IFAS Advanced Observing Progam

1. IFAS Advanced Observing Progam

2. What is the AOP? • An IFAS approved program for all amateur astronomers • Program open to all • Location • Equipment • Knowledge and experience • Does not necessarily entail advanced astronomy • Currently encompasses eight main modules – covering deep sky and solar system Credits SN2005EP: Dave McDonald; Lunar fly-by: Anthony Ayiomamitis; Solar: Michael O’Connell; Planets: Dave Lillis

3. What skills are required? • The AOP will need skills from all areas

4. Why is it needed? • IFAS is the co-ordinating body for Irish clubs and societies • There is only one Irish programs catering for amateur astronomers (beyond beginner’s level) – the IAS VSOP • Amateur astronomers can and do contribute data to professional programs and educational establishments

5. When will it begin? • The AOP will commence with one or two modules by the end of 2006 • These modules will be fully resourced and documented • Each module will need volunteers with widely varying skills and spare time • Further modules will be rolled out at later dates

6. Communication Team Work Quality control Documentation Reporting DATA Collection Analysis How will the AOP work? • Key elements of the program are:

7. More why’s… • Provide a co-ordinated program for intermediate/advanced amateurs • Provide quality science data to professional astronomers and bodies (including educational establishments) • Foster mutually beneficial links • Disseminate techniques and procedures

8. Co-ordination • The AOP will be co-ordinated by a team • Modules will be co-ordinated by a lead • Each module lead will co-ordinate their resources (including people) to maximise volunteer participation • The AOP team will report progress to all volunteers and to IFAS at regular intervals

9. Cost • There is currently no individual cost associated with taking part • Where possible, funding will be sought • As the program progresses, funding will be reviewed Science Data • All science data will be credited to all contributing members

11. Initial Modules • Supernova Search • Meteor shower data

12. SN2005ep Discovery Image Courtesy Puckett/Peoples SN2005ep Confirmation Image Courtesy McDonald Supernova Search

13. Basic steps • Image a galaxy • Compare to a previous image • If there’s anything ‘new’, take a confirmation image with another setup • If confirmed, report to the IAU

16. Imaging • Dozens of CCD images will need to be taken and inspected for SN candidates • Images will need to be checked for QC and then blinked • Software can be used • Comparison images may be retrieved via the Internet (e.g., the Digital Sky Survey) • Always first compare CCD images with own reference images before moving on to professional exposures

18. At Kingsland Observatory J62 there is a repository already of over 1000 images of relevant galaxies, these can be used as a reference. • This resource will have saved the new AOP a lot of time in creating master images, especially in Irish weather conditions. • In addition, CelbridgeObservatory, J65 has already added 50 master images. This is a total of 1050 master images of galaxies. Image taken by Dave McDonald of a cluster of galaxies. This strategy of taking a number of galaxies at the faintest possible magnitude saves lots of time in imaging individual galaxies

19. Equipment

20. Science • We don’t know everything about SN’s • A SN search aims to find SN’s shortly after they appear • Professionals can then track the SN over its cycle and gain a better understanding • SN discoveries and follow-up have helped conclude the universe is expanding

21. Resources • We need telescopes and imagers • We need QC folks and blinkers • We need checkers and reporters • We need software gurus and web savvy folks

23. Meteor ZHR’s • Meteor showers will be observed • Log sheets to be completed by all observers • Data will be submitted to BAA and/or IAU • All you need is a pair of eyes, warm clothes and good dark site!