[vsnet-chat 5536] Re: [AAVSO-DIS] Mass production vs. individual observing

["Sebastian Otero" <varsao@fullzero.com.ar>]

> the AAVSO program is governed by the fact that the observations
> will be contributed by a large and changing number of observers, of
> different visual acuity, using different instruments, and observing under
> the widest degree of conditions.  This means that we simply cannot expect
> the observations to agree.  The data will include scatter, and AAVSO light
> curves will be derived from the mean of that scatter.  This is not an
ideal
> observing system!  But it is the only practical system that can monitor
the
> behavior of hundreds of variable stars by thousands of observers over many
> decades.

> We should make every effort to provide the best comparison star sequences
> that we can and encourage every observer to become as skilled as possible.
> But in the end, the AAVSO program cannot achieve the same quality of
results
> as a single observer

Dear David,

Your e-mail went right to the point.
I think you are right in everything you wrote.
My comments are only a way of shouting out loud: "hey, things can be done a
little better".
You are right about the reality of mixing hundreds of observers' data in one
lightcurve, but I think everyone of us can reduce that final scatter if
every person tries to stick to a standard and use their own eyes just as a
photometer.
Self-callibration will always reduce the scatter, because people won't
observe in different ways but trying to stick to a standard.
Although the scatter is impossible to eliminate, it can be greatly reduced
by this procedure.
People is not accustomed to check their rrsults against PEP data or to make
estimating exercises to see how good their results are or how close they are
to V. Or even finding whhich their color response is. If they knew they are
very wrong they would try to change something.
It would be very healthy that the observer doesn't estimate without taking
care of all these issues. Controlled ways of observing, checking of
different colored stars and the like, would improve one observer's results
and this eventually be translated to a better overall lightcurve. I think it
is possible.

Thanks for your e-mail.
I agree that there are stars for different observing programs and this
doesn't mean one is useful and the other not.
Every one of them has its advantages. But every one of them can alsos be
improved.

Clear skies,
Sebastian.


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