The AAVSO Wide-Field Photometric Survey (Abstract)

Volume 37 number 2 (2009)

Arne A. Henden

Abstract

(Abstract only) The Robert Martin Ayers Sciences Fund has provided funding for a photometric survey of the entire sky. This survey will be conducted in five photometric bands (Johnson B, V, and Sloan g', r', i') using a pair of ASA N8 astrographs and Apogee U16m 4k × 4k CCD cameras. The survey begins with installation at Dark Ridge Observatory near Weed, NM, to cover the northern declinations. In early 2010, the system will be moved to Chile, where it will survey the southern skies. We estimate the limiting magnitudes of the survey to be between 10th and 17th magnitude, and approximately 100M stars will be in the final catalogue. All intermediate products will be available from the AAVSO web site starting in summer 2009. This paper will present early results from the survey, and discuss the ancillary science that will be performed on non-photometric nights. [Ed. note: survey formally named the AAVSO Photometric All-Sky Survey (APASS)]