Cataclysmic Cosmic Events and How to Observe Them (Astronomers' Observing Guides)

This book is about observing dramatic and often bizarre cosmic events. Observation of gamma ray bursts, cataclysmic variable star outbursts, distant supernovae, and even active galactic nuclei might be thought to be far beyond the range of amateur observers – but this is not the case. Recent technical developments in CCD equipment, powerful PCs, new observing and processing techniques, and professional satellite monitoring systems have opened a range of high-value niche areas of scientific astronomy to amateurs. **Cataclysmic Cosmic Events and How to Observe **them explains what these events are, what we know of their physics, and how amateur astronomers can observe them.**** For example, it might be thought that events as distant as gamma ray bursts (GRB) and active galaxies could not possibly be observed by amateur astronomers - but gamma ray bursts have been recorded using simple cameras with telephoto lenses. These incredibly powerful events fade dramatically, and once an orbiting satellite detects a GRB it is primarily a question of response time – so it is easily possible for amateur astronomers to be the first to respond. There are a dozen active galaxies which are easily visible in amateur telescopes visually, let alone with CCD equipment. In this era of CCDs and automated telescopes, amateur astronomers are reaching deeper than most professional astronomers were able to in the film-based era of the 1980s. The Internet allows rapid emailing of alerts, finder charts and large image files: this simply was not technically possible even 15 years ago. Monitoring cataclysmic variables is an increasingly popular aspect of amateur astronomy, with many visual observers checking dozens of these objects every clear night. Closer to home, amateurs are observing high-energy outbursts on the Sun. using the latest generation of H-alpha telescopes and filters and webcams. More and more of these outbursts will occur as we move towards the next sunspot maximum (in 2011) – possibly more than at any time since 1958. This will be an increasingly important field of amateur astronomy. Here is an exciting set of observational challenges related to some of the most spectacular events in astronomy today. It bridges the gap between the professionals, and the keen backyard amateurs wanting to contribute professional results. Cover Page 1 Cataclysmic Cosmic Events and How to Observe Them 2 Cataclysmic Cosmic Events and How to Observe Them 2 Acknowledgements 5 Contents 6 About the Author 9 Preface 10 Cataclysmic Variables 13 Cataclysmic Variables 13 A Binary System 13 Stars Almost Touching 15 Accretion Disks, Hot Spots, and Eclipses 16 Variable Star Nomenclature 17 Chap1Sec96 18 Categories of Dwarf Novae 20 Superoutbursts and Superhumps 22 Nova-likes, Z Cams, and Others 22 A Period-Luminosity Link 24 Magnetic CVs 24 Symbiotic Stars 26 How to Observe CVs 26 Online CV Information and Star Charts 27 The First CV Observation 28 Hundreds of CVs 30 Worthwhile Projects 36 Detecting Eclipsing Dwarf Novae 36 Dwarf Nova Monitoring 39 Using Robotic Telescopes for Dwarf Nova Monitoring 40 CV Outburst Successes 42 Some Good Dwarf Nova Targets for CCDs 45 V402 And 00 h 11m 07.30s +30° 32’ 36.0" 45 V455 And (formerly HS2331+3905) 23 h 34 m 01.55s +39° 21’ 42.9" 46 1502+09 Boo = EQ 1502+09 15 h 04 m 41.78s +08° 47’ 54.1" 47 V452 Cas 00 h 52 m 18.06s +53° 51’ 50.1" 48 V630 Cas 23 h 48 m 51.91s +51° 27’ 39.4" 48 SV CMi 07 h 31m 08.40s +05° 58’ 48.3" 48 GO Com 12 h 56 m 37.09s +26° 36’ 43.5" 49 V1316 Cyg 20 h 12 m 13.62s +42° 45’ 51.5" 49 V1363 Cyg 20 h 06 m 11.53s +33° 42’ 37.7" 49 CG Dra 19 h 07 m 32.78s +52° 58’ 28.9" 49 DV Dra 18 h 17 m 23.10s +50° 48’ 18.1" 50 ES Dra 15 h 25 m 31.79s +62° 01’ 00.2" 50 KV Dra 14 h 50 m 38.31s +64° 03’ 28.4" 50 CI Gem 06 h 30 m 05.86s +22° 18’ 50.7" 50 V478 Her 17 h 21m 05.60s +23° 39’ 36.8" 51 V358 Lyr 18 h 59 m 32.95s +42° 24’ 12.2" 52 V336 Per 03 h 22 m 53.84s +41° 37’ 01.4" 52 TY Vul 20 h 41m 44.0s +25° 35’ 11.0" 52 Leading CV Observers 52 Gary Poyner 52 Jeremy Shears 56 Mike Simonsen 57 Novae and brkRecurrent Novae 59 Novae and brkRecurrent Novae 59 Novae 59 Associated Nebulosity 61 Memorable Novae 62 HR Del 20 h 42m 20.30s +19° 09’ 39.0" 63 LV Vul 19 h 48 m 0.70s +27° 10’ 20.0" 63 V1500 Cyg 21 h 11m 36.60s +48° 09’ 02.0" 64 V838 Her 18 h 46 m 31.50s +12° 14’ 02.0" 65 V1974 Cyg 20 h 30 m 31.70s +52° 37’ 51.0" 65 V1419 Aql 19 h 13 m 6.80s + 01 ° 34 ’ 23.0" 66 V705 Cas 23 h 41m 47.20s + 57 ° 31 ’ 01.0" 66 V723 Cas 01 h 05 m 05.40s + 54 ° 00 ’ 40.0" 67 V2362 Cyg 21 h 11m 32.30s + 44 ° 48 ’ 04.0" 68 V5558 Sagittarii 18 h 10 m 18.27s -18 ° 46 ’ 52.1" 69 Recurrent Novae 71 How to Observe Novae and Recurrent Novae 72 Visual Patrolling 73 Other British Nova Discoverers 76 DSLR Patrolling 78 Where to Search 79 Successful Photographic Nova Hunters and their Equipment 83 Minoru Honda and his Acolytes 83 Bill Liller 84 From Film to Digital 86 Blinking the Images 89 Avoiding False Alarms 91 Patrolling for Novae Outside the Milky Way 92 Andromeda and the Pinwheel 93 The LMC and SMC 94 Obtaining Spectra of Novae 95 Checking for Recurrent Nova Outbursts 99 Recurrent Novae Worth Monitoring 101 RS Oph and T Corona Borealis 101 V404 Cyg 102 HR Lyr 104 T Pyxis 104 V3890 Sgr 105 U Sco and V745 Sco 105 V394 CrA and IM Nor 106 V2487 Oph and V3645 Sgr 106 CI Aql 107 UW Per: The Biggest Mystery? 108 AY Lac 110 SV Ari 110 EU Sct 110 FS Sct 110 Solar Flares, brkGiant Prominences, brkand Flare Stars 111 Solar Flares, brkGiant Prominences, brkand Flare Stars 111 Solar Flares 111 Prominences 113 The 11-Year Cycle 114 Major Flares 115 How to Observe Solar Flares and Prominences 117 H-Alpha Viewing 117 H-Alpha Imaging 120 VLF Radio Detection of Solar Flares 123 Flare Stars 124 How to Observe Flare Stars 125 Top Flare Star Targets 126 Bright Supernovae brk and Hypernovae 133 Bright Supernovae brk and Hypernovae 133 Type Ia Supernovae 133 Massive Progenitor/Core-Collapse Supernovae 134 Supernova Subtypes 136 The ‘Champagne’ Supernova 140 The Brightest Supernovae 140 Extraordinary Supernovae 141 Supernova 1987A 142 Supernova 1993J 143 Supernova 1980K 144 Supernova 2004dj 144 Ultrabright Supernovae and Hypernovae 145 SN 2002ap: A Messier Galaxy Supernova 145 SN 2006gy: The Most Luminous Supernova Ever? 146 SN 2006jc: The Supernova that went off twice! 147 How to Discover and Observe Supernovae 147 Supernova Light-Curves 147 How to Search for Supernovae 149 The Competitors 153 Hardware for Patrollers 158 Software for Patrollers 158 Checking Software 159 Astrometric Software 160 Active Galaxies 162 Active Galaxies 162 Super massive Black Holes 164 Confusing Classifications 167 Quasars 168 3C 273 170 PKS 1749+096 171 Blazars, OVVs, and BL Lac Objects 172 3C 279 173 BL Lac 173 Markarian 421 173 OJ 287 174 3C 66A 178 W Comae 179 S5 0716+71 179 Seyfert Galaxies 179 M77 180 NGC 4151 181 Active Galaxies for Observing 183 Gamma Ray brkBursters 187 Gamma Ray brkBursters 187 What Causes GRBs? 188 Short-Duration GRBs 189 Some Historic GRBs 192 GRB 970228 192 GRB 970508 193 GRB 971214 193 GRB 980425 = SN 1998bw 193 GRB 990123 194 A New GRB Detection Era 195 GRBs from the SWIFT Era 195 GRB 050509B 195 GRB 050724 196 GRB 050904 196 GRB 060218 = SN 2006aj 197 GRB 060505 197 How to Observe GRBs 197 Notable Amateur Successes to Date 199 Warren Offutt and GRB 990123 199 The Buffalo, NY, Astronomical Association and GRB 000301C 200 A Texas/Finland Success Story: GRB 000926 200 GRB 010222 202 GRB 021004 202 GRB 030329A = SN 2003dh 203 GRB 071010B 205 Final Thoughts 205 How to Do Visual brkand CCD Photometry 207 How to Do Visual brkand CCD Photometry 207 Visual Photometry 207 The Retina 208 Dark Adaption 208 Estimating Magnitudes Visually 212 Magnitude Reporting 213 Fractional Estimates 213 Pogson Step Estimates 214 Julian Date 214 Ergonomics 215 CCD Photometry 216 Photometry in Detail 218 A Different Type of Aperture and FWHM 220 Dark Frames 221 Flat Fields 223 UBVRI 225 Carrying Out Photometry 227 CCDSoft 228 Creating a Light-Curve with CCDSoft 229 AIP4Win 230 Time-Resolved Photometry 232 AIP’s Multiple Image Photometry 232 Period Determination Techniques 235 Resources 238 Resources 238 Cataclysmic Variables 238 Novae and Recurrent Novae 238 Solar Flares, Giant Prominences, and Flare Stars 239 Bright Supernovae and Hypernovae 239 Galaxy Catalogs Used by Supernova Patrollers 239 Active Galaxies 240 Gamma Ray Bursters 240 How to Do Visual and CCD Photometry 240 Thumbnail Atlas of Selected CVs, Recurrent Novae, and Flare Stars 240 Index 244

This book is about observing dramatic and often bizarre cosmic events. Observation of gamma ray bursts, cataclysmic variable star outbursts, distant supernovae, and even active galactic nuclei might be thought to be far beyond the range of amateur observers – but this is not the case. Recent technical developments in CCD equipment, powerful PCs, new observing and processing techniques, and professional satellite monitoring systems have opened a range of high-value niche areas of scientific astronomy to amateurs.

Cataclysmic Cosmic Events and How to Observe them explains what these events are, what we know of their physics, and how amateur astronomers can observe them.

For example, it might be thought that events as distant as gamma ray bursts (GRB) and active galaxies could not possibly be observed by amateur astronomers - but gamma ray bursts have been recorded using simple cameras with telephoto lenses. These incredibly powerful events fade dramatically, and once an orbiting satellite detects a GRB it is primarily a question of response time – so it is easily possible for amateur astronomers to be the first to respond.

There are a dozen active galaxies which are easily visible in amateur telescopes visually, let alone with CCD equipment. In this era of CCDs and automated telescopes, amateur astronomers are reaching deeper than most professional astronomers were able to in the film-based era of the 1980s. The Internet allows rapid emailing of alerts, finder charts and large image files: this simply was not technically possible even 15 years ago. Monitoring cataclysmic variables is an increasingly popular aspect of amateur astronomy, with many visual observers checking dozens of these objects every clear night.

Closer to home, amateurs are observing high-energy outbursts on the Sun. using the latest generation of H-alpha telescopes and filters and webcams. More and more of these outbursts will occur as we move towards the next sunspot maximum (in 2011) – possibly more than at any time since 1958. This will be an increasingly important field of amateur astronomy.

Here is an exciting set of observational challenges related to some of the most spectacular events in astronomy today. It bridges the gap between the professionals, and the keen backyard amateurs wanting to contribute professional results.

In the Victorian era – or for non-British readers, the mid-to-late nineteenth century – amateur astronomy tended to center on Solar System objects. The Moon and planets, as well as bright comets, were the key objects of interest. The brighter variable stars were monitored, but photography was in its infancy and digital imaging lay a century in the future. Today, at the start of the twenty-first century, amateurs are better equipped than any professionals of the mid-twentieth century, let alone the nineteenth. An amateur equipped with a 30-cm telescope and a CCD camera can easily image objects below magnitude 20 and, from very dark sites, 22 or 23. Such limits would have been within the realm of the 100- and 200-inch reflectors on Mount Wilson and Mount Palomar in the 1950s, but no other observatories. However, even those telescopes took hours to reach such limits, and then the photographic plates had to be developed, fixed, and examined by eye. In the modern era digital images can be obtained in minutes and analyzed ‘on the fly’ while more images are being downloaded. Developments can be e-mailed to other interested amateurs in real time, during an observing session, so that when a cataclysmic event takes place amateurs worldwide know about it. As recently as the 1980s, even professional astronomers could only dream of such instantaneous communication and proc- sing ability. ASTRONOMERS’ OBSERVING GUIDES provide up-to-date information for amateur astronomers who want to know all about what it is they are observing. This is the basis of the first part of the book. The second part details observing techniques for practical astronomers, working with a range of different instruments. This book invites you to observe the most spectacular, high-energy events taking place in the cosmos. Even though these events may occur hundreds, thousands, millions or even billions of light-years away, you can witness them using the naked eye, binoculars, or telescopes. The book covers cataclysmic variable stars (CV’s), novae and dwarf novae, recurrent novae, solar flares, flare stars and prominences as well as the more distant supernovae, hypernovae, blazars, quasars, and gamma ray bursters. There are also sections on photometry, equipment, and software as well as many valuable observing tips based on the author’s own experience viewing these events. For the amateur astronomer who is ready to leave the confines of the Solar System and look out into deep space, this book offers a variety of exciting challenges and suggestions enabling you to contribute real scientific data on high energy outbursts and cataclysmic cosmic events with just your backyard telescope and a bit of know-how. Front Matter....Pages i-xv Cataclysmic Variables....Pages 1-46 Novae and Recurrent Novae....Pages 47-98 Solar Flares, Giant Prominences, and Flare Stars....Pages 99-120 Bright Supernovae and Hypernovae....Pages 121-149 Active Galaxies....Pages 151-175 Gamma Ray Bursters....Pages 177-196 How to Do Visual and CCD Photometry....Pages 197-227 Back Matter....Pages 229-238