CHOICE Course: Photometry Using VPhot

Instructor: Ken Menzies.

This course is designed to teach observers how to conduct photometry using VPhot, the AAVSO’s cloud-based photometry reduction software. The main objective is to understand “best photometric practices” by independently conducting exercises which utilize VPhot as the photometry tool. You will learn (1) how to upload and manage your image files, (2) how to create suitable sequences, (3) how to perform differential aperture photometry on single images and time series, (4) how to generate transformation coefficients using TG, (5) how to transform your magnitudes to the standard system, (6) how to save your analyses, and (7) how to submit your results to the AAVSO. You do not have to own a CCD or have your own images since sample images will be provided.

You should complete rigorous daily exercises, and must complete weekly quizzes as well as a final examination to pass the course.

This course is only available to AAVSO members. Click here if you would like to join the AAVSO.