TransformApplier cannot transform my ensemble observations

Sun, 06/05/2022 - 11:23

I'm trying to learn how to use TransformApplier.  I loaded my transform coefficients into my telescope description and then uploaded two AAVSO report files.  I clicked on Create AAVSO Transformed Report.  Nothing happened for about 15 minutes, then the output boxes were filled, but the program said that it was not able to do the transforms.  

# Cannot transform ENSEMBLE obs. No CREFMAG available. Possibly bad chart reference. No KREFMAG available. Possibly bad chart reference.

For some reason, I am not able to upload any files with this post.  The following are the first few lines of one of the input AAVSO report files:

#TYPE=EXTENDED
#OBSCODE=GWAA
#SOFTWARE=MPO CANOPUS/PHOTORED v10.8.4.1
#DELIM=,
#DATE=JD
#OBSTYPE=CCD
#NAME,DATE,MAG,MERR,FILT,TRANS,MTYPE,CNAME,CMAG,KNAME,KMAG,AMASS,GROUP,CHART,NOTES
2MASS J05421920+3452198,2459654.588642,12.348,0.025,V,NO,STD,ENSEMBLE,na,APS:3202:2994,12.389,1.031,na,X27865OZ,APASS comps
2MASS J05421920+3452198,2459654.592119,12.309,0.019,V,NO,STD,ENSEMBLE,na,APS:3202:2994,12.392,1.036,na,X27865OZ,APASS comps
2MASS J05421920+3452198,2459654.595597,12.286,0.019,V,NO,STD,ENSEMBLE,na,APS:3202:2994,12.398,1.041,na,X27865OZ,APASS comps
2MASS J05421920+3452198,2459654.599073,12.257,0.025,V,NO,STD,ENSEMBLE,na,APS:3202:2994,12.397,1.046,na,X27865OZ,APASS comps
2MASS J05421920+3452198,2459654.602549,12.217,0.035,V,NO,STD,ENSEMBLE,na,APS:3202:2994,12.391,1.052,na,X27865OZ,APASS comps
 

The following are the first few lines of the downloaded output:

#TYPE=EXTENDED
#OBSCODE=GWAA
#SOFTWARE=MPO CANOPUS/PHOTORED v10.8.4.1
#DELIM=,
#DATE=JD
#OBSTYPE=CCD
#NAME,DATE,MAG,MERR,FILT,TRANS,MTYPE,CNAME,CMAG,KNAME,KMAG,AMASS,GROUP,CHART,NOTES
2MASS J05421920+3452198,2459654.588642,12.348,0.025,V,NO,STD,ENSEMBLE,na,APS:3202:2994,12.389,1.031,na,X27865OZ,APASS comps
# Cannot transform ENSEMBLE obs. No CREFMAG available. Possibly bad chart reference. No KREFMAG available. Possibly bad chart reference.
2MASS J05421920+3452198,2459654.592119,12.309,0.019,V,NO,STD,ENSEMBLE,na,APS:3202:2994,12.392,1.036,na,X27865OZ,APASS comps
# Cannot transform ENSEMBLE obs. No CREFMAG available. Possibly bad chart reference. No KREFMAG available. Possibly bad chart reference.
2MASS J05421920+3452198,2459654.595597,12.286,0.019,V,NO,STD,ENSEMBLE,na,APS:3202:2994,12.398,1.041,na,X27865OZ,APASS comps
# Cannot transform ENSEMBLE obs. No CREFMAG available. Possibly bad chart reference. No KREFMAG available. Possibly bad chart reference.
2MASS J05421920+3452198,2459654.599073,12.257,0.025,V,NO,STD,ENSEMBLE,na,APS:3202:2994,12.397,1.046,na,X27865OZ,APASS comps
# Cannot transform ENSEMBLE obs. No CREFMAG available. Possibly bad chart reference. No KREFMAG available. Possibly bad chart reference.
2MASS J05421920+3452198,2459654.602549,12.217,0.035,V,NO,STD,ENSEMBLE,na,APS:3202:2994,12.391,1.052,na,X27865OZ,APASS comps
 

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?  Will TransformApplier just not work with reports based on an ensemble of comp stars?  Thanks in advance for your help.

Allen

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Applying transforms to ensemble photometry

Allen,

As you have discovered, TA doesn't work with ensembles.   The VPhot Two Color Transform tool does this.  Since you mentioned loading your transform coefficients into your telescope information, I assume you are using VPhot.  

If your telescope information contains the B-V transforms, click the box next to the B and V images in the list, then select the Two Color Transform tool.  Select the comp sequence file you used in the ensemble and the measuring aperture you want to use.  The radius of 1.5 X FWHM usually works well.

After you have culled the outlier comps click on "keep this".  The results are saved in the Analysis Log.  In the Analysis Log you can create the report file, and there is also a link to WebObs to submit the data.

Phil

 

Phil,

Thanks for the…

Phil,

Thanks for the response.  I usually use an offline program, MPO Canopus, to generate my light curves.  I might spend several nights on a single target, producing a few hundred images, and uploading them to VPhot takes too long.  Do you know of any stand alone software that will do ensemble transformations?

Allen  

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
LesvePhotometry

Allen:

LesvePhotometry will do ensemble transformations of time series.

Ken

PS: How long does it take you to upload a few hundred images to VPhot? Do you have a slow internet connection? I have a fiberoptic internet connection and I upload about 1000 images (10MB each) per night in about 15 minutes.