[Aavso-photometry] New AAVSO Online Airmass & ScintillationCalculator

[Brian Warner]

Aaron,

I gave it a go last night, checking on an asteroid I was imaging. I entered what I thought were the
right values and the air mass came out about 1.9. Considering the thing was currently at +85°
altitude, I thought that might be wrong <g>

Here's the return screen:


AAVSO Air Mass & Scintillation Calculator Results
RA               03:45:00
Dec.            +43:48
Lat.             39.1
Long.           104.75
Date            2004/12/07//23/00/00
Aperture        50
Integration     180
LAST            127.530705
HA             -79.13010 (-5.27534 h)
Scintillation    0.00105
Airmass        1.84298


In your AAVSO observation report put Airmass: 1.84298 in the Comments Explained field.

Here is a list of projected airmass and scintillation for the next ten hours.
          JD        Date (UT)       Airmass      Scintillation
     2453346.5576  1:00 12/7        1.46698         0.00070
     2453346.5993  2:00 12/7        1.24390         0.00053
     2453346.6410  3:00 12/7        1.10987         0.00043
     2453346.6826  4:00 12/7        1.03489         0.00038
     2453346.7243  5:00 12/7        1.00469         0.00036
     2453346.7660  6:00 12/7        1.01404         0.00037
     2453346.8076  7:00 12/7        1.06454         0.00040
     2453346.8493  8:00 12/7        1.16524         0.00047
     2453346.8910  9:00 12/7        1.33666         0.00060
     2453346.9326  10:00 12/7       1.62151         0.00084


The air mass given for 05:00 was approximately correct. Something seems amiss or I'm not
understanding how to use/read the data.

Thanks.


Clear Skies,
Brian Warner
Palmer Divide Observatory (IAU 716)
http://www.MinorPlanetObserver.com

Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link (CALL)
http://www.MinorPlanetObserver.com/astlc/default.htm