The Method of Measurements of Celestial Coordinates in Wide-Field TV-Frames

We present a method for calculations of equatorial coordinates of any point in the single frame of the wide-field TV systems. This method can be applying for the different television systems [wide-field cameras, all-sky cameras, the cameras with the hybrid TV-system (the system with coupled of the Image Intensifier) et al.]. In that system the calculations of distortions are difficult. Therefore, we devised this method which helps decrease errors (due to distortion and the electro-optical system).The method can be used for measuring of equatorial coordinates of meteor tracks under difficult conditions during the observations such as partial cloudiness, small number of stars and large distortions of the coordinate grid in the frame. These restrictions cannot be overcome by other methods. In the case of the small number of stars the present method using of the reference stars received on a series of frames during the observation period. The accuracy of the method has been estimated to be 4′–8′ (for cameras with fov 50°?×?40° at the CCD 720?×?576 pixels) for maximum number of reference points in the frame. The method used 3 reference points for calculation of the equatorial coordinates of the object. One can use this method if the camera was re-oriented as well. We use this method for our wide field of view cameras.     

“Falling Star”: Software for Processing of Double-Station TV Meteor Observations

Software named “Falling Star” has been developed for digital processing of double-station TV meteor observations. It was designed for measurement and calculation of both kinematic and photometric parameters of faint meteors observed with any video system. Data from video recordings are first digitized as standard AVI files, and then converted into the software’s TVS (TV sequence) format. Additional astronomical information like date, time of observations, geographic position of point of the observation and horizontal coordinates of TV camera optical axis orientation are added to the files. These parameters allow the right ascension and declination of the optical center of camera for the moment of meteor flight to be calculated. “Falling Star” includes a range of automated procedures for the identification of frame stars with star catalogues, search of movable meteor-like objects inside frame, calculation of equatorial coordinates and photometry. Finally, meteor trajectory parameters, orbital elements and brightness curves are calculated. Errors of calculations are determined using Monte-Carlo method.     

Methods and statistics of TV observations of telescopic meteors

A review of TV and telescopic methods of meteor observations and of the problems of meteor astronomy addressed using these methods is presented. A meteor patrol developed at the Astronomical Observatory of Odessa National University and based on a Schmidt telescope and a TV detector is described. The meteor patrol allows meteor events to be recorded with a time resolution of 0.04 s. The investigated characteristics of the patrol are reported, and some aspects of the methods of observations and reduction employed are considered. The results of observations made during the period 2003–2004 are reported. A total of 368 meteors were recorded on 1093 individual frames during a total patrol time of 679 hours within a 36′ × 48′ field of view. The statistical data for meteor observations are reported, and classification of meteor images is presented. The specific features of some recorded meteor events are analyzed.     

An electronic version of the second volume of the General Catalogue of Variable Stars with improved coordinates

We present a new electronic version of the second volume of the fourth edition of the General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS), which contains data on 13480 variable stars in the constellations Cygnus-Orion (the order of constellations in the Catalogue follows the Latin alphabet). The new version takes into account the Name Lists of Variable Stars from no. 67 to 76 for the same constellations. The main distinctive feature of the new version is that it contains improved equatorial J2000.0 coordinates for 13446 stars (including those for 5052 stars with an allowance made for proper motions), based on the identifications with positional catalogs using finding charts, as well as on our new measurements. We searched for a number of stars on original plates from the collections of several observatories and using digital sky survey images. The new version also includes a file of remarks to the second and third GCVS volumes. Apart from a complete update of the positional information, we took into account several corrections that were found to be necessary after the publication of the second GCVS volume (1985). We present a list of references to new Internet resources.     

A study of the photometric system of the Kiev network telescope

We performed a series of CCD observations in BVRI bands of a celestial region in cluster M67 (NGC 2682) to study the photometric system of the Kyiv network telescope. The signal recording system consists of a CGE-1400 telescope, Celestron #94175 focal reducer, an automatic turret with a set of UBVRI filters, and a Rolera Mgi CCD camera. The operating field of the system is 10.62′ × 10.62′. CCD images are processed in the MIDAS/ROMAFOT package. The reduction coefficients of the instrumental photometric system relative to Johnson’s BVRI system are determined. The resulted value of the module of distance to cluster M67 V ? M _V = 9.63 ^m does not contradict the results of other researchers. The mean square errors for one determination of stellar magnitude for different bands are 0.02–0.12 ^m . The errors in determining equatorial coordinates in the TYCHO-2 catalog system are ± 1″.     

Electronic version of the third volume of the general catalogue of variable stars with improved coordinates

We present a new electronic version of the third volume of the fourth edition of the General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS) that contains data on 13 855 variables in the constellations Pavo-Vulpecula. The Name Lists of Variable Stars from no. 67 to no. 77 were included in the new version. The main distinctive feature of the new version is that improved J2000.0 equatorial coordinates (including those for 6163 stars corrected for the proper motions) based on the identifications with positional catalogues using finding charts and on our new measurements are presented for 13 812 stars. We searched for a number of stars on original plates from the plate stacks of several observatories and using images from digital sky surveys. Apart from the complete update of the positional information, we made several corrections that were found to be necessary after the publication of the GCVS Volume III (1985) and several corrections of the information about the variability features based on photometry from currently available automatic sky surveys. A number of problem identifications are described in detail. The new version completes our long-term work on the complete revision of the positional information in the GCVS. In the Conclusions, we give a list of references to new Internet resources.     

A Method for Determining the Coordinates of Meteor Shower Radiants from Meteor Radar Goniometric Data

We discuss a new method for measuring the coordinates of meteor shower radiants from meteor radar data. The method uses a high accuracy of radar goniometer measurements of one of the angular coordinates for meteor radiants and collective properties of incident meteor showers. It is based on a computer technology of searching for the coordinates of radiants using the intersections of meteor position lines on the celestial sphere and filtering nonrandom combinations of these intersections. The method allows the following: to detect meteor showers with a rate of more than 5 per day of observations and to separate meteor groups from different meteor showers with different radiants and velocities. The method makes it possible to increase the angular resolution from 10° × 10° achieved with a quasi-tomographic technique to 2° × 2°, with a prospect of a further increase in the accuracy through the individual reduction of separated meteor groups. We use the reduction of one-day-long observations during maximum activity of the Geminids meteor shower in 1993 to illustrate the potentialities of the method. We show an example of detecting a weak meteor shower that was active during December 1993.     

An electronic version of volume I of the General Catalogue of Variable Stars with improved coordinates

We present a new electronic version of the first volume of the General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS), fourth edition, which contains data on 10558 variable stars in Andromeda-Crux (the constellations are ordered in the Catalog according to the Latin alphabet). This version incorporates the name lists of variable stars from no. 67 to no. 76 for the same constellations. The main distinctive feature of the new version is that it provides improved equatorial J2000.0 coordinates for 10349 stars (including those for 4587 stars corrected for proper motions). These are based on identifications with positional catalogs using finding charts and on our new measurements. We searched for a number of stars on original plates from the plate collections of several observatories. The version also includes a file of remarks to the first GCVS volume and a preliminary version of the file of bibliographic references to the entire fourth edition of the GCVS. Apart from a complete update of the positional information, the new version incorporates all the other corrections that were found to be necessary after the first GCVS volume was published (1985).     

赤道式天文望远镜极轴调整分析及观测结果

天文望远镜的指向精度和跟踪精度是评判一架天文望远镜的重要指标。赤道式天文望远镜的指向精度和跟踪精度受到极轴位置准确性的影响。正确地安装好极轴位置显得非常重要。极轴校正是一项很重要的工作。介绍了用观测恒星的方法来校正极轴位置,分析了合理地选择目标恒星,得出结论:在调整极轴东西方向时选择子午圈上的恒星作为观测目标恒星,在调整极轴俯仰方向时选择90°时角圈上的恒星作为观测目标恒星。经过多次调整极轴东西方向和极轴俯仰方向并对两个方向交替进行调整,望远镜的极轴将处于相当准确的位置。     

A new reduction of digitized photographic plates with selected asteroids obtained with the normal astrograph of the Pulkovo Observatory from 1948 to 1990

The results of a new reduction of 1545 photographic observations of 14 selected asteroids obtained with the Normal Astrograph of the Pulkovo Observatory from 1948 to 1990 are presented. Photographic plates stored in the archive of the observatory were digitized with a general purpose flatbed scanner using a specially developed technique. The accuracy of the reduction of photographic plates is measured. The UCAC3 catalogue has been used as a reference. Residual differences between coordinates of stars in the reference catalogue are used to analyze and tacking into account obtained instrumental systematic errors. Equatorial coordinates of 1378 individual observations of target asteroids are obtained. They are compared with the results of the reduction of the material made earlier. Among the objects of the background, positions of 1475 stars with large proper motions from the LSPM catalogue are measured.     

Catalog of the Photographic Survey of the Northern Sky (FON-2.0) built up from the scanning of astroplates: a new version

Astroplates acquired in the course of the Photographic Survey of the Northern Sky project (abbreviated as FON) were scanned at the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (MAO NASU). For this, the Microtek ScanMaker 9800XL TMA and Epson Expression 10000XL scanners were used. From 1600 plates of the total amount, the rectangular coordinates of stars were obtained. After the astrometric reduction, a catalog of the equatorial coordinates and brightness for more than 15 million stars was built up. The mean-squared errors in positions and B magnitudes of the stars in the catalog (from–2° to 90° by declination) mainly depend on the position in a plate, the overlapping multiplicity (that may reach 8), and the stellar magnitude. These errors estimated by internal convergence are within the limits of 0.1′′–0.4′′ and 0.05–0.2 ^m for the coordinates and stellar magnitudes, respectively.     

Astrometric observations of Uranus with the Pulkovo Normal astrograph

The positions of Uranus were observed astrometrically with a CCD detector attached to the Pulkovo Normal astrograph (D/F = 0.33 m/3.5 m, S2C CCD, FOV 18′ × 16′). We provide the positions in the time interval from 2006 to 2011. Reduction of the CCD images was made with reference to the UCAC3 catalogue. The (O-C) values were calculated using the “Natural Satellites Service”. The results were compared with two contemporary theories of Uranus’s motion: INPOP10 and DE414/LE414. The obtained equatorial coordinates correspond well to both theories. On average, (O-C) over both coordinates relative to both theories are 0.1″.     

Meteor44 Video Meteor Photometry

Meteor44 is a software system developed at MSFC for the calibration and analysis of video meteor data. The photometric range of the (8 bit) video data is extended from a visual magnitude range of from 8 to 3 to from 8 to −8 for both meteors and stellar images using saturation compensation. Camera and lens specific saturation compensation coefficients are derived from artificial variable star laboratory measurements. Saturation compensation significantly increases the number of meteors with measured intensity and improves the estimation of meteoroid mass distribution. Astrometry is automated to determine each image's plate coefficient using appropriate star catalogs. The images are simultaneously intensity calibrated from the contained stars to determine the photon sensitivity and the saturation level referenced above the atmosphere. The camera's spectral response is used to compensate for stellar color index and typical meteor spectra in order to report meteor light curves in traditional visual magnitude units. Recent efforts include improved camera calibration procedures and long focal length "streak" meteor photometry. Meteor44 has been used to analyze data from the 2001, 2002 and 2003 MSFC Leonid observational campaigns as well as several lesser showers.     

The accuracy of observations of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter taken at the Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of Georgia

The sets of photographic observations of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter taken at the Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of Georgia are analyzed here. Positional observations of the system of Jupiter were made in the period from 1985 to 1994 with the use of the double Zeiss astrograph in order to determine the exact coordinates of Jupiter and its satellites. The accurate positions of the satellites and Jupiter itself, as well as their stellar (equatorial) coordinates relative to the stars of the currently available catalogs and the relative ??satellite ?? satellite?? coordinates were obtained from the observations. From the comparison of the observation results with the modern theories of motion of satellites, the accuracy in determining the positions of the satellites and Jupiter was analyzed. The results of observations are presented in the Pulkovo database of observations of Solar System bodies that is accessible to users at http://www.puldb.ru.     

DO WE NEED TO MODEL PLATES AT ALL?

The historical method of obtaining equatorial coordinates for stars observed via astronomical photography has been to convert the measured coordinates to equatorial coordinates with the aid of a plate model which corrects for a variety of effects. However, we now have at our disposal novel smoothing techniques, of considerable generality, which in conjunction with modern star catalogues can reproduce the essence of the plate model while dramatically minimizing both the fortuitous and systematic errors of observation. In this paper we demonstrate that, with this technique and extant catalogues, one can obtain, with at least the same precision and better accuracy, the information necessary to transform the measured coordinates successfully into standard coordinates by a process that involves no sophisticated model for the plate. Using external checks we estimate the increase in accuracy to be of the order of 25 per cent.     

An astrometric model for Tautenburg Schmidt plates

The major principles of establishing a statistical model for plates of the Tautenburg Schmidt telescope (134/200/400) are described. The model is intended to be used for the Monte Carlo simulation of the determination of coordinates and proper motions. It has been tested with orthogonal polynomials by determining positions of stars. Under certain conditions linear equations are sufficient for the reduction of measured to standard coordinates when using the AGK3 as the reference system.     

Results of astrometric observations of Jupiter’s Galilean satellites at the Pulkovo Observatory from 1986 to 2005

The results of photographic observations of Jupiter’s Galilean satellites made with the 26-inch refractor at the Pulkovo Observatory from 1986 to 2005 are given. Satellite coordinates with respect to Jupiter and the mutual distances between the satellites have been determined. A scale-trale technique that does not require reference stars for the astrometric reduction of measurements has been used. The effect of the Jupiter phase has been taken into account in the jovicentric coordinates. The observation results have been compared with a modern theory of the Galilean satellites’ motions. Systematic observation errors depending on the observation technique have been studied. The intrinsic observation accuracy in the random quotient is characterized by the values 0.041″ over X and Y. The external accuracy of the relative Galilean satellite coordinates determined by comparing the observations with modern ephemerides turned out to be equal to 0.165″, 0.213″ for the Jovicentric coordinates and 0.134″, 0.170″ for the “satellite-satellite” coordinates. The highest accuracy of the relative satellite coordinates is reached at small distances between the satellites which are less than 100″: the corresponding mean-square errors of one observation are equal in to the external convergence to 0.050″, 0.070″. The results of photographic observations have been compared with the first CCD observations of the Jupiter satellites made in 2004 with the 26-inch refractor.     

漂移扫描CCD用于地球同步轨道卫星观测的初步结果

对于地球同步轨道卫星,目前国内主要采用两种观测手段,即小光电望远镜短曝光观测和天文望远镜跟踪恒星(或卫星)观测.事实上,这两种手段都各自存在不足,尤其对于暗弱目标问题更加显著.利用CCD漂移扫描模式和凝视模式相结合观测地球同步轨道卫星具有明显的优势,小口径望远镜(口径约25cm)就能够获得高质量的目标和恒星圆星像与高精度的定位结果.本文重点阐述了获得高精度地球同步轨道卫星光学位置与星等的原理、方法及步骤;最后,利用实测资料的数据处理结果,分析了所获得的地球同步轨道卫星的内部精度及其误差源.     

Investigation of the motions of fast stars based on observations with the Pulkovo normal astrograph

Astrometric CCD observations of 1123 stars with large proper motions (μ > 300 mas yr⁻¹) from the LSPM (I/298) catalog in the declination zone +30°–+70° have been carried out with the Pulkovo normal astrograph since 2006. The observational program includes mostly stars that previously have not entered into high-accuracy projects to determine the proper motions. Our studies are aimed at determining new proper motions of fast stars in the HCRF/UCAC3 system and searching for stars with invisible companions in the immediate Galactic neighborhoods of the Sun. Having analyzed about 10 000 CCD frames, we have obtained the equatorial coordinates of 414 program stars in the HCRF/UCAC3 system at an accuracy level of 10–50 mas and determined their new proper motions. To derive the proper motions, we have used the data from several star catalogs and surveys (M2000, CMC14, 2MASS, SDSS) as early epochs. The epoch differences range from 5 to 13 years (on average, about 10 years); the mean accuracy of the derived proper motions is 4–5 mas yr⁻¹. For 70 stars, we have revealed significant differences between the derived proper motions and those from the LSPM and I/306A catalogs (these proper motions characterize the mean motion of the photocenter in 50 years or more). Apart from systematic errors, these differences can result from the existence of invisible components of the program stars.     

Simultaneous observations of meteors with the radar and TV systems

We have carried out a simultaneous observation of radar and optical meteors with the MU radar (Middle and Upper Atmosphere Radar), Shigaraki and TV camera systems. We usually obtained about 20 meteors per an hour with 85 mm lens, but very small part of them are simultaneously observed by the MU radar (< 5%), suggesting the significance of rectangular scatterring. We have analyzed about 20 simultaneous meteors with magnitudes from 0 to +5.5, most of which are overdense meteors. For Geminid meteors, a linear relation between the logarithm of the echo duration and the absolute magnitude of the TV meteor, was deduced.