Specifications

AUTOSTAR CCD PHOTOMETRY 17
3. Raw Data Reduction
This is the stage where the photometric data is extracted from the
images. When getting the data from an image, the data will be
automatically logged into a text file called ImageInfo.txt. The
software does a great deal of the work automatically.
3.1 Arranging the Files
The following procedure steps are just suggestions, and you can
develop your own scheme, as long as it makes sense and works for
you. (Windows software is notorious for putting files in places you
do not expect, and thus losing them for you. Experiment to make
sure the files are stored where you want them.)
Create a folder with the star name and observation double date in
the title, (e.g., TOri 22-23 Jan 07). Create separate folders for the
data from each filter (e.g., B Raw Data, V Raw Data, R Raw Data,
and I Raw Data). Put the stacked Flat Field image file for each
filter in the corresponding filter data folder. Do not worry about
the Dark Fields. These have already been subtracted on the fly
during imaging.
To simplify finding the proper image files, you can first open an
image file directly -- this will open the AutoStar Image
Processing application, then the image file. You should then close
the image file, but not the image processing program. This is done
to make sure the ImageInfo.txt file is created in the correct folder
by the software. Then you may open the specific image file you
wish to start with.
Note: You can open the ImageInfo.txt file at any time, to check
the log, using the NotePad program included with Windows. You
can also edit the log at any time and save changes. However, do
not change the name or location
of the file until all the data has
been logged in. Experiment some with the following procedures,
until you are familiar with the process and how it works. It is very
important to know where the ImageInfo.txt file is stored, as this is
where your photometric data is located.