My Goals

[Tom Droege <tdroege2@earthlink.net>]

Brian's comments have caused me to think about what I am trying to do.

First, what I am not trying to do.  Millimag absolute photometry.  It is 
just not suitable to attempt this at my location.  For my goals below, 
there is no particular reason to try for standard photometric 
calibration.  This will be done if possible, but it is not my main goal.

I have read Bohden Paczynski's papers, and I have made an interpretation of 
what I think is of interest to him.  I conclude that what I want to do is 
to perform a uniform search over the northern hemisphere for variable 
objects of all periods that are obtainable in my lifetime.  Variability 
defined as more than 0.1 mag.  Range of say mag 8 to mag 12.  This is the 
sensitivity that I think I can reliably obtain.

OK, this means:

1) Periods of 10 minutes to 10 years, or non periodic variation.
2) Amplitude greater than 0.1 mag in V or Ic.
3) Simultaneous V and Ic measurements looking for something serendipitous.
4) Uniform search.

Results will compare each type of variability to the total number of stars 
measured.  I do not see myself as classifying the stars.  I will just make 
the measurements and put them into bins.  Zero to 10 minutes, 10 minutes to 
1 hr. ...  This is not everything.  But I think it is something.  By my 
interpretation of BP's papers, we do not have this information now done by 
a uniform survey.  I am content to do one bit of science.

Tom Droege