Talk

DSLR Photometry of the High-Amplitude delta Scuti Stars V1338 Centauri, V1430 Scorpii and V1307 Scorpii

Roy Axelsen

Astronomical Association of Queensland

V1338 Centauri, V1430 Scorpii and V1307 Scorpii are high amplitude delta Scuti stars for which the last period determinations were made in 2006, 2004 and 2001 respectively. In view of the elapse of time since, DSLR photometry was taken from April to August 2015. Fourier analysis with the software PERIOD04 identified the dominant frequencies of pulsation to be 7.6372 +/- 0.0001 c/d (cycles/day), 11.93629 (+/- 0.00004) c/d and 8.54475 (+/- 0.0007) c/d respectively, corresponding to periods similar to those found by other authors.

For all three stars, additional harmonic frequencies were found, integer multiples of each of the dominant oscillations, representing the extent to which the light curves are skewed from pure sinusoids. Furthermore, an additional low amplitude frequency of 18.4335 (+/- 0.0008) c/d was identified for the star V1430 Sco, which is a new discovery. Subtle shoulders were identified on the descending limbs of the light curves of V1338 Cen and V1430 Sco. Precise times of the peaks of the light curves were calculated with the software PERANSO.

Using these times of maximum and those reported previously in the literature, new linear ephemerides were calculated, yielding the following periods, similar to those reported by other authors, but now with greater precision: 0.13093808 (+/- 0.00000003) d for V1338 Cen, 0.08377709 (+/- 0.00000001) d for V1430 Sco, and 0.11703066 (+/- 0.00000001) d for V1307 Sco. High-amplitude delta Scuti stars are suitable objects for study by amateur astronomers, who can make significant contributions to the literature using modest equipment.

Solar Astronomy - highlights of cycle 24

Dr John Wilkinson

ASV and Bendigo District Astronomical Society

Solar astronomy is becoming very popular among amateur astronomers, as well as academics. Amateurs can use special telescopes to observe the Sun every day. Many surface features show changes in appearance every hour while others change gradually over many years. The current solar cycle is numbered 24. This presentation will look at event highlights from the current cycle. The presenter will use satellite images of the Sun as well as his own images to illustrate these highlights. Techniques used by amateurs to observe the Sun will also be outlined.

Questions, discussion, close and thank you

Dave Gault and Brian Loader

RASNZ Occultation Section, IOTA

ADVS Update

Dave Gault

WSAAG, RASNZ Occultation Section, IOTA

What is the latest happening concerning ADVS? With all the chat about HX and BD cameras, one might think that ADVS is forgotten. Well this is not so, as development and beta testing continues.

TNO occultation predictions from the RIO Group

Dave Gault

WSAAG, RASNZ Occultation Section, IOTA

This talk follows on from Steve Kerr's Sunday afternoon presentation "Measuring Trans-Neptunian Objects with Backyard Telescopes". The RIO Group, lead by Bruno Sicardy and Felepe Braga Ribas, produce high quality predictions, and now Dave Herald's Occult can download the data and make the predictions and updates available quickly and easily via Hristo Pavlov's Occult Watcher software.

2014/15 Jovian Mutual Event programme

David Herald

Canberra Astronomical Society, IOTA

The next season of mutual eclipses and occultations of Jupiter's satellites runs from September this year to August next year, with about 120 events being visible from eastern Australia. Most events require making a video recording for about 10 minutes, although some events can last for an hour or more. This session will review the results of the last season, and discuss the techniques to record these interesting events and report scientifically useful results.

AOTA - Asteroidal Occultation Time Analyser : AOTA & Tangra

David Herald

Canberra Astronomical Society, IOTA

The light curve from an asteroidal occultation is affected by the size of the asteroid, Fresnel diffraction of light around the edge of the asteroid, and the effects of the star having a significant diameter, all of which is affected by noise from the earth's atmosphere and from the detector. This sessions will provide a an overview of these issues, followed by a demonstration of AOTA - Asteroidal Occultation Time Analyser - a tool for analysing an asteroidal occultation light curve.

The Making of the Watec WAT-910BD Camera System

T.A.C.O.S

The new camera on the block is the super sensitive Watec WAT-910BD, a brother to the WAT-910HX (a.k.a. Godzilla). This is a board-camera that is supplied housing-less and this talk shows how T.A.C.O.S. has turned out a purpose built housing and set up the camera-system for remote control over USB and remote desktop (if you wish), via two choices of software - Dave Herald's Watec910BD Controller, or Hristo Pavlov's OccuRec.

NTP = Network Time Protocol

Dave Gault

WSAAG, RASNZ Occultation Section, IOTA

This talk will discuss "What is NTP?", and to what extent is it currently useful for occultation observations.

Welcome to the 8th TTSO

Dave Gault and Brian Loader

IOTA, WSAAG; RASNZ, IOTA

The convenor of the 8th Trans-Tasman Symposium of Occultations, Dave Gault, and Brian Loader, representing the RANZ Occultation Section, will welcome the attendees and open the Symposium.