Variable Star Observing Using
Orchestrate Software
John Donovan
Pomona College Astronomy
November 20, 2002
The Goal
• To summarize the manual in 5 to 10
minutes
• Give you the resources to start scripting
right away.
http://aci50.astronomy.pomona.edu/common/webdocuments/astro101/
I. Scripting
Orchestrate Scripting
• A Software Bisque product
• Creates scripts for
TheSky and CCDSoft
• Easy-to-Use interface
Software Bisque Astronomy Suite
The Interface
• Each line gives one command and consists of:
-| Command | Argument | Comment |-
• List of commands on p.9-11 of the Orchestrate
manual.
Check http://aci50.astronomy.pomona.edu/common/webdocuments/
Taking a Light Curve
• You’ll need:
– Images of your object over time.
– Images of a standard star to make sure that
the “light curve” is real (vs. light pollution).
– Sky flats taken at longer intervals.
– Dark Frames because it’s easy to take them
seperately.
Note: if you don’t have a standard yet, you can pick from a
list (also on the webpage).
Sky Flats
Before
After
Sample
• Try 3 cycles of:
– Variable Star
– Standard Star
– Repeat x3
• Sky Flats
• Dark Frame
Take Image
Take Standard
Take Image
Take Standard
Take Image
Take Standard
Sky Flats
Dark Frame
{repeat}
Images with Orchestrate
• Take an odd # of
images.
• Average them in
IRAF/MIRA to get
one data point.
Sky Flats in Orchestrate
•
•
•
•
•
•
go North, take a pic
go South, take a pic
go East, take a pic
go West, take a pic
go N-W, take a pic
Median combine them
to get a flat
Script-lets (fragments)
Put It Together
• Try 3 cycles of:
– Image (5 pics each)
– Standard (3 pics each)
– Repeat x3
• Sky Flats (5 pics)
• Dark Frame (1 pic)
[Initial Conditions]
Take Image
Take Standard
Take Image
Take Standard
Take Image
Take Standard
Sky Flats
Dark Frame
{repeat}
II. Orchestrate
Orchestrate: the program
• Connect to Telescope (TheSky)
and Camera (CCDSoft)
• Start Orchestrate
• Connect Orchestrate to:
Orchestrate
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