Version 1.1 5/13/2005 xxxxxxxxxx Sub-catalogue of 423 short-period variables from the AAVSO catalogue Text catalogue (tab delimited) http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/cat/AAVSOsp14/aavsovalsp14cat.txt (39 kb) Astroplanner v1.2.5 file for 423 short-period variables http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/cat/AAVSOsp14/AAVSO Short Period Var.apd (665kb) xxxxxxxxxx 1) What's in this sub-catalogue? A subset of 423 out of 7782 stars in May 2005 edition of the American Association of Variable Star Observer's (AAVSO) main public database "united.txt" that contains AAVSO variables with periods of less than or equal to 14 days. This filter tended to select out AAVSO catalogue stars of the Algol eclipsing binary type, the RR Lyrae type, and the delta Scutum type. 2) Why was this sub-catalogue prepared? This sub-catalogue was prepared by a beginning variable star observer as an aid to developing basic observing skills. My intent was to have a smaller set of short-period variables that I could observe a variable star completely cycle within a typical 14 day "dark sky" window each month. Once visual and photographic photometry skills are honed using these short-period variables, then I intend to move on to the more prevalent longer-period Mira class variables. Instead of using the Combined General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS4.2, II/250, 2004 Ed., Samus+ 2004) directly, I felt leveraging off existing AAVSO resources, including charts and other amateur photometry measurements, was the best approach. The GCVS catalogue yields broader set of short-period variables than included in the AAVSO catalogue. This sub-catalogue may also be of use to local astronomy clubs. It includes AAVSO-listed bright variables with short-periods of one-day or less. This sub-catalogue might be used to show the general public one "inconstant" aspect of the night sky during the few hours available at a star party. Finally, this sub-catalogue was prepared as a supplement to the existing copy of GCVS catalogue that comes with the observation planning software iLanga, Inc.'s (Paul Rodham) "Astroplanner." << http://www.ilangainc.com/astroplanner/ >>. The existing Astroplanner catalogue includes the period of the variable, but it is embedded in a text field and cannot be used for sorting or selecting. For these 423 short-period variables, an Astroplanner v1.2.5 file was created that utilizes the "User1" numeric field for the period of the variable star and the "User2" field for the International Astronomical Union standard star type code. The default Astroplanner "Type" field is populated with AAVSO variable star type code(s). The "User3" field holds the difference between the maximum and minimum magnitudes. 3) What files are available that make up this sub-catalogue? ================ (A) Text catalogue of 423 short-period AAVSO variables (tab delimited): http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/cat/AAVSOsp14/aavsovalsp14cat.txt (39 kb) This file is also can used as a text import file with Astroplanner. Positions are to the nearest minute in Epoch 2000. The catalogue is sorted by RA and Dec. Note that the first few stars in the catalogue have high-proper motions. As a consequence, their AAVSO id does not match their Epoch 2000 position. ================ (B) Import file of 423 short-period AAVSO variables (csv delimited text) compatible with Patrick Chevalley's VAROBS freeware << http://www.astrosurf.org/astropc/varobs/index.html >>: http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/cat/AAVSOsp14/aavsovalsp14.txt (26 kb) This subset file of 423 stars loads faster than the 7782 record main VAROBS file. ================ (C) Cartes du Ciel compatible "external size" catalogue files for 423 short-period variables http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/cat/AAVSOsp14/AAVSOSp14.cds (1kb) http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/cat/AAVSOsp14/AAVSOSp14.dat (36kb) Edit the "cds" file to adjust the catalogue path name to your preference. This catalogue can be used to make regional and area finder charts. Positions are to the nearest fractional second in Epoch 2000. Not all the AAVSO-listed short-period variables have corresponding AAVSO finder charts. This Cartes du Ciel charting catalogue supplements existing features of Patrick Chevalley's Cartes du Ciel << http://www.astrosurf.org/astropc/cartes/index.html >> and VAROBS freeware. VAROBS includes a feature that will launch Cartes du Ciel and that uses Cartes to chart one selected star. This Cartes du Ciel external catalogue plots an overview of all 423 short-period variables. ================= (D) Astroplanner v1.2.5 file for 423 short-period variables http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/cat/AAVSOsp14/AAVSO Short Period Var.apd (665kb) As noted above, this file utilizes the "User1" field for the period of the variable star and the "User2" field for the International Astronomical Union star type code. The default Astroplanner "Type" field is populated with AAVSO variable star type code(s). File preferences were set to sort on "Visible, RA, Dec". AAVSO variable types can be decoded using an AAVSO reference list at: http://www.aavso.org/observing/aids/typelist.txt ================= (E) Astroplanner v1.2.5 import settings file and import text file http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/cat/AAVSOsp14/aavosvalsp14importsettings.txt (1kb) http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/cat/AAVSOsp14/aavsovalsp14cat.txt (39 kb) ================= (F) Frequency analysis tables for 421 variables http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/cat/AAVSOsp14/sp14frequencytables.txt (3 kb) http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/cat/AAVSOsp14/sp14frequencychart.jpg (33 kb) Shows by change in magnitude and period, the count of stars in the sub-catalogue. Chart shows stars graphed by change in magnitude and period Shows by change in magnitude and AAVSO type, the count of stars in the sub-catalogue. ================= (G) Manifest of sub-catalogue files http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/cat/AAVSOsp14/manifest.txt "Manifest.txt" is this file. ================= (H) Excel file used to recast, link and prepare the final files A 2.5Mb Excel file is available on request via email from the author. 4) How was the sub-catalogue prepared? Patrick Chevalley's VAROBS software included a text catalogue that recasts the AAVSO primary public catalogue of 7782 stars, "united.txt." That file ("aavsoval.txt) was filtered to yield the 423 short-period variables in this sub-catalogue. Chevalley's catalogue does not include RA and Dec positions or spectral types. The sub-catalogue was translated and linked to a CDS-Strausburg Simbad online data to obtain FK5 RA and Dec position and spectral data for each of the 423 variables. The resulting catalogue was recast into the output formats discussed above. 5) Who do I send corrections and/or complaints to? The files have not been extensively debugged. The first 5 stars in the sub-catalogue and 5 randomnly selected stars were checked against the source catalogues and Simbad. Any corrections would be appreciated. canopus56@yahoo.com (Kurt) Salt Lake City, Utah 6) Possible improvements Add individual special variables as reported by users. Cross-reference to Tycho-2 and add kiloparsec distances, where known. 7) Disclaimers and legal stuff I provide no express or implied warranty as the accruacy of this data compilation. No rights are asserted as to any part of this data compilation or to any source file used in its preparation. Please again note, I am a beginning variable star observer. Consider the source when using these materials. - Peace - Canopus56 Revised: 5/13/2005 v1.1 - Added change in magnitudes to catalogue and Astroplanner "User3" field. - Added frequency analysis tables and chart First issued: 5/12/2005