Fri, 08/12/2022 - 14:27
I'd like to use telescopes on iTelescope.net for photometry. Or possibly telescope.live.
I'm interested to know if any of you are using either of these? How well does it work? Any advice you can offer would be appreciated.
I have not used iTelescope, but I can tell you that VPhot transform applier lists a number of iTelescope 'scopes under standard telescopes. But at least the one I examined did not have a set of transform coefficients.
Perhaps Ken MZK knows??
Peter
Am I correct that for differential photometry transformation coefficients are not needed?
Chris:
Yes, most iTelescope systems are useful for photometry. Check out the telescope details to find those that have photometric filters such as BVRI.
Look at the VPhot forum page for the sticky post about getting your images sent to your VPhot account. Also, notice that there is a link to AAVSO VPhot on each iTelescope scope page.
Imaging costs are important to understand. There is a minimum exposure charge per image and a minimum scheduled imaging interval of 15 minutes. You can take shorter exposures and shorter runs but if you schedule your run, you will get a minimum charge for scope use. Plan accordingly. They have recently modified their charges on the basis of either image charges or session charges. Read the fine print. Obviously, if you take a long time series, charges add up quickly!
Ken
iTelescope has introduced a rebate that allows subscribers to use certain (also bigger) telescopes for free (for up to 1 h per night I think) during nights that have an almost full moon. Many of the users of iTelescope will avoid those nights because they are more interested in pretty picture photography and of course they have the luxuary to be able to pick whatever night they want, so the telescopes are under-used when there is a bright moon. But if you are doing photometry on transients or you want to have a data point for any other reason even during a non optimal night, iTelescope could be useful and affordable.
CS
HB