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[vsnet-alert 1368] AAVSO News Flash - No. 233 (Special Announcement)
- Date: Thu, 4 Dec 1997 16:07:40 -0500 (EST)
- To: vsnet-alert@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp
- From: AAVSO <aavso@aavso.org>
- Subject: [vsnet-alert 1368] AAVSO News Flash - No. 233 (Special Announcement)
- Sender: owner-vsnet-alert@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS
25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
Tel. 617-354-0484 Fax 617-354-0665
INTERNET: aavso@aavso.org
* * * AAVSO NEWS FLASH - SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT * * *
No. 233
December 4, 1997
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Format of Nightly Obervations
- News Flash Deadline
- "Quick Look" Nightly Observation Data File Posted on the AAVSO FTP Site
- Revised Data Entry and Report Formatting Software
==============================================================================
FORMAT OF NIGHTLY OBSERVATIONS
Attention Observers! Since the creation of the AAVSO News Flash in February
1996 we have received an increasing number of nightly observations by email.
We are very pleased by this response and thank the many observers who have
contributed their very valuable observations to the News Flash.
The increasing volume of incoming observations has resulted in an increasing
amount of staff time being devoted to converting individual nightly reports
into a uniformly formatted file. In order to make this conversion process
more efficient we now ask that contributing observers read and follow the
instructions - updated today on the AAVSO web and ftp sites - on submitting
nightly observations to the AAVSO. These instructions include descriptions
and samples of the accepted formats for nightly observation reports.
We ask that all observers report their nightly observations in one of the
accepted formats starting on December 8, 1997. Following these instructions
will help us to better serve you.
Information on submitting nightly observations can be accessed through our
Web site at the following address:
http://vsnet.aavso.org under "Observing Materials"
This information is also available from our FTP site:
ftp.aavso.org (198.116.78.2), in /pub/nightly_obs/
nightly.txt - introduction
jdnight.txt - description of JD format (preferred)
utnight.txt - description of UT format
vsnight.txt - description of vsnet-for-AAVSO format
ltnight.txt - description of local time format
==============================================================================
NEWS FLASH DEADLINE
In order to make it possible to mail the News Flash earlier in our workday
(so that you may receive it earlier) we will now include only those
observations received by 1:00 pm Eastern Time in the day's News Flash.
An exception to this policy will be made if a very unusual or important
event is reported to us after 1:00 pm Eastern Time. Therefore, it is very
important that you send us your observations as soon as possible - even if
they arrive after 1:00 pm Eastern Time.
==============================================================================
"QUICK LOOK" NIGHTLY OBSERVATION DATA FILE POSTED ON THE AAVSO FTP SITE
In order to serve our observers and the astronomical community better, we
will be posting on our ftp site a file called the "Quick Look Data File"
containing nightly observations received at AAVSO Headquarters. This file,
sorted by star name, will include up to the most recent 3 months of nightly
observations and will be updated frequently. The nightly observations
posted will NOT be evaluated, and this file will NOT represent the full
contents of the AAVSO International Database.
We will begin posting the nightly observations on December 8, 1997. After
this date the nightly observation file can be accessed through our Web site
at the following address:
http://vsnet.aavso.org under "Observing Materials"
This file is also available from our FTP site:
ftp.aavso.org (198.116.78.2), in /pub/nightly_obs/quick_look.txt
==============================================================================
REVISED DATA ENTRY AND REPORT FORMATTING SOFTWARE
The latest revision of the AAVSO data entry and report formatting software
(KSOLO and KSOLOREP Version 4.1 - released December 1997) is now available
from the AAVSO ftp site.
Version 4.1 allows 20 single-letter comment codes to be entered in the
data record comment field. Also, the user may enter a multi-letter code as
an extended comment in KSOLO that will be recognized by KSOLOREP and written
to the comment field in the KSOLOREP output report files.
For details on these new features, see the section on Comment Codes in the
READ.2 file that comes with the KSOLO program package.
The software package can be accessed through our Web site at the following
address:
http://vsnet.aavso.org under "Observing Materials"
This software package is also available from our FTP site:
ftp.aavso.org (198.116.78.2), in /pub/dataentry/
We ask all observers please to be sure to download (or request) this updated
version of the software package. We have noticed from the monthly reports
received that some observers are still using early versions of KSOLOREP
which had a bug in the totals routine, or which put a "C" for all comments.
These versions are long obsolete! Please take this opportunity to help us
by updating you software.
==============================================================================
We very much appreciate your contributions to the AAVSO News Flash. Your
observations make the News Flash possible. Please keep them coming!
Good Observing,
Janet A. Mattei, Director
Rebecca Pellock, Technical Assistant
==============================================================================
Please send questions to: observations@aavso.org
==============================================================================
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