Generating an AAVSO Report

Tech Note: Preparing a Photometry Report for the AAVSO

This note shows how to generate a report for the AAVSO using Mira AL, AP, and Pro. This document is taken from the Mira User's Guide.

If you are a member of the American Association of Variable Star Observers ("AAVSO"), then Mira provides a handy tool that simplifies submitting variable star measurements as part of the Aperture Photometry package. This tool formats observations of one or more target stars, using one or more standard stars, in one or more images using the AAVSO's new "extended format". Various output options are available and the image below shows the report being listed in a Mira Text Editor window. You can directly submit the report produced by Mira to the AAVSO. Details concerning report submission and the format are available from the AAVSO at https://www.aavso.org.

The AAVSO report looks like the one shown at left. This example formats a report for 2 target stars using an ensemble of multiple standard stars in 5 images. Notice the word ENSEMBLE in the report, which results when more than 1 standard star is used in the image.

Setting Parameters to Control the Report

The AAVSO report is prepared after setting a number of parameters using the 2 pages of the AAVSO Report dialog shown below. Target Stars, Standards, and Check Stars are entered using Object numbers from the Photometry Measurements table.

This command is operated using the Prepare AAVSO Report button on the AAVSO page of the Aperture Photometry Preferences dialog.

Objects to use are specified using the Object number from the Photometry Measurements report. To report multiple Target Objects, you can enter numbers separated by commas, like this: 1,2,5,12 or enter a sequence of numbers like this: 1-10. You can also mix the two formats, like this: 1,2,5,8-16,24.

Command Parameters
Target Objects	Enter the list of objects to report using their Object numbers in the Photometry Measurements Report.
Standard Star	If you use 1 standard star and you want to include it in the report, enter its Object number from the Photometry Measurements table. If you used more than 1 standard star, Mira assumes you are doing ensemble photometry and automatically creates the correct standard star report.
Check Star	To include a check star in your report, Check this box and enter the Object number from the Photometry Measurements table. A check star is a target object that is not a standard star. Normally, the check star is not included among the Target Objects list.
Save Report to	Select the target of the AAVSO report. You can save it to a file, list it in a Mira Text Editor, or copy it to the Windows clipboard.
Error Source	Select which error type to use in the AAVSO report. The options are taken from the column headings in the Photometry Measurements table.
Column Separator	Enter the separator to use in the AAVSO report, or select an older separator from the list.
Observer Code	Enter your AAVSO observer code.
Chart Date	Enter the date code on the AAVSO chart used to identify objects in the field.
General Notes	Enter any general comments you wish to submit with the report.

Note:

When more than 1 standard was measured, Mira automatically inserts the word ENSEMBLE for the standard star in the AAVSO report. If you used only 1 standard, then enter its Object Number into the Select Objects dialog.

Setting Parameters to Control the Report

Command Parameters