Proposal #298

Target: AX Aurigae
Coordinates (J2000): 05:46:50.81, +31:35:52.5

Primary objective: Refine the period of classic Cepheid variable AX Aur, identified as 3.04664 days in VSX.
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Reason: Only 65 observations in the AAVSO database of insufficient frequency to identify the target's period or to create a light curve. None of these observations are transformed data and consist only of V band and TG filtered data. Though this is listed as a classical Cepheid in the literature with a published period, there is scant data online. With this proposal I'll collect enough data to publish a full light curve with data transformed to a standard system. V magnitude in VSX: 12.15 to 12.68
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Secondary objective(s): Educational - On a personal level, learning the process of combining photometry from multiple telescopes. Combining the data with my own telescope in southern Arizona. In addition, gaining experience with transformation to standard system and submission of variable star data.

In researching this proposal I was unable to find published data for all of the BVRI filter bands and would like to collect, analyze and publish data transformed to the standar system to AAVSO database in in multiple filters.

This proposal has potential for the development of instructional documentation demonstrating the creation of valid scientific data using only the AAVSO tools provided to all members. (VSX, AAVSONet, Requesting a new sequence, VPhot, WebObs, LCG, etc.). I've already requested (and received) a sequence and chart of comparison stars for AX Aur to use for photometric measurements.

Additionally, there's an opportunity here to document along the way and create instructional materials for combining data from AAVSO sources with personal data.
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Observation Request: I would like to request one image every 45 minutes while AX Aur is above 2 air masses. Requesting one image in each of the BVRI filters. If this is not possible, requesting at least B and V filter data so that transformation of the data can be done.

Requesting that data be collected from BSM-NH2 or BSM-Hamren due to their longitude difference from a second telescope in southern Arizona and giving wider coverage of the light curve in a single night (though with multiple instruments).

Because the published period is a near multiple of 24 hours it will take some amount of time to gather data at every point along the light curve (22 nights). Requesting this observing program for 90 days to increase the likelihood that the full cycle is captured, preferably more than once full cycle.