Multi-star calibration in starphotometry

We explored the improvement in starphotometry accuracy using a multi-star Langley calibration in lieu of the more traditional one-star Langley approach. Our goal was a 0.01 calibration-constant repeatability accuracy, at an operational sea-level facility such as our Arctic site at Eureka. Multi-star...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmospheric measurement techniques 2023-12, Vol.16 (24), p.6111-6121
Main Authors: IvÄnescu, Liviu, O'Neill, Norman T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Air masses
Approximation
Astronomical instruments
Calibration
Errors
Normal distribution
Random variables
Regression analysis
Sea level
Stars
Vignetting
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Summary:We explored the improvement in starphotometry accuracy using a multi-star Langley calibration in lieu of the more traditional one-star Langley approach. Our goal was a 0.01 calibration-constant repeatability accuracy, at an operational sea-level facility such as our Arctic site at Eureka. Multi-star calibration errors were systematically smaller than single-star errors and, in the mid-spectrum, approached the 0.01 target for an observing period of 2.5 h. Filtering out coarse-mode (supermicrometre) contributions appears mandatory for improvements. Spectral vignetting, likely linked to significant UV/blue spectrum errors at large air mass, may be due to a limiting field of view and/or sub-optimal telescope collimation. Starphotometer measurements acquired by instruments that have been designed to overcome such effects may improve future star magnitude catalogues and consequently starphotometry accuracy.
ISSN:1867-8548
1867-1381
1867-8548
DOI:10.5194/amt-16-6111-2023