images and stars painting more pixels.

How about changing filter use and exposure time with dual goals of A) spotting V0406 as soon as it begins its next outburst and B) Obtaining useful photometric data in the primary band, V, when it outbursts.

I'm thinking 4 ea 150 sec C filter exposures and 4 each 150 sec V exposures per observing run. This reduces observing time by half, increases chance of seeing V0406 near or at quiescence for monitoring purposes and produces data in the primary band while its as faint as possible. I'm also hoping that with less/no trailing we'd achieve more photons per pixel, thus increasing chance of capturing it as well. I guess the price paid is that we can't produce transformed data.
Peter

Comments on this proposal are closed.