CCD Observing Program

Gary Walker's telescope with CCD. Gary is an active AAVSO member and committee chair.

Exoplanet Transit Search Observing Program
CCD Observing Manual: (Almost) Everything you need to know about observing variable stars with a CCD
Online Airmass & Scintillation Calculator
Excel Airmass Calculator - by Chuck Pullen
Excel spreadsheet for AIP that calculates errors - by Michael Koppelman
CCD Views: Bimonthly electronic newsletter
Getting Started with CCD Variable Star Observing
CCD Transformation Coefficients
A Discussion of Zero Points
CCD BVRI Photometry Observing Program
CCD Faint CV and LPV Project
CCD Standards Project
Batch Upload CCD Observations
Papers on CCD Topics Published in the Journal of the AAVSO
CCD Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
AAVSO High Energy Network
MP3 Recordings and PowerPoint Presentations from the High Precision Photometry Workshop, November 2001.
Observing Campaigns at a Glance
Signal-to-noise calculator
AAVSO Photometry Discussion Group

The developing technology of Charged Coupled Devices (CCDs) plays an important part in the AAVSO's mission of monitoring variable stars, as it makes it possible to obtain fainter observations of variable stars, thus complementing the AAVSO visual and photoelectric programs in a significant way. It is for this reason that in 1991 the AAVSO formed a program to monitor selected stars in the B, V, R, and I filters using CCD observations. A program of 28 faint CV and LPV's are monitored in V only, without transformations. In addition, many campaigns, short, intensive, specific targets of opportunity, are suggested through "Special Notices". Subscribe to receive Special Notices today. The AAVSO has also organized several CCD workshops, and will continue to do so in the future. The AAVSO CCD Committee is currently chaired by Gary Walker, an engineer, amateur astronomer, and an avid CCD observer.

Please address any questions, suggestions, or recommendations to Gary Walker. Further information about the CCD Observing Program, and relevant materials (observing instructions, charts, reporting procedures, purchasing filters, etc.), may be obtained upon request.