The Orion Project web site is now up. Please see: http://www.hposoft.com/Orion/Orion.html
The Project is being coordinated with Dr. John Martin and Dr. Matt Templeton.
The Project focuses on 4 bright stars in Orion, Betelgeuse, Rigel, Mintaka and Alnilam. Other stars may be added in the future. Photometry and spectroscopy of one or more of these stars is requested. Because the stars are bright, they are easy for spectroscopy, but for photometry they can be a challenge. They are ideal for the PIN diode photometers, e.g., SSP-3 and SSP-4. For CCD photometry special techniques will be required. Using a telescope will produce saturated images so just a camera lens on a CCD photometry may work. Defocusing helps. The web site describes some ideas for techniques and provides information for both photometry and spectroscopy.
This is an ongoing Project, low stress. Orion is ideally located for most of the civilized world to observe. It is currently in a favorable position at reasonable hours.
If you are interested in contributing, have suggestion, questions or comments, please contact me. phxjeff@hposoft.com
Jeff Hopkins (HPO)
Hopkins Phoenix Observatory
(187283)