Submitting Exoplanet Transit Observations to AAVSO
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! my response was 99% completed and instead of clicking on on the damned tab, I clicked on the close tab "x." Let's try again:
Sure you can. However before AAVSO can add them to the database the host star has to be in the database. Many EP stars are, but not all. The best way to check is to go to VSX
At the botton of the page, click on "more." Do it again on the expanded page. Near the bottom of the doubly expanded page you will see a box labeled "Varibility Type." Enter "EP" (without the quotation marks) and then click on "search." that will bring up a list of all of the stars with exoplanets in VSX These should all be stars with transiting exoplanets since VSX is a database of variable stars. If the star is listed, it is in VSX and you should be able to submit observations the normal way with the extended CCD format using the name as listed in the VSX output. You might double checkthe detail page to be sure there is an AUID. I think it has to have an AUID to be in VSX but I am not positive. It has to have an AUID to submit data.
Sometimes the data base is fussy about the formatting of the name. If it doesn't take it the first time check spacing, dashes, etc in the name on the list or the VSX detail page, or just use the AUID.
If you don't see your star listed, it has to be added. "Guidelines" at the bottom of the VSX page has everything you need to know to submit a variable to be added to VSX (and a lot more that you don't need in this situation). Since This is an established variable from the literature so you just have to submit specific information so the team can fill in required info for the database, all of which you can easily find at one or both of the following, with which you are probably already familiar:
PDF the pages for the star and planet and submit with your request. The only thing I can think of that might not be on either of those two sites is the constellation in which the star resides, and even that may be included.
If you aren't a member of the VSX team you probably don't have a VSX password and can't use the submit button. So the best thing is probably to send your request with the supporting information to vsx@aavso.org, Sebastian Otero may be able to provide a more direct contact e-mail.
Wait a couple of days and then confirm that it is in VSX with an AUID, and then submit via WebObs in the normal way for CCD observations.
Sebastian, VSX team, Staff, If I goofed anything up jump in and correct me.
You might also want to submiit you light curves to ETD, if you haven't already. This site also has a nice tool for curve fitting to, and analyzing your transit light curve.
Oh, and when producing the list of EP stars, you might want to select alphanumeric (or one of the other choices if it suits you) in the order by box almost at the very bottom of the twice expanded VSX search page. The default choice won't help you organize the results of this search.
The host star has to be in VSX and an AUID has to be assigned before observations can be submitted.
There are stars in VSX without AUID (we don't encourage observations of all stars, e.g. those classified as constant or run of the mill faint stars being discovered on a daily basis nowadays) but there is a Request AUID button in the star's detail sheet that you can use and we will inmediately receive a notification and assign an AUID so you can submit observations.
Everyone can submit a new star to VSX, but you have to create a VSX account first. Click on the Register button on the VSX homepage.
VSX is not currently listing all exoplanets. Given the number of observers that are taking up exoplanet observing I think we are going to add them all soon. For now, you should submit the object if it's not in the database as you would do with another type of variable star. In this case, the information will come from the literature.
Look for data using VizieR and with this kind of object you will find several entries there coming from different papers. Choose the most recent one, go to the ADS page to read it and add all the information required in the VSX submission form.
If you find that too complicated, just drop me an e-mail to sebastian@aavso.org and I will add the EP to the database.
Many thanks for your comments. At this moment I'm out of home for vacations, I'll read all the information and I'll try to send my measures in a few days.
You have picked a well known name for you web pseudonym, particularly here in Texas. He has a 45 ton work of art (in many respects) named after him out in west Texas.
Many thanks for your information. I saw that my observed exoplanets are listed in VSX, so I understand I can send my measurements without problems. I have to use the same format as for any variable (with WebObs), right?
Yes, Brad. I use that nick from years in honour of great Double Stars observer F. G. W. Struve. Double Stars' Astrometry was my main occupation long time ago...
Yes use the normal CCD extended file format. It didn't take much work to cook up the sequences. Arne advised me a while back that for Exoplanets, it is probably best to use a single comp star as close to the host star as possible (without interfering, of course). that is more important than color matching for a relative light curve. Also although you normally get the best SNR in photometry using a comp that is close to the target in magnitude the need for relatively fast cadence in an exoplanet transit light curve may yield lower SNR with a brighter comp. So i included at least one comp significantly brighter than the host star.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! my response was 99% completed and instead of clicking on on the damned tab, I clicked on the close tab "x." Let's try again:
Sure you can. However before AAVSO can add them to the database the host star has to be in the database. Many EP stars are, but not all. The best way to check is to go to VSX
http://www.aavso.org/vsx/index.php?view=search.top&ql=0 .
At the botton of the page, click on "more." Do it again on the expanded page. Near the bottom of the doubly expanded page you will see a box labeled "Varibility Type." Enter "EP" (without the quotation marks) and then click on "search." that will bring up a list of all of the stars with exoplanets in VSX These should all be stars with transiting exoplanets since VSX is a database of variable stars. If the star is listed, it is in VSX and you should be able to submit observations the normal way with the extended CCD format using the name as listed in the VSX output. You might double checkthe detail page to be sure there is an AUID. I think it has to have an AUID to be in VSX but I am not positive. It has to have an AUID to submit data.
Sometimes the data base is fussy about the formatting of the name. If it doesn't take it the first time check spacing, dashes, etc in the name on the list or the VSX detail page, or just use the AUID.
If you don't see your star listed, it has to be added. "Guidelines" at the bottom of the VSX page has everything you need to know to submit a variable to be added to VSX (and a lot more that you don't need in this situation). Since This is an established variable from the literature so you just have to submit specific information so the team can fill in required info for the database, all of which you can easily find at one or both of the following, with which you are probably already familiar:
Exoplanets.org: http://exoplanets.org/index.html ,
Extrasolar Planets Encyclopaedia http://exoplanet.eu/
PDF the pages for the star and planet and submit with your request. The only thing I can think of that might not be on either of those two sites is the constellation in which the star resides, and even that may be included.
If you aren't a member of the VSX team you probably don't have a VSX password and can't use the submit button. So the best thing is probably to send your request with the supporting information to vsx@aavso.org, Sebastian Otero may be able to provide a more direct contact e-mail.
Wait a couple of days and then confirm that it is in VSX with an AUID, and then submit via WebObs in the normal way for CCD observations.
Sebastian, VSX team, Staff, If I goofed anything up jump in and correct me.
Brad Walter, WBY
You might also want to submiit you light curves to ETD, if you haven't already. This site also has a nice tool for curve fitting to, and analyzing your transit light curve.
Exoplanet Transit Database: http://var2.astro.cz/ETD/
Oh, and when producing the list of EP stars, you might want to select alphanumeric (or one of the other choices if it suits you) in the order by box almost at the very bottom of the twice expanded VSX search page. The default choice won't help you organize the results of this search.
Brad Walter, WBY
Brad has pointed you in the right direction.
The host star has to be in VSX and an AUID has to be assigned before observations can be submitted.
There are stars in VSX without AUID (we don't encourage observations of all stars, e.g. those classified as constant or run of the mill faint stars being discovered on a daily basis nowadays) but there is a Request AUID button in the star's detail sheet that you can use and we will inmediately receive a notification and assign an AUID so you can submit observations.
Everyone can submit a new star to VSX, but you have to create a VSX account first. Click on the Register button on the VSX homepage.
VSX is not currently listing all exoplanets. Given the number of observers that are taking up exoplanet observing I think we are going to add them all soon. For now, you should submit the object if it's not in the database as you would do with another type of variable star. In this case, the information will come from the literature.
Look for data using VizieR and with this kind of object you will find several entries there coming from different papers. Choose the most recent one, go to the ADS page to read it and add all the information required in the VSX submission form.
If you find that too complicated, just drop me an e-mail to sebastian@aavso.org and I will add the EP to the database.
Cheers,
Sebastian
Thanks, for clarifying, Sebastian.
Brad
Many thanks for your comments. At this moment I'm out of home for vacations, I'll read all the information and I'll try to send my measures in a few days.
Best regartds, and thanks.
Juan-Luis
Great!
You have picked a well known name for you web pseudonym, particularly here in Texas. He has a 45 ton work of art (in many respects) named after him out in west Texas.
http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/research/telescopes/Struve
I'm at home at last.
Many thanks for your information. I saw that my observed exoplanets are listed in VSX, so I understand I can send my measurements without problems. I have to use the same format as for any variable (with WebObs), right?
Yes, Brad. I use that nick from years in honour of great Double Stars observer F. G. W. Struve. Double Stars' Astrometry was my main occupation long time ago...
Regards,
Juan-Luis
Yes use the normal CCD extended file format. It didn't take much work to cook up the sequences. Arne advised me a while back that for Exoplanets, it is probably best to use a single comp star as close to the host star as possible (without interfering, of course). that is more important than color matching for a relative light curve. Also although you normally get the best SNR in photometry using a comp that is close to the target in magnitude the need for relatively fast cadence in an exoplanet transit light curve may yield lower SNR with a brighter comp. So i included at least one comp significantly brighter than the host star.
Brad Walter, WBY