Introduction
Signal -to-Noise Adjustment
Figure 32 - Signal-to-Noise Calibration Setup

What High Voltage Setting to Use
Figure 33 - High Voltage vs. Photomultiplier Tube Sensitivity

Introduction
Photomultiplier Tube Saturation
Dark Counts Dead Time (Photon Counting)
Figure 34 - Dead Time Calibration Mask

Determining Color Transformation Coefficients
Figure 35 - Transformation Coefficients epsilon and zv
Figure 36 - Transformation Coefficients mu and zbv
Figure 37 - Transformation Coefficients phi and zub Zero Points Shortcuts

Introduction
Red Leak Measurements
All-Sky
Differential

Check Stars
Sky Readings
Differential Photometry Observing Sequence
Differential Photometry Data Logging
Figure 38 - Sample Data Logging

Manual Data Logging (Form)

Automatic /Computer Data Logging
Tips

Introduction
Extinction

Airmass
Figure 39 - Air Mass

Extinction Coefficients
Figure 40 - Determination of Second Order Extinction Coefficient k"v
Figure 41 - Determination of Second Order Extinction Coefficient k"bv

First Order Coefficients k'v and k'bv
Figure 42 - Determination of First Order Extinction Coefficient k'v
Figure 43 - Determination of First Order Extinction Coefficient k'bv
Figure 44 - Determination of First Order Extinction Coefficient k'ub

Transformation Coefficients
Dates and Times

Introduction
Universal Time
Local Sidereal Time
Double Dates
Julian Date (JD)

The Origin of Julian Date

Heliocentric Julian Date (HJD)

Manual Data Reduction
Software
Figure 45 - Data Reduction Program Main Menu
Figure 45 A - UBV RAW Data Menu
Figure 45 B - UBV RAW Data Entry
Figure 45 C - UBV Data Reduction Menu
Figure 45 D - UBV Data Reduction Display

Lunar
Solar Photometry
Planetary Photometry
Planetary Satellite
Photometry Asteroid
Photometry Comet Photometry
Nova and Supernova Photometry

Introduction
Intrinsic Variables
Eruptive Variables
Extrinsic Variables

Calculating Phase
RS CVn Systems
Be Stars
Eclipsing Systems

Figure 46 - Eclipsing Binary Star System

Suggested Long Period Eclipsing Binary Star Systems
Epsilon Aurigae (Aur)
Figure 47 - Epsilon Aurigae Star System

VV Cephei (Cep)
31 Cygni (Cyg)
32 Cygni (Cyg)
Zeta Aurigae (Aur)
V777 Sagittae (Sgr)
22 Vulpeculae (Vul)

Right Ascension and Declination Stars
Extinction Stars
UBV Calibration Stars
RI Calibration Stars

IAPPP
AAVSO
WGPAC
CBA
SAS (Formerly IAPPP West)

 

In addition to this html set of documents you can download a .zip (4.9 MB) of an MS Word version of the complete manual. The document was created with Word 5.1 and will work with that and later versions of Word.

PEP Manual (Word)

Foreword by Dr. Paul Schmidtke

Acknowledgments

Part I
Introduction

What is Astronomical Photoelectric Photometry

Detectors

Amateur Contribution

Part II
History of Photometry

Measuring the Brightness of Stars

Stellar Magnitudes
Absolute Magnitude
Apparent Magnitude

Counting Individual Photons

Part III
Getting Started

Types of Astronomical Photoelectric Photometry Equipment

Charged Coupled Devices (CCD)
Photodiodes (PD)
Photomultiplier Tubes (PMT)

Why Single Channel Photometry

Part IV
Basic Equipment

Robotic Observatories
The Backyard Observatory
Permanent Pier
Mount
Telescope
Figure 1 - Hopkins Phoenix Observatory Equipment
Figure 2 - Blue Hills Observatory Equipment

Finder Scope
Roll-Off/Slide-Off Roof
Figure 3 - Hopkins Phoenix Observatory

Dome

Figure 4 - Blue Hills Observatory

Part V
Photometry Equipment

Buying Commercial Units

OPTEC SSP-5 Photometer
Figure 5 - OPTEC Model SSP-5 Photometer
Figure 6 - OPTEC Model SSP-7 Photometer

EMI Gencom STARLIGHT-1

Figure 7 - EMI Gencom STARLIGHT-1 Photometer

Part VI
Building Your Own

Introduction
Figure 8 - Astronomical Photon Counting System Block Diagram
Figure 9 - Telescope and Photometer Head
Figure 10 - 10 MHz Pulse Counter and -1,000 VDC Power Supply

Photometer Head
Figure 11 - Basic Photometer Head
Figure 12 - Photometer Head Top View Drawing
Figure 13 - Photometer Head Inside
Figure 14- Fabry Lens Mounting
Figure 15 - UBV Photometer Head

Photomultiplier Tube
Figure 16 - 1P21 Spectral Response
Figure 17 - 1P21 Photomultiplier Tube

Voltage Divider
Figure18 - Voltage Divider Schematic

Socket
Figure 19 - 1P21 Tube Socket

Magnetic Shield
Figure 20- 1P21 Photomultiplier Tube Magnetic Shield

Mirrors

Pre-Viewer (Optional)

Post-Viewer
Relay Lens
Figure 21 - Relay Lens Holder

Diaphragm
Figure 22 - Diaphragm Plate

Fabry Lens
Figure 23 - Fabry Lens Calculation

Filters
Figure 24 - UBV Filters Transmission Spectral Curves

Techniques For Mounting Filters

Slides
Wheels
Cages
Figure 25 - Filter Cage

Cooling

High Voltage Power Supply

Introduction
Figure 26 - High Voltage Power Supply Schematic

Low Voltage Section
Oscillator Section
High Voltage Section

Low Voltage Power Supply

Introduction
Circuit
Figure 27 - Low Voltage Power Supply Schematic

Data Output

Analog

Display
Meter
Chart Recorder
Voltage-to-Frequency Converter/Counter

Pulse Counting (Photon Counting)
Figure 28 - Photon Counting Block Diagram

Pulse Conditioner

LeCroy MVL 100
Figure 29 - LeCroy MVL 100 Pulse Conditioner

New Pulse Conditioner
Figure 30 - New Pulse Conditioner Schematic

Circuit Description

Video Amplifier
Voltage Comparator
Monostable Multivibrator

Frequency/Pulse Counter

Introduction
Figure 31 - 10 MHz Pulse Counter

Present Page Version as of 14 June 2004

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