AAVSO Observer Code
DSN
Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Full Name
Scott Donnell
Location
Elbert, CO, US
Background/Interesting Fact
B.S Physics/Mathematics, University of Wisconsin.
M.S. Astronomy/Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University.
Semi-retired aerospace engineer.
Lifetime member of the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society.
Member of the Society for Astronomical Sciences
Observing Location:
* Kiowa Creek Observatory, Elbert, Colorado.
Current Observing Programs:
* CCD photometry of long period variable stars.
* CCD photometry/astrometry of asteroids
* Timing of asteroid occultations
Equipment & Control Software:
* Meade 30.5 cm SCT
* SBIG ST-8XME CCD camera
* TheSky6 Professional for telescope control
* CCDSoft5 for camera control and real-time image calibration
* Kiowa Creek Observatory Imaging Automation for robotic telescope operations
* Kiowa Creek Observatory FitsImageCull to select images based on roundness and FWHM
* Kiowa Creek Observatory FITSCALSTAT to insert CALSTAT keyword into FIT header
* CCDSoft for Image stacking
* Astrometry.net for plate solving
* VPhot (AAVSO) for LPV photometry
* Astrometrica for asteroid photometry and astrometry
* SA200 spectroscopic grating filter and RSpec software
I also support the IOTA by generating asteroid occultation predictions
M.S. Astronomy/Astrophysics, Pennsylvania State University.
Semi-retired aerospace engineer.
Lifetime member of the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society.
Member of the Society for Astronomical Sciences
Observing Location:
* Kiowa Creek Observatory, Elbert, Colorado.
Current Observing Programs:
* CCD photometry of long period variable stars.
* CCD photometry/astrometry of asteroids
* Timing of asteroid occultations
Equipment & Control Software:
* Meade 30.5 cm SCT
* SBIG ST-8XME CCD camera
* TheSky6 Professional for telescope control
* CCDSoft5 for camera control and real-time image calibration
* Kiowa Creek Observatory Imaging Automation for robotic telescope operations
* Kiowa Creek Observatory FitsImageCull to select images based on roundness and FWHM
* Kiowa Creek Observatory FITSCALSTAT to insert CALSTAT keyword into FIT header
* CCDSoft for Image stacking
* Astrometry.net for plate solving
* VPhot (AAVSO) for LPV photometry
* Astrometrica for asteroid photometry and astrometry
* SA200 spectroscopic grating filter and RSpec software
I also support the IOTA by generating asteroid occultation predictions
Website URL
csastro.org
CHOICE Courses Completed
Photometry using VPhot | 2017-11-03 |
CCD Photometry, Part I | 2019-03-08 |
CCD Photometry, Part II | 2019-04-12 |