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diff --git a/noao/digiphot/daophot/doc/userdocs/daophot.usr.tex b/noao/digiphot/daophot/doc/userdocs/daophot.usr.tex new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ce4ed623 --- /dev/null +++ b/noao/digiphot/daophot/doc/userdocs/daophot.usr.tex @@ -0,0 +1,2005 @@ +%de 21 (summer solstice, midnight, la serena) (this is IT, Phil!) +%more done on Dec 27th or so +%typos fixed 28 Dec 1pm +%more done on Dec 28th (1st 4-m night morning) +%copy xfered from Chile on Jan 1, 1990 +%modifications made after the AAS meeting, Jan 15 1990: +% end itemize problems fixed +% buku aperture photometry stuff added Jan 15/16 +% started to make Lindsey's changes Jan 28th +% Next set of changes made Feb. 18th when we SHOULD have been +% off with marcia having a good time. +% more modifications Monday Feb 19 +% march 20/21 mods made in Boulder----Lindsey's comments +% march 20/21 mods made in Boulder---beginning of JB's comments +% march 27 mods back in Tucson +% may 11th, fixed the sumed/average read-noise problem! +\documentstyle[11pt,moretext]{article} +\begin{document} +\title{A User's Guide to Stellar CCD Photometry with IRAF} +\author{Philip Massey \and Lindsey E. Davis} +\date{March 29, 1990} +\maketitle +\begin{abstract} +This document is intended to guide you through the steps for obtaining +stellar photometry from CCD data using IRAF. It deals both with the +case that the frames are relatively uncrowded (in which case simple +aperture photometry may suffice) and with the case that the frames +are crowded and require more sophisticated point-spread-function +fitting methods (i.e., {\bf daophot}). In addition we show how one +goes about obtaining photometric solutions for the standard stars, and +applying these transformations to instrumental magnitudes. +\end{abstract} +\tableofcontents +\eject +\section{Introduction} +This user's guide deals with both the ``relatively simple" case of +isolated +stars on a CCD frame (standard stars, say, or uncrowded program stars) +and the horrendously more complicated case of crowded field +photometry. We describe here all the steps needed to obtain instrumental +magnitudes and to do the transformation to the standard system. There +are, of course, many possible paths to this goal, and IRAF provides no +lack of options. We have chosen to illuminate a straight road, but many +side trails are yours for the taking, and we will occasionally point +these out (``let many flowers bloom"). This Guide is {\it not} intended +as a reference manual; for that, you have available (a) the various +``help pages" for the routines described herein, (b) ``A User's Guide +to the IRAF APPHOT Package" by Lindsey Davis, and (c) ``A Reference +Guide to the IRAF/DAOPHOT Package" by +Lindsey Davis. (For the ``philosophy" and algorithms of DAOPHOT, see +Stetson 1987 {\it PASP} {\bf 99}, 111.) +What {\it this} manual is intended to be is a real +``user's guide", in which we go through all of the steps necessary to go +from CCD frames to publishable photometry. (N.B.: as of this writing +the IRAF routines for determining the standard transformations and +applying those transformations are still being written.) We outline +a temporary kludge that will work with Peter Stetson's CCDRED VMS +Fortran package. Hopefully the PHOTRED package currently under +development at Cerro Tololo will be available by Spring 1990, and +this manual will then be revised. + +The general steps involved are as follows: (1) fixing the header +information to reflect accurate exposure times and airmasses, +(2) determining and cataloging the characteristics of your data (e.g., +noise, seeing, etc.), +(3) obtaining instrumental magnitudes for all the standard stars +using aperture photometry, (4) obtaining instrumental magnitudes for +your program stars using IRAF/daophot, (5) determining the aperture +correction for your program stars, (6) computing the transformation +equations for the standard star photometry, and (7) applying these +transformations to your program photometry. We choose to illustrate +these reductions using {\it UBV} CCD data obtained with an RCA chip on the 0.9-m +telescope at Cerro Tololo, but the techniques are applicable to data +taken with any detector whose noise characteristics mimic those of a +CCD. + +If you are a brand-new IRAF user we strongly recommend first reading the +document ``A User's Introduction to the IRAF +Command Language" by Shames and Tody, which can be found in Volume 1A +of the 4 blue binders that compose the IRAF documentation. (Actually +if you are a brand-new IRAF user one of us recommends that you find +some simpler task to work on before you tackle digital stellar photometry!) +The procedures described here will work on any system supported by IRAF; +for the purposes of discussion, however, we will assume that you are +using the image display capabilities of a SUN. If this is true you then +may also want to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of using +the SUN Imtool window; the best description is to be found in ``IRAF +on the SUN". + +We assume that your data has been read onto disk, and that the basic +instrumental signature has been removed; i.e., that you are ready +to do some photometry. If you haven't processed your +data this far yet, we +refer you to ``A User's Guide to Reducing CCD Data with IRAF" by Phil +Massey. + +\section{Getting Started} + +\subsection{Fixing your headers} +You're going to have to this some time or another; why not now? There +are two specific things we may need to fix at this point: (a) Add any +missing header words if you are reducing non-NOAO data, (b) correct the +exposure time for any shutter opening/closing time, and (c) correct the +airmass to the effective middle of the exposure. + +Two things that will be useful to have in your headers are the exposure +time and the airmass. If you are reducing NOAO data then you will +already have the exposure time (although this may need to be corrected +as described in the next paragraph) and enough information for the {\bf +setairmass} task described below to compute the effective airmass of the +observation. You can skip to the ``Correcting the exposure time" +section below. +If +you are reducing non-NOAO data you should examine your header with a + +\centerline{ {\bf imhead} imagename{\bf l+ $|$ page} } + +\noindent +and see exactly what information {\it is} there. If you are lacking the +exposure time you can add this by doing an + +\centerline{ {\bf hedit} imagename{\bf ``ITIME"} value {\bf add+ up+ +ver- show+} } + +\noindent +If you know the effective airmasses you can add an ``AIRMASS" keyword in +the same manner, or if you want to compute the effective airmass +(corrected to mid-exposure) using {\bf setairmass} as described below, +you will need to have the celestial coordinates key words ``RA" and +``DEC", as well as the siderial-time (``ST"), +and preferably the coordinate ``EPOCH" and the date-of-observation +(``DATE-OBS"), all of which should have the form shown in Fig.~\ref{header}. + +You may want to take this opportunity to review the filter numbers in the +headers, and fix any that are wrong. If you are lacking filter numbers +you may want to add them at this point. + +\subsubsection{Correcting the exposure time} +The CTIO 0.9-m has an effective exposure time that is +25-30ms longer than the requested exposure time (Massey et al. 1989 {\it +A.J.} {\bf 97}, 107; Walker 1988 {\it NOAO Newsletter} {\bf No. 13}, +20). First see what "keyword" in your header gives the exposure time: + +\centerline{ +{\bf imhead} imagename{\bf.imh l+ $|$ page} } + +\noindent +will produce a listing such as +given in Figure~\ref{header}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.2in} +\caption{\label{header}Header information for image n602alu.imh}. +\end{figure} +The exposure time keyword in this header is ``ITIME". In this case +we wish to add a new exposure time to each of the headers; we will call +this corrected exposure time +EXPTIME, and make it 25 ms larger than whatever value is listed as +ITIME. To do this we use the {\bf hedit} command as follows: + +\centerline{ +{\bf hedit *.imh EXPTIME ``(ITIME+0.025)" ver- show+ add+}.} + +\noindent +An inspection of the headers will now show a new keyword EXPTIME. +(Walker lists a similar correction for the CTIO 1.5-m shutter, but the +CTIO 4-m P/F shutters have a negligible correction. +The direct CCD shutters on the Kitt Peak CCD cameras give +an additional 3.5ms of integration on the edges but 13.0ms in the +center [e.g., Massey 1985 {\it KPNO Newsletter} {\bf 36}, p. 6]; +if you have any 1 second exposures you had best correct these by +10ms or so if you are interested in 1\% photometry.) + +\subsubsection{Computing the effective airmass} +The task {\bf setairmass} in the {\bf astutil} package will compute +the effective airmass of your exposure, using the header values of RA, +DEC, ST, EPOCH, and DATE-OBS, and whatever you specify for the observatory +latitude. An example is shown in Fig.~\ref{setairmass}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{2.5in} +\caption{\label{setairmass} The parameter file for {\bf setairmass}.} +\end{figure} +The default for the latitude is usually the IRAF +variable {\bf observatory.latitude}. To by-pass this ``feature", simply +put the correct latitude in the parameter file +(e.g., $-30.1652$ for CTIO, +$+31.963$ for KPNO; $+19.827$ for Mauna Kea.). + +\subsection{{\bf imexamine:} A Useful Tool} + +The {\bf proto} package task {\bf imexamine} is a powerful and versatile task +which can be used to interactively examine image data at all stages of +the photometric reduction process. In this section we discuss and +illustrate those aspects of {\bf imexamine} which are most useful to +photometrists with emphasis on three different applications of the task: +1) examining the image, for example plotting lines and columns +2) deriving image characteristics, for example computing the +FWHM of the point-spread function 3) comparing the same region +in different images. + +The task +{\bf imexamine} lives within the {\bf proto} package, and you will also need +to load {\bf images} and {\bf tv}. Then +{\bf display} the image, and type {\bf imexamine}. +When the task is ready to accept input the image cursor will begin blinking +in the display window, and the user can begin executing various keystroke +and colon commands. The most useful data examining commands are summarized +below. The column, contour, histogram, line and surface plotting commands +each have their own parameter sets which set the region to be plotted and +control the various plotting parameters. All can be examined and edited +interactively from within the {\bf imexamine} task using the +appropriate {\bf :epar} command. + +\begin{description} + \item[c] - Plot the column nearest the image cursor + \item[e] - Make a contour plot of a region around the image cursor + \item[h] - Plot the histogram of a region around the image cursor + \item[l] - Plot the line nearest the image cursor + \item[s] - Make a surface plot of a region around the image cursor + \item[:c N] - Plot column N + \item[:l N] - Plot line N + \item[x] - Print the x, y, z values of the pixel nearest the image cursor + \item[z] - Print a 10 by 10 grid of pixels around the image cursor + \item[o] - Overplot + \item[g] - Activate the graphics cursor + \item[i] - Activate the image cursor + \item[?] - Print help + \item[q] - Quit {\bf imexamine} + \item[:epar c] - Edit the column plot parameters + \item[:epar e] - Edit the contour plot parameters + \item[:epar h] - Edit the histogram plot parameters + \item[:epar l] - Edit the line plot parameters + \item[:epar s] - Edit the surface plot parameters + +\end{description} + + +Example 1 below shows how a user can interactively +make and make hardcopies of image line plots using {\bf imexamine} and at the same time +illustrates many of the general features of the task. + +The {\bf imexamine} task also has some elementary image analysis capability, including +the capacity to do simple aperture photometry, compute image statistics +and fit radial profiles. The most useful image analysis commands are +listed below. + +\begin{description} +\item[h] - Plot the histogram of a region around the cursor +\item[r] - Plot the radial profile of a region around the cursor +\item[m] - Plot the statistics of a region around the cursor +\item[:epar h] - Edit the histogram parameters +\item[:epar r] - Edit the radial profile fitting parameters +\end{description} + +Example 2 shows how a photometrist might use {\bf imexamine} +and the above commands to estimate the following image characteristics: +1) the full width at +half maximum (FWHM) of the point-spread function, 2) the background sky level +3) the standard deviation of the background level 4) and the radius at which +the light from the brightest star of interest disappears into the noise +(this will be used to specify the size of the point-spread-function, +e.g.,PSFRAD). + +Finally {\bf imexamine} can be used to compare images. Example 3 +shows how to compare regions in the original image and in the +same image with all the fitted stars subtracted out. The example +assumes that the target image display device supports multiple frame buffers, +i.e. the user can load at +least two images into the display device at once. + +The {\bf imexamine} task offers even more features than are discussed here and the +user should refer to the manual page for more details. + +\vspace{12pt} +{\bf Example 1:} Plot and make hardcopies of image lines within {\bf imexamine}. + +\begin{itemize} +\item {\bf display} the image and then type {\bf imexamine}. +\item move the image cursor to a star and tap {\bf l} to plot the image +line nearest the cursor +\item tap the {\bf g} key to activate the graphics cursor +\item type {\bf :.snap} to make a hardcopy of the plot on your default device +\item expand a region of interest by first moving the graphics +cursor to the lower left corner of the region and typing {\bf E}, +and then moving the graphics cursor to the upper right corner +of the region and typing anything +\item type {\bf :.snap} to make a hardcopy of the new plot +\item tap the {\bf i} key to return to the image cursor menu +\item type {\bf :epar l} to enter the line plot parameter set, change the +value of the logy parameter to yes and type {\bf CNTL-Z} to exit and +save the change +\item repeat the previous line plotting commands +\item type {\bf q} to quit {\bf imexamine} +\end{itemize} + +{\bf Example 2:} Compute some elementary image characteristics using +{\bf imexamine}. + +\begin{itemize} +\item {\bf display} the image and then type {\bf imexamine}. +\item move to a bright star and tap the {\bf r} key +\item examine the resulting radial profile plot and note the final +number on the status line which is the FWHM of the best fitting +Gaussian +\item repeat this procedure for several stars to estimate a good +average value for the FWHM +\item set the parameters of the statistics box ncstat and nlstat +from 5 and 5 to 21 and 21 with {\bf :ncstat 21} and {\bf :nlstat 21} +commands so that the sizes of the statistics and histogram +regions will be identical +\item move to a region of blank sky and tap the {\bf m} key to get an +estimate of the mean, median and standard deviation of the +sky pixels in a region 21 by 21 pixels in size around the +image cursor +\item leave the cursor at the same position and tap the {\bf h} key to +get a plot of the histogram of the pixels in the same region +\item tap the {\bf g} key to activate the graphics cursor, move the +cursor to the peak of the histogram and type {\bf C} to print out +the cursor's value. The ``x" value then gives you a good estimate of +the sky. Similarly, you can move the cursor to the +half-power point of +the histogram and type {\bf C} to estimate the standard deviation +of the sky pixels. Tap the {\bf i} key to return to the +image cursor menu +\item compare the results of the h and m keys +\item repeat the measurements for several blank sky regions and note +the results +\item move to a bright unsaturated star and turn up the zoom and + contrast of the display device as much as possible +\item using the {\bf x} key mark the point on either side of the center +where the light from the star disappears into the noise +and estimate PSFRAD +\item type {\bf :epar r} to edit the radial profile fitting parameters +and set rplot to something a few pixels larger than PSFRAD +and tap the {\bf r} key +\item note the radius where the light levels off and compare with +the eyeball estimate +\item repeat for a few stars to check for consistency +\item type {\bf q} to quit imexamine +\end{itemize} + +\noindent +{\bf Example 3:} Overplot lines from two different images. + +\begin{itemize} +\item {\bf imexamine image1,image2} +\item move the image cursor to a star and type {\bf z} to print the +pixel values near the cursor +\item tap the {\bf n} key to display the second image followed by {\bf z} +to look at the values of the same pixels in the second +image +\item tap the {\bf p} key to return to the first image +\item tap {\bf l} to plot a line near the center of the star and tap +the {\bf o} key to overlay the next plot +\item tap the {\bf p} key to return to the second image and without +moving the image cursor tap the l key again to overplot +the line +\item type {\bf q} to quit imexamine +\end{itemize} + +\subsection{Dealing with Parameter Files (Wheels within Wheels)} + +The {\bf daophot} (and {\bf apphot}) packages are unique in IRAF in that +they obtain +pertinent information out of separate ``parameter files" that can be +shared between tasks. As anyone that +has used IRAF knows, each IRAF command has its own parameter file that +can +be viewed by doing an {\bf lpar} {\it command} or edited by doing an +{\bf epar} {\it command}. +However, in {\bf daophot} and {\bf apphot} there are ``wheels within +wheels"---some of the parameters are in fact parameter files themselves. +For instance, the aperture photometry routine {\bf phot} does not +explicitly +show you the methods and details of +the sky fitting in its parameter file. +However, if you do an {\bf lpar phot} +you will see a parameter +called ``fitskypars" which +contains, among many other things, the radii of the annulus to be used +in determining the sky value. +You will also find listed ``datapars" (which specifies the properties +of your data, such as photons per ADU and read-noise), ``centerpars" +(which +specifies the centering algorithm to be used), and ``photpars" (which gives +the +size of the digital apertures and the zero-point magnitude). +The contents of any of these parameter files can be altered either by +{\bf epar}ing them on their own or by typing a ``:e" while on that +line of the main parameter file. If you do the latter, a control-z +or a ``:q" will bring you back. +For example, to examine or edit {\bf fitskypars}, you can +do an explicit {\bf lpar fitskypars} +or {\bf epar fitskypars}, or you can do an {\bf epar phot}, move the +cursor down to the ``fitskypars" line, and then type a {\bf :e} to edit +(see Fig.~\ref{wheels}). +\begin{figure} +\vspace{4.2in} +\caption{\label{wheels}Changing the Sky Annulus in {\bf fitskypars}.} +\end{figure} +Confusing? You bet! +But once you are used to it, it is a convenient and powerful way to +specify a whole bunch of things that are used by several different +commands---i.e., you are guaranteed of using the same parameters in +several different tasks. If there is only one thing that you want to +change in +a parameter file you {\it can} enter it on the command line when +you run the command, just as if it were a ``normal" (hidden) parameter, +i.e., {\bf phot imagename dannulus=8.} does the same as +running {\bf epar fitskypars} and changing the ``width of sky annulus" +{\bf dannulus} to 8.0. + +Mostly these things are kept out of the way (``very hidden" parameters) +because you {\it don't} want to be changing them, once you have set them +up for your data. There are exceptions, such as changing the PSF radius +in making a point-spread function in a crowded field (Sec. 4.6). +However, +you are well protected here if you leave the {\bf verify} switch on. +A task will then give you an opportunity to take one last look at +anything +that you really care about when you run the task. For instance, if we +had simply run {\bf phot} on an image (we'll see how to do this shortly) +it would have said ``Width of sky annulus (10.)", at which point we +could +either have hit [CR] to have accepted the 10., or we could have +entered a new value. + + +\section{Aperture Photometry on your Standards} + +Standard stars provide a good example of relatively uncrowded +photometry, +and in this section we will describe how to obtain instrumental +magnitudes for your standards using {\bf phot}. +The basic steps are +\begin{itemize} + \item Decide what aperture size you wish to use for measuring your + standards {\bf (this should be the same for all the frames).} At the + same time we will pick a sky annulus. + \item Set up the various parameter files ({\bf datapars, + centerpars, fitskypars, photpars}) to have the correct values. + \item For each frame: + \begin{enumerate} + \item Identify the standard star(s) either + interactively using a cursor + or by using the automatic star finding algorithm + {\bf daofind}. + \item Run the aperture photometry program {\bf phot} + on each of your standard star frames. +\end{enumerate} +\end{itemize} +Although the routines you will need to use are available both in the +{\bf daophot} and {\bf apphot} packages, we strongly advise you to run +them from the {\bf daophot} package: the default setup is somewhat different, +and the two packages each have their own data parameter files. + +\subsection{Picking an Aperture Size} +Unfortunately, there are not good tools available with IRAF to do this +yet, and we will restrict our discussion here to some of the +considerations before telling you to just go ahead and use a radius that +is something like 4 or 5 times the FWHM of a stellar image; e.g., +12 or 15 +pixels as a radius, assuming you have the usual sort of ``nearly +undersampled" FWHM$\approx3$ data. +You might naively expect (as I did) that you wish to pick an aperture +size +that will ``contain all the light" from your standard stars, but in fact +this is impossible: the wings of a star's profile extend much further +than you imagine at a ``significant" level. King (1971 {\it Publ. +A.S.P.} {\bf 83}, 199) and Kormendy (1973 {\it A.J.} {\bf 78}, 255) +discuss the fact that on photographic plates the profile of a star +extends out to {\it arcminutes} at an intensity level far exceeding the +diffraction profile; Kormendy attributes this to scattering off of dust +and surface irregularities on the optical surfaces. +Massey {\it et al}.\ (1989 {\bf 97}, 107) discusses +this in regards to CCD's and standard star solutions using the very data +we are using here as an example (which is not exactly a coincidence). +Although the intensity profile falls off rapidly, the increase in area +with radius increases rapidly, and in practical terms Massey {\it et +al.} +found that in cases where the FWHM was typically small (2.5-3 pixels), +increasing the digital aperture size from a diameter of 18 pixels to +one of 20 pixels resulted in an additional 1-2\% increase in light +for a well-exposed star, and that this increase continues +for larger apertures until masked by the photometric errors. + +Given that you presumably want 1\% photometry or better, what should you +do? +Well, the fact that photoelectric photometery through fixed apertures +in fact does +work suggests that there is some radius beyond which the same fraction +of +light is excluded, despite variations in the seeing and guiding. You do +not want to choose a gigantic aperture ($>$ 20 pixels, say) because the +probability of your having a bad pixel or two goes up with the area. +But you do not want to choose too small an aperture ($<$10 pixels, say) +or you will find yourself at the mercy of the seeing and guiding. Most +photoelectric photometrists will use an aperture of at least 10 +arcseconds in diameter, but remember you have one advantage over them: +you are not sensitive to centering errors, since any digital aperture can +be exactly centered. +If you +have enough standard star observations (I used about 300 obtained over a +10 night run) you can +compute magnitude differences between a large aperture (20 pixels), +and a series of smaller apertures (8, 10, 12, 15, 18) for each filter, +and then see for which radius the difference (in magnitudes) becomes +constant. Unfortunately, there are no tools currently available within +IRAF for taking the differences between two apertures, or for conveniently +plotting these differences, so you are on your own. My recommendation +would be that if you have typical data with a +FWHM of $\leq 4$ pixels, that you use something like an aperture of 12 to 15 +pixels in radius for your standard stars. {\bf You can save yourself a lot +of trouble if you simply adopt a single radius for all the standards +from all the nights for all filters.} + +\subsection{Setting Things Up} + +As discussed in ``Dealing with Parameter Files" (Section 2.1) we must +setup the parameter files from which {\bf phot} will get the details of +what it is going to do. The easiest way to do this is to simply +{\bf epar phot}, and on each of the four parameter lists to do a +{\bf :e}. Mostly we will leave the defaults alone, but in fact you will +have to change at least one thing in each of the four files. + +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.5in} +\caption{\label{photdatapars} Parameters for {\bf datapars}.} +\end{figure} +In {\bf datapars} (Fig.~\ref{photdatapars}) we need to specify both +the FWHM +of a star image ({\it fwhmpsf}) and the +threshold value above sky ({\it threshold}) if we are going to use the +automatic star-finding routine {\bf daofind}; the choices for these +are discussed further below. In order to have +realistic +error estimates for our aperture photometry we need to specify +the CCD readnoise {\it readnoise} in electrons and the +gain (photons per ADU) for the CCD {\it epadu}. +In order to +correct the results for the exposure time we need the exposure time +keyword {\it +exposure}. Do an + +\centerline{{\bf imhead} {\it imagename} {\bf l+ $|$ page}} + +\noindent +to see a +listing of all the header information (Fig.~\ref{phothead}). +\begin{figure} +\vspace{4.0in} +\caption{\label{phothead} Header information for std159.imh} +\end{figure} +By specifying the (effective) airmass and filter keywords, +these can be carried along in the photometry file for use when we do +the standards solution ({\it airmass} and {\it filter}). Finally we use +{\it datamin} and {\it datamax} so we will know if we exceeded the +linearity of the CCD in the exposure, or whether there is some anomalously +low valued pixel on which our star is sitting. +Since the value of the sky on our standard exposures is +probably nearly zero, {\it datamin} should be set to a negative value +about three times the size of the readnoise in {\it ADU's}; e.g., $-3 \times +65. \div 2.25 \approx -90$ in this example. Note that although we will +later argue that the shape of the PSF changes a little about 20000 +ADU's (presumably due to some sort of charge-transfer problem), +for the purposes of simple aperture photometry we are happy +using 32000 ADU's as the maximum good data value. (We do not really +want to use 32767 as afterall the overscan bias was probably at a +level of several hundred.) + +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.0in} +\caption{\label{photcenterpars} Parameters for {\bf centerpars}.} +\end{figure} +In {\bf centerpars} (Fig.~\ref{photcenterpars}) we need to +change the centering algorithm {\it calgorithm} +from the default value of ``none" to +``centroid". If the FWHM of your frames are unusually large ($>4$, say, +you would also do well to up the size of {\bf cbox} to assure that the +centering works well; make it something like twice the FWHM. In this +case the FWHM is 3 pixels or a bit smaller, and we are content to leave +it a the default setting of 5 pixels. + +\begin{figure} +\vspace{2.7in} +\caption{\label{photfitskypars} Parameters for {\bf fitskypars}.} +\end{figure} +In {\bf fitskypars} (Fig.~\ref{photfitskypars}) +the only things we must specify are the size and +location of the annulus in which the modal value of the sky will be +determined. If you are going to use a value of 15 for your photometry +aperture, you probably want to start the sky around pixel 20. Keeping +the width of the +annulus large (5 pixels is plenty) assures you of good sampling, but +making it too large increases the chances of getting some bad pixels in +the sky. + +\begin{figure} +\vspace{2.7in} +\caption{\label{photphotpars} Parameters for {\bf photpars}.} +\end{figure} +In {\bf photpars} (Fig.~\ref{photphotpars}) +we merely need to specify the size (radius) of the +aperture we wish to use in measuring our standards. + +\subsection{Doing It} +There are basically two ways of proceeding in running photometry on the +standard stars, depending upon how you are going to identify the +relevant star(s) on each frame. If you have only one (or two) +standard stars on each frame, and it is always one of the brightest +stars present, then you can avoid a lot of the work and use the +automatic star-finding program {\bf daofind} to find all your standards +and the whole thing can be done fairly non-interactively. However, +if you are one of the believers in cluster field standards, then you +may actually want to identify the standards in each field using the +cursor on the image display so that the numbering scheme makes sense. +We describe below each of the two methods. + +\subsubsection{Automatic star finding} +First let's put the name of each frame containing standard stars into +a file; if you've put the standard star exposures into a separate +directory this can be done simply by a {\bf files *.imh $>$ stands}. +This will leave us with funny default output file +names for a while (we advise against +including the ``.imh" extension when we discuss crowded field photometry +in the next section), but this will only be true for a short +intermediate +stage. + +We want to run {\bf daofind} in such a way that it finds only the +brightest +star or two (presumably your standard was one of the brightest stars +in the field; +if not, you are going to have to do this stuff as outlined below in +the ``Photometry by eye" section). We will delve more fully into the +nitty-gritty of {\bf daofind} in the crowded-field photometry section, +but here we are content if we can simply find the brightest few stars. +Thus the choice of the detection +threshold is a critical one. If you make it too low you will find all +sorts of junk; if you make it too high then you may not find any stars. +You may need to run {\bf imexamine} on a few of your images: first +{\bf display} the image, and then {\bf imexamine}, using the ``r" cursor +key to produce a radial profile plot. Things to note are the +typical full-width-half-maximum and the peak value. If your sky is +really around zero for your standard exposures, then using a value +that is, say, twenty times the readnoise (in ADU's) is nearly guaranteed to +find only the brightest few stars; do your radial plots in {\bf +imexamine} show this to be a reasonable value? In the example here we +have decided to use 500 ADUs as the threshold ($20 \times 65 \div 2.25 +\approx 500$). + +Now {\bf epar daofind} so it resembles that of Fig.~\ref{photdaofind}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.5in} +\caption{\label{photdaofind} Parameter file for {\bf daofind}.} +\end{figure} +Go ahead and execute it (Fig. ~\ref{daoout}). +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.5in} +\caption{\label{daoout} Screen output from a {\bf daofind} run.} +\end{figure} +Note that since {\it verify} is on that you +will be given a chance to revise the FWHM and detection threshold. By +turning verbose on you will see how many stars are detected on each +frame. +%Probably the best way of doing this is to write the output from +%{\bf daofind} into a file; do a +% +%\centerline{ {\bf daofind @stands $|$ tee starsfound} } +% +%\noindent +%to put the output into the file ``starsfound" as well as on the screen. +Make a note of any cases where no stars were found; these you will have +to +go back and do with a lower threshold. + +The run of {\bf daofind} produced one output file named {\it +imagename.imh.coo.1} for each input file. If you {\bf page} one of +these you will find that it resembles that of Fig.~\ref{photcooout}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.7in} +\caption{\label{photcooout} Output file from {\bf daofind}.} +\end{figure} +The file contains many lines of header, followed by the {\it x} and {\it +y} center values, the magnitudes above the threshold value, the ``sharpness" +and ``roundness" values, and finally an ID number. +In the example shown +here in Fig.~\ref{photcooout} two stars were found: one 2.9 mags +brighter than our detection threshold, and one about 0.4 mag brighter +than our detection threshold. + +In a few cases we doubtlessly found more than one star; this is a good +time to get rid of the uninteresting non-standards in each field. +If things went by too fast on the screen for you to take careful notes +while running {\bf daofind} we can find these cases now: do a + +\centerline{ {\bf txdump *coo* image,id,x,y yes }} + + +\noindent +to get a listing of the location and number of stars found on each image. +If you have cases where there were lots of +detections (a dozen, say) you may find it easier to first {\bf sort +*.coo* mag} in order to resort the stars in each file by how bright they +are. Of course, your standard may not be the brightest star in each +field; you may want to keep an eye on the {\it x} and {\it y} values to +see if it is the star you thought you were putting in the middle! +To get rid of the spurious stars you will need to {\bf edit} each of the +output files (e.g., {\bf edit std148.imh.coo.1} ) and simply delete the +extras. + +Finally we can run aperture photometry on these frames, using the +``.coo" files to locate the standard star in each frame. {\bf epar +phot} until it resembles that of Fig.~\ref{photphot}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.5in} +\caption{\label{photphot} The parameter file for a run of {\bf phot}.} +\end{figure} +Note that we are specifying a {\it single} output file name +(``standstuff" in this example); {\it all} the photometry output will be +dumped into this single file, including things like the airmass and filter +number. Go ahead and execute {\bf phot}. +You should see something much like that of Fig.~\ref{photrun} on the +screen. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{5.5in} +\caption{\label{photrun} Running {\bf phot} non-interactively +on the standard stars.} +\end{figure} +We will discuss the output below under ``Examining the results". + +\subsubsection{Photometry by Eye} +In this section we will discuss the case of selecting stars {\it +without} +running the automatic star-finding program, using the image display +window and the cursor. The first step is to {\bf epar phot} so it +resembles that of Fig.~\ref{photeye}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.5in} +\caption{\label{photeye} Parameter file for {\bf phot} when stars will +be selected interactively.} +\end{figure} +Note that we have replaced the {\bf coords} coordinate list with the +null string (two adjacent double-quotes) and turned ``interactive" on. + +We need to display the frame we are going to work on in the imtool +window: + +\centerline { {\bf display std145 1} } + +\noindent +will display image {\bf std145.imh} in the first frame buffer. + +Now let's run {\bf phot}. We are not likely to be {\it too} accurate +with where we place the cursor, so to be generous we will increase the +allowable center shift to 3 pixels; otherwise we will get error messages +saying that the ``shift was too large": + +\centerline{ {\bf phot std145 maxshift=3.} } + +\noindent +(Note that even though {\bf maxshift} is a parameter of {\bf centerpars} +we can change it on the command line for {\bf phot}.) Also note that we +left off the ``{\bf .imh}" extension for a reason: we are going to take +the default names for the output files, and they will be given names +such as {\bf std145.mag.1} and so on. If we had included the {\bf .imh} +extension would would now be getting {\bf std145.imh.mag.1} names. + +At this point I get a flashing circle in my {\bf imtool} window; I don't +know what you get (it depends upon how your defaults are set up) but +there should be some sort of obvious marker on top of your image. +Put it on the first star you wish to measure and hit the space bar. The +coordinates and magnitude should appear in the {\bf gterm} window, and +you are ready to measure the next star on this frame. Proceed until all +the stars on this frame are measured, and then type a ``q" followed by +another ``q". Display the next frame, and run {\bf phot} on it. + +When you get done you will have kerjillions of files. + +\subsection{Examining the Results: the power of {\bf txdump }} + +Depending upon which of the two methods you selected you will either +have a single file {\bf standstuff} containing the results of all your +aperture photometry, or you will have a file for each frame ({\bf +stand145.mag.1}, {\bf stand146.mag.1} \ldots)containing the stars +on each frame. In either event the file will pretty much resemble that +shown in Fig.~\ref{photphotout}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{7.5in} +\caption{\label{photphotout} Output file from {\bf phot}.} +\end{figure} +The file begins with a large header describing the parameters in +force at the time that {\bf phot} was run. There is, however, a real +subtlety to this statement. If you had changed a parameter in {\bf +datapars}, say, (or any of the other parameters) between running {\bf +daofind} and {\bf phot}, the header in {\bf phot} will reflect only the +setting that was in force at the time that {\bf phot} was run---in other +words, it does not take the values of what was used for the {\bf +threshold} from the coordinate file and retain these, but instead simply +copies what value of {\bf thresh} happens to be in {\bf datapars} at the +time that {\bf phot} is run. To those used to the +``self-documenting" feature of VMS DAOPHOT this is a major change! + +Once we get past the header information we find that there are 5 lines +per star measured. The ``key" to these five lines of information are +found directly above the measurement of the first star. On the first +line we have ``general information" such as the +image name, the beginning x and y values, the id, +and the coordinate file. On the next line we have all the centering +information: the computed x and y centers, +the x and y shift, and any centering errors. On the third line of the +file we have information about the sky. On the fourth line we have some +information out of the image header: what was the integration time, what +was the airmass, and what was the filter. Note +that {\bf phot} has used that integration time in producing the +magnitude---the exposures are now normalized to a 1.0 sec exposure. +The fifth line gives the actual photometry, including the size of the +measuring aperture, the total number of counts within the aperture, the +area of the aperture, and the output magnitude, photometric error, and +any problems encountered (such as a bad pixel within the aperture). + +We can extract particular fields from this file (or files) by using the +{\bf txdump} command. For instance, are there any cases where there +there were problems in the photometry? We can see those by saying + +\centerline{\bf txdump standstuff image,id,perror} + +\noindent +(If you did ``Photometry by eye" you can substitute {\bf *mag*} for {\bf +standstuff}.) +When it queries you for the ``boolean expression" type + +\centerline{ {\bf perror!$=$"No\_error"} } + +\noindent +The ``!$=$" construction is IRAF-ese for "not equal to"; therefore, this +will select out anything for which there was some problem in the +photometry. + +We can create a single file at this point containing just the +interesting results from the photometry file(s): do a + +\centerline{ {\bf txdump standstuff +image,id,ifilt,xair,mag,merr yes $>$ standsout} } + +\noindent +to dump the image name, id-number, filter, airmass, magnitude, +and magnitude error into a file {\bf standsout}. (Again, if you did +``Photometry by Eye" substitute {\bf *mag*} for {\bf standstuff}). +Unfortunately, what you do with this file is up to you right now until +the standard reductions routines become available. In the example shown +here we have selected the fields in the same order as used in Peter +Stetson's VMS CCDCAL software, and at the end of this manual we will +describe a (painful) kludge that nevertheless {\it will} let you use +these numbers with that software. + +\section{Crowded Field Photometry: IRAF/daophot} +\subsection{Historical Summary} + +In the beginning (roughly 1979) astronomers +interested in obtaining photometry from stars in ``relatively" crowded fields +would make the journey to Tucson in order to use Doug Tody's RICHFLD +program which ran on the IPPS display system. +RICHFLD allowed the user to define a +point-spread-function (PSF), and then fit this PSF to the brightest star +in a group, subtract off this star, and then proceed to the next +brightest star, etc. This represented a giant qualitative improvement +over the possibilities of aperture photometry, and allowed stars +separated by a few FWHM's to be accurately measured. + +Beginning in 1983, a group of RICHFLD users at the DAO (including +Ed Olszewski and Linda Stryker) began modifications to the ``poorman" +program of Jeremy Mould. This was largely motivated by the +implementation of the ``Kitt Peak CCD" at the prime-focus of the Tololo +4-m, and the idea was to design a crowded-field +photometry +program that (a) allowed simultaneous PSF-fitting, (b) made +use of the {\it known noise characteristics of a CCD} to do the fitting +in a +statistically correct manner (i.e., to make ``optimal" use of the data), +and (c) to be largely batch oriented. +In mid-1983 Peter Stetson arrived at the DAO, and took over +the effort. The result was +DAOPHOT, which did all these things and more. +By 1986 DAOPHOT was well distributed within the astronomical community. +The basic algorithms and philosophy can be found in Stetson 1987 (PASP +{\bf 99}, 111). + +DAOPHOT (and its companion program ALLSTAR) were not part of a +photometry +package; they were instead stand-alone Fortran +programs which did not deal in any way with the issue of image display +or what to do with the instrumental magnitudes once you had them. They +were also only supported on VMS, although several ``frozen" versions +were translated into UNIX by interested parties around the country. +There was therefore +much to be gained from integrating the algorithms of daophot +with IRAF in order to make use of +the image display capabilities and general tools for manipulating +images. Also, since many astronomers were now reducing their CCD data +with IRAF, it avoided the necessity of translating the IRAF files into +the special format needed by VMS DAOPHOT. Dennis Crabtree began this +translation program while at the DAO; it was taken over by Lindsey Davis +of the IRAF group in early 1989, and taken to completion in early 1990. +Pedro Gigoux of CTIO is currently hard at work on the photometry +reduction package, scheduled for completion sometime during the spring. + +\subsection{{\bf daophot} +Overview} +The steps involved in running daophot are certainly more involved than +in simple aperture photometry, but they are relatively straightforward. +The following sections will lead you through the necessary procedures. +Alternative routes will be noted at some points, and more may be gleaned +from reading the various "help" pages. A general outline is given here +so that you have some overview in mind; a detailed step-by-step summary +is provided at the end of this section. + +\begin{itemize} +\item Before you reduce the first frame, {\bf imexamine} your data to +determine FWHM's and the radius at which the brightest star you wish to +reduce blends into the sky. Run {\bf imhead} to find the ``key-words" +in your data headers for exposure times, filter number, and airmass. +Enter these, along with the characteristics of your chip (read-noise, +photons per ADU, maximum good data value) +into the parameter sets {\bf datapars} and {\bf +daopars}. +\item Use {\bf daofind} and {\bf tvmark} +to produce a list of x and y positions of most +stars on the frame. +\item Use {\bf phot} to perform aperture photometry on the identified +stars. This photometry will be the basis of the zero-point of +your frame via the PSF stars. This is also the only point where sky +values are determined for your stars. +\item Use {\bf psf} to define the PSF for your frame. If your PSF stars are crowded this +will require some iteration using the routines {\bf nstar} and {\bf +substar}. +\item Use {\bf allstar} to do simultaneous PSF-fitting for all the stars +found on your frame, and to produce a subtracted frame. +\item Use {\bf +daofind} on the subtracted frame to identify stars that had been +previously hidden. +\item Run {\bf phot} {\it on the original frame} to obtain aperture photometry +and sky values for the stars on the new list. +\item Use {\bf append} to merge the two aperture photometry lists. +\item Run {\bf allstar} again on the merged list. +\end{itemize} +When you have done this for your {\it U, B,} and {\it V} frames it is +then time to +\begin{itemize} +\item Use {\bf txdump}, {\bf tvmark}, and the image display +capabilities to come up with a consistent matching between the frames. +If there are additions or deletions then you will need to re-run +{\bf phot} and {\bf allstar} one more time. +\end{itemize} +Finally you will need to +\begin{itemize} +\item Determine the aperture correction for each frame by subtracting +all but the brightest few isolated stars on your frames and then running +{\bf phot} to determine the light lost between your zero-point aperture +and the large aperture you used on your standard stars. +\end{itemize} + +\subsection{How Big Is A Star: A Few Useful Definitions} + +The parameter files {\bf datapars} and {\bf daopars} contain three +``size-like" variables, and although this document is not intended as +a reference guide, there is bound to be confusion over these three +parameters, particularly among those new to DAOPHOT. In the hopes +of un-muddying the waters, we present the following. + +\begin{description} +\item[fwhmpsf] This is the full-width at half-maximum of a stellar object +(point-spread function, or psf). The value for {\bf fwhmpsf} gets used +only by the automatic star-finding algorithm {\bf daophot}, unless you +do something very bad like setting {\bf scale} to non-unity. + +\item[psfrad] This is the ``radius" of the PSF. When you construct a PSF, +the PSF will consist of an array that is +$$(2 \times psfrad +1) \times +(2 \times psfrad + 1)$$ +on a side. The idea here is that ``nearly all" of the light of the brightest +star you care about will be contained within this box. If you were to construct +a PSF with some large value of {\bf psfrad} and then run {\bf nstar} or +{\bf allstar} +specifying +a smaller value of {\bf psfrad}, the smaller value would be used. Making +the {\bf psfrad} big enough is necessary to insure that the wings of some +nearby bright star are properly accounted for when fitting a faint star. + +\item[fitrad] This is how much of the psf is used in making the fit +to a star. The ``best" photometry will be obtained (under most circumstances) +if this radius is set to something like the value for the fwhm. + +\end{description} + +\subsection{Setting up the parameter files ``daopars" and ``datapars" } + +The first step in using IRAF/daophot is to determine and store the +characteristics of your data in two parameter files called ``datapars" +and ``daopars"; these will be used by the various daophot commands. +In Section 1 we discussed how to deal with parameter files, and +in Section 2 we went through setting up ``datapars" for the standard +star solutions; at the risk of repeating ourselves, we will go through +this again as the emphasis is now a little different. + + +First inspect your headers by doing an {\bf imhead} imagename {\bf long+ +$|$ page}. +This will produce a listing similar to that shown in Fig.~\ref{newhead}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.0in} +\caption{\label{newhead}Header for image n602alu.imh.} +\end{figure} +The things to note here are (a) what the filter keyword is (we can +see from Fig.~\ref{newhead} that the answer is F1POS; while there is +an F2POS also listed, the second filter bolt was not used and was always +in position ``zero"), +(b) what the effective exposure +time keyword is (EXPTIME in this example), and (c) what the effective +airmass keyword is (AIRMASS in this example). + +Next you need to examine some ``typical" frames in order to determine +the FWHM ({\bf fwhmpsf}) and the radius of the brightest star for which +you plan to do photometry ({\bf psfrad}). +First {\bf display} an image, and use the +middle button of the mouse (or whatever you need to do on your image +display) to zoom on a few bright stars. On the SUN the "F6" key will +let you see x and y values. The ``default" PSF radius is 11 pixels: +are your stars bigger than 23 pixels($23=2 \times 11 + 1$) +pixels from one side to the other? The FWHM is undoubtably variable +from frame to frame, but unless these change by drastic amounts (factors +of two, say) using a ``typical" value will doubtless suffice. You can +use the {\bf imexamine} routine to get some idea of the FWHM; do +{\bf imexamine} filename and then strike the ``r" key (for radial +profile) after centering the cursor on a bright (but unsaturated) star. +The last number on the plot is the FWHM of the best-fit Gaussian. + +We are now ready to do an {\bf epar datapars}. This parameter file +contains information which is data-specific. We set {\bf fwhmpsf} to the FWHM +determined above, and we enter the names of the keywords determined from +the header inspection above. The ``gain" and ``read-noise" are values +you have either determined at the telescope (using the Tololo routines) +or which are carved in stone for your chip. Choosing the value +for datamax, the ``Maximum good data value", +(in ADU's, NOT electrons) is a little bit trickier. In the case of +aperture photometry we were satisfied to take the nominal value for +the chip, but point-spread-function fitting is a bit more demanding +in what's ``linear". The data obtained +here was taken with an RCA chip, and we all know that RCA chips are +linear well past 100,000 e-. Thus, naively, we would expect that +with a gain of 2.25 that the chip was still linear when we hit the +digitization limit of 32,767 ADU's. Subtract off 500 for the likely +bias, and we {\it might} think that we were safe up to 32,200. However, +we would be wrong. Experience with PSF fitting on these data shows that +something (presumably in those little silver VEB's) has resulted in +these data being non-linear above 20,000 ADU's. My suggestion here is +to start with the nominal value but be prepared to lower it if the +residuals from PSF fitting appear to be magnitude dependent (more on this +later). The value for +{\bf datamin}, the +``Minimum good +data value", will be different for each frame (depending what the sky +level is) and there is not much point in entering a value for that yet. +Similarly the value we will use for threshold will change +from frame to frame depending upon what the sky level is. +When you are done your {\bf datapars} should resemble that of +Fig.~\ref{datapars}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{2.7in} +\caption{\label{datapars} A sample {\bf datapars} is shown.} +\end{figure} + +Next we will {\bf epar daopars}. This parameter file contains +information specific to what you want {\bf daophot} to do. The only things here +we might want to change at this point are the ``Radius of the psf" {\bf psfrad} +(if your experiment above showed it should be increased somewhat), and +you might want to change the fitting radius {\bf fitrad}. Leaving the fitting +radius to ``something like" the FWHM results in the best SNR (you can +work this out for yourself for a few different regimes if you like to +do integrals). The ``standard values" are shown in Fig.~\ref{daopars}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{2.7in} +\caption{\label{daopars} A sample {\bf daopars} is shown.} +\end{figure}. + +\subsection{Finding stars: {\bf daofind} and {\bf tvmark} } +The automatic star finder {\bf daofind} convolves a Gaussian of +width FWHM with the image, and looks for peaks greater than some +threshold in the smoothed image. It then keeps only the ones that are +within certain roundness and sharpness criteria in order to reject +non-stellar objects (cosmic rays, background galaxies, bad columns, +fingerprints). We have already entered a reasonable value for the FWHM +into {\bf datapars}, but what should we use as a threshold? We expect +some random fluctuations due to the photon statistics of the sky +and to the read-noise of the chip. You can calculate this easily by +first +measuring the sky value on your frame by +using {\bf imexamine} and the ``h" key to produce a histogram of +the data ({\bf implot} and the ``s" key is another way). In the example +shown in Fig~\ref{hist} we see that the sky value is roughly 150. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.6in} +\caption{\label{hist} The {\bf imexamine} histogram (``h" key) indicates +that the sky value is roughly 150.} +\end{figure} +In general, if $s$ is the sky value in ADU, $p$ is the number of +photons per ADU, and $r$ is the read-noise in units of electrons, +then the expected $1\sigma$ variance in the sky +will be +$$\left(\sqrt{s\times p + r^2}\right)/p$$ +in units of ADU's. For the example here we expect +$1\sigma=\left(\sqrt{150.\times 2.25 + 65^2}\right)/2.25=30$ ADU's. +Of course, if you have averaged N frames in producing your image, +then you should be using +$N\times p$ as the gain both here and in the value entered in +{\bf datapars}; similarly the readnoise is really just $r \times \sqrt{N}$. +If instead you summed N frames then the gain is just {\it p} and the +readnoise is still $r\times \sqrt{N}$. + +In the example shown here the expected $1\sigma$ variation of the sky is +30 ADU's; we might therefore want to set our star detection threshold to +3.5 times that amount. That won't guarantee that every last star we +find is real, nor will it find every last real star, but it should do +pretty close to that! + +We should use this opportunity to set datamin in {\bf +datapars} to some value like $s-3\sigma$. In this case we will set it +to 60. This is not currently used by {\bf daofind} but will be used +by all the photometry routines. Fig.~\ref{ndatapars} shows the data +parameters with the appropriate values of threshold and datamin now +entered. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.0in} +\caption{\label{ndatapars} Datapars with {\bf threshold} and {\bf datamin} +entered.} +\end{figure} + +We now can {\bf epar daofind} so it resembles that of +Fig.~\ref{daofind}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.0in} +\caption{\label{daofind} Parameters for {\bf daofind}.} +\end{figure} +Note that although nothing appears to be listed under {\bf datapars} the +default name is ``datapars"; you could instead have created a separate +data parameter file for each ``type" of data you have and have called +them separate names (you could do this by doing an {\bf epar datapars} +and then exiting with a ``:w newnamepar"). This might be handy if +all your {\it U} frames were averages, say, but your {\it B} and {\it V} +frames were +single exposures; that way you could keep track of the separate +effective gain and readnoise values. In that case you would enter the +appropriate data parameter name under {\bf datapars}. As explained earlier, +you could also do a +``:e" on the {\bf datapars} line and essentially do the {\bf epar datapars} from +within the {\bf epar daofind}. +For normal star images, the +various numerical values listed are best kept exactly the way they are; +if you have only football shaped images, then read the help page for +{\bf daofind} for hints how best to find footballs. + +We can now run {\bf daofind} by simply typing {\bf daofind}. +As shown in Fig.~\ref{daofind} that we were asked for the FWHM and threshold +values; this is a due to having turned ``verify" on in the parameter +set. This safeguards to a large extent over having forgotten to set +something correctly. A [CR] simply takes the default value listed. + +Running {\bf daofind} produced an output file with the (default) +filename of {\bf n602csb.coo.1}. +(Do {\it not} give the {\bf .imh} extension +when specifying the image name, or the default naming +process will get very confused!) We can page +through that and see the x and y centers, the number of magnitudes +brighter than the cutoff, the sharpness and roundness values, and the +star number. However, of more immediate use is to use this file +to mark the found stars on the image display and see how we did. +If we have already displayed the frame in frame 1, then we can {\bf epar +tvmark} to make it resemble Fig.~\ref{tvmark}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{2.7in} +\caption{\label{tvmark} Parameter file for {\bf tvmark}.} +\end{figure} +This will put red dots on top of each star found. + +We can see from Fig.~\ref{dots} that {\bf daofind} did a pretty nice +\begin{figure} +\vspace{7.0in} +\caption{\label{dots} Stars found with {\bf daofind} and marked with +{\bf tvmark}.} +\end{figure} +job. If we didn't like what we saw at this point we could rerun +{\bf daofind} with a slightly higher or slightly lower threshold---try +varying the threshold by half a sigma or so if you are almost right. +As you may have guessed, subsequent runs will produce output files with +the names n602csb.coo.2, n602csb.coo.3,... +If you are using a very slow computer, or are exceedingly impatient, + you could have saved some +time by putting a ``c" (say) under ``convolv" in your first run of +{\bf daofind}---this would have saved the +smoothed image as cn602csb.imh, and would drastically reduce +the number of cpu cycles needed to rerun {\bf daofind} with +a different threshold value. +If you really very happy with what {\bf daofind} did but you +just want to add one or two stars at this point, you +can in fact do that quite readily using {\bf tvmark}. Set the +parameters as in Fig.~\ref{tvmark}, but turn interactive on. +Position the cursor on top of the star you wish to add and strike +the ``a" key. Note that this will ``disturb" the format of the file, +but we really don't care; it will still work just fine as the input to +{\bf phot}. + +Note that it is fairly important that you do a good job at this stage. +If you have used too low a threshold, and have a lot of junk marked as +stars, these fictitious objects are likely to wander around during the +PSF-fittings until they find something to latch onto---{\it not} a good +idea. However, you also do not want the threshold to be so high that +you are missing faint stars. Even if you are not planning to publish +photometry of these faint guys, you need to have included them in the +list of objects if they are near enough to affect the photometry of +stars for which you do have some interest. If you find that varying the +threshold level does not result in a good list, then something is +wrong---probably you have badly over- or under-estimated the FWHM. +When you are close to the ``perfect" value of the threshold, +changing its value by as little as half a sigma will make a substantial +difference between getting junk and real stars. + +\subsection{Aperture Photometry with {\bf phot} } +The next step is to do simple aperture photometry for each of the stars +that have been found. These values will be used as starting points in +doing the PSF fitting, and this is the only time that sky values will be +determined. + +{\bf One of the few ways of ``crash landing" in the current +implementation of the software is to forget to reset ``datamin" in the +datapars file before running phot on a new frame. It is the only +critical parameter which is not queried when verify is turned on. Therefore, +this is a good time to check to see that ``datamin" is really set to +several sigma lower than the sky value of this particular frame.} + +The aperture photometry routine {\bf phot} has more parameters than all +the others put together: there are the parameter files +{\bf centerpars}, {\bf fitskypars}, and {\bf photpars}. +Fortunately the ``verify" +option frees you from having to look at these, and helps prevent you +from making a mistake. If this is your first pass through DAOPHOT it is +worth your while to do the following: + +\centerline{ {\bf unlearn centerpars} } + +\centerline{ {\bf unlearn fitskypars} } + +\centerline{ {\bf unlearn photpars} } + +\noindent +If you have used {\bf phot} for measuring standard stars, then this will +reset the defaults to reasonable values for crowded-field photometry; +in particular, we want to make sure that the centering +algorithm in {\bf centerpars} is set to ``none". +Do an {\bf epar phot} and make it look like that of Fig.~\ref{phot}. +Since we have the ``verify" switch turned on, we can be happy, not +worry, and simply type {\bf phot}. +{\bf phot} will then prompt you as shown in +Fig.~\ref{phot}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{7.0in} +\caption{\label{phot} Questions and answers with {\bf phot}.} +\end{figure} +Note that the answers were particularly simple: we told it the name of +the frame we wished to work with, we accepted the default for the coordinate +list (it will take the highest ``version" of image.coo.NUMBER) and the +default for the output photometry list (n602csb.mag.1 will be produced +in this case.) We accepted the centers from {\bf daofind} as being +``good enough" to not have to recenter (they are good to about one-third +of a pixel, plenty good enough for aperture sizes of 2.5 pixels and +bigger; when we run this routine later on the second pass we would make +a Big Mistake by turning centering on here, so leave it off). +The sky +values will be taken from an annulus extending from a radius of 10 +pixels to a radius of 20 pixels, and it will determine the standard +deviation of the sky from the actual data. Note that this is probably a +lot closer in than you used on your standard stars; in crowded regions +of variable background keeping this annulus relatively close in will +help. +Finally, we used a measuring +aperture of 3 pixels. The number of counts within this aperture will be +what defines the zero-point of your frame, as we will see in Section 4.9, +and keeping this value {\it fixed} to some value like your typical FWHM +will keep you safe. + +\subsection{Making the PSF with {\bf psf} } + +If you are used to the VMS version of DAOPHOT, you are in for a pleasant +surprise when it comes to making a PSF within the IRAF version. +Nevertheless, just because it's easy doesn't mean that you shouldn't be +careful. + +What constitutes a good PSF star? Stetson recommends that a good PSF +star meets the following criteria: +\begin{enumerate} +\item No other star at all contributes any light within one fitting +radius of the center of the candidate star. (The fitting radius will be +something like the FWHM.) +\item Such stars as lie near the candidate star are significantly +fainter. (``Near" being defined as, say, 1.5 times the radius of the +brightest star you are going to measure.) +\item There are no bad columns or rows near the candidate star; there +should also be no bad pixels near the candidate star. +\end{enumerate} + + +In making a PSF, you wish to +construct a PSF which is free from bumps and wiggles (unless those +bumps and wiggles are really what a single isolated star would look like.) +First off, does it matter if we get the PSF ``right"? If we had +only isolated stars, then the answer would be no---any +old approximation to the PSF would give you +good relative magnitudes, and there are programs in the literature +which do exactly this. However, if your stars are relatively isolated +you are not going to gain anything by PSF-fitting over aperture photometry +anyway, so why bother? If you are dealing with crowded images, then the +PSF has to be right {\it even in the wings}, and for that reason we +construct a PSF empirically using the brightest and least crowded stars +in our frame. +If you are very, very +lucky you will find that your brightest, unsaturated star is well +isolated, and has no neighbors about it---if that's the case, use that +one and forget about the rest. Usually, however, you will find that +it isn't quite that easy, and it will be necessary to construct the PSF +interatively. The steps involved will be +\begin{enumerate} + \item Select the brightest, least-crowded stars for the zeroth-order + PSF. + \item Decrease the size of the PSF radius and fit these stars + with their neighbors using {\bf nstar}. + \item Subtract off the PSF stars and their neighbors using + {\bf substar} to see + if any of the PSF stars are ``funny"; if so, go back to + the step 1 and start over. + \item Edit the {\bf nstar} results file ({\bf imagename.nst.N}) + and delete the entries for the PSF stars. You are left + with a file containing the magnitudes and positions of just + the neighbors. + \item Subtract off just the neighbors using this file as input + to {\bf substar}. Display + the results, and examine the region around each PSF star. + Are the neighbors cleanly removed? + \item Increase the PSF radius back to the original value. + Construct an improved PSF using the new frame (the one with the + neighbors gone.) + \item Run {\bf nstar} on the PSF stars and their neighbors again, and + again subtract these using {\bf substar}. Examine the results. + If you are happy, proceed; otherwise, if the neighbors need + to be removed a bit more cleanly go back to step 4. +\end{enumerate} + +First {\bf display} the frame, and put dots on all the stars you've found +using {\bf tvmark} as discussed above. Next {\bf epar psf} and make sure +it looks like that of Fig.~\ref{psfparams}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{2.5in} +\caption{\label{psfparams} Parameter file for {\bf psf}} +\end{figure} +We have set this up so we can choose the stars interactively from the +display window. + +Next run {\bf psf}. The defaults that you will be asked to {\bf verify} +are probably fine, but pay particular attention to {\bf psf radius} +and {\bf fitting radius}. The {\bf psf radius} should be as large +as you determined above (11 usually works well on ``typical" CCD +frames whose star images have FWHM's $\approx 3$). The ``fitting radius" +should be relatively generous here---maybe even larger than what you +want to use on your program stars. A reasonable choice is approximately +that of the FWHM. + +You will find that the cursor has turned into a circle and is sitting +on your image in the display window. Position it on a likely looking +PSF star, and strike the ``a" key. You will be confronted with a mesh +plot that shows the star and it surroundings. To find out more +about the star (such as what the peak data value is you can type +an ``s" while looking at the mesh plot. To reject the star type an +``x", to accept the star type an ``o". In the latter case, you will +next see a mesh plot that +shows you the star with a two-dimensional Gaussian fit removed from the +star. +Again, exit this with a ``o". If you don't find these mesh +plots particularly useful, you can avoid them by setting {\bf showplot=no} +in the {\bf psf} parameters (see Fig.~\ref{psfparams}). +At this point you will be told what the star number was, what the +magnitude was, and what the minimum and maximum data values within +the PSF were. (If you picked a star whose peak intensity was greater +than ``datamax" it will tell you this and not let you use this star.) +When you are done selecting stars, type a ``w" (to write the PSF to +disk) followed by a ``q". + +If in making the PSF you noticed that there were stars you could have +used but didn't because they had faint neighbors not found in the earlier +step of star finding, you can add these by hand by simply +running {\bf tvmark} interactively and marking the extra stars. First +{\bf epar tvmark} so it resembles that of Fig.~\ref{tvmark}. Then: + +\centerline{ {\bf display n602csb 1} } + +\centerline{ {\bf tvmark 1 n602csb.coo.1 interactive+} } + +\noindent + +Striking the ``l" key will mark the stars it already knows about onto +the display (as red dots this time around); positioning the cursor on the +first star you wish to add and type an ``a". When you are done adding +stars exit with a ``q" and re-run {\bf phot}. + +Now that you have made your preliminary PSF, do a {\bf directory}. You'll +notice that in addition to the image {\bf n602csb.psf.1.imh} that the +{\bf psf} routine has also added a text file {\bf n602csb.psg.1}. If +you {\bf page} this file you will see something like that of Fig.~\ref{psg}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.5in} +\caption{\label{psg} The ``point spread function group" file +{\bf n602csb.psg.1}} +\end{figure} +This contains the aperture photometry of each PSF star plus its neighbors, +with each set constituting a ``group". Running the psf-fitting photometry +routine {\bf nstar} will fit PSF's to each of the stars within a group +simultaneously. + +Before we run {\bf nstar}, however, we must decide what psf radius to use. +Why not simply keep it set to the value found above (e.g., something like 11 +pixels)? The answer to this is a bit subtle, but understanding it will +help you diagnose what is going wrong when you find a PSF going awry (and +don't worry, you will). Let's consider the case that you construct a PSF +from a single star with one neighbor whose center is 12 pixels away from +the center of the PSF star, and let's have the PSF radius be 11 and the PSF +fitting radius be 3. The PSF looks something like that of Fig.~\ref{bump}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{5.0in} +\caption{\label{bump} The zeroth order PSF of a star with a neighbor 12 pixels +away.} +\end{figure} +The light from the neighbor star ``spills +over" into the PSF. + +What happens when you try to fit two PSF's simultaneously? The bump from the +PSF of the brighter star sits within the fitting radius of the fainter star, +and it is the sum of the PSF's which are being fit to each star (that's +what ``simultaneous" means). Thus there is an ``implicit subtraction" of +the fainter star simply from fitting the bumpy PSF to the brighter star, +and the brightness of the fainter star will be underestimated. The way +to avoid this is to see that the PSF of the brighter star does not come +within the fitting radius of the fainter star, and {\it that} we can +accomplish easily by truncating the PSF size to something like the separation +of the two stars minus the fitting radius. Thus in the example here +we would want to fit the two stars using PSF's that were only ($12-3=9$) +pixels in radius. It's true that there may still be light of the PSF +star beyond this radius, but that will matter only if the PSF star is still +going strong when you get within the {\it fitting radius} of the fainter +star. + +Now that we understand all that, run {\bf nstar}. Specify the appropriate +image name for ``image corresponding to photometry" and give it +the ``.psg" file {\bf n602csb.psg.1} for the ``input group file". +Remember to decrease +the {\bf psf radius} when it tries to verify that number. {\bf nstar} +will produce a photometry output file {\bf n60csb.nst.1}. +You can +subtract the fitted PSF's from these stars now by running {\bf substar}. +Again, {\bf verify} the PSF radius to the smaller value. When the routine +finishes, {\bf display} the resultant frame {\bf n60csb.sub.1.imh} and +take a look at the PSF stars...or rather, where the PSF stars (and their +neighbors) were. Are they subtracted cleanly? Does one of the PSF +stars have residuals that look the reverse of the residuals of the others? +If so, it would be best to reconstruct the PSF at this point throwing out +that star---possibly it has a neighbor hidden underneath it, or has something +else wrong with it. Are the variations in the cores of the subtracted image +consistent with photon statistics? To answer this you may want to play +around with {\bf imexamine} on both the original and subtracted images, +but if the stars have cleanly disappeared and you can't even tell where +they were, you are doing fine. + +The worst thing to find at this point +is that there is a systematic pattern with position on the chip. This +would indicate that the PSF is variable. There is the option for making +a variable PSF, but the assumption is that the PSF varies smoothly in x +and +y; usually this is not the case. (In the case of the non-flat TI chips +the variations are due to the potato-chip like shape.) If you {\it do} +decide the PSF is variable, be sure to use plenty of stars in making the +PSF. As it says in the ``help page", +twenty-five to thirty is then not an unreasonable number. If that +doesn't scare you off, nothing will. + +If the brightest stars have residuals that are systematically different than +those of the fainter stars, maybe that chip wasn't quite as linear as you +thought, or perhaps there are charge transfer problems. This proved to +be the case for the RCA CCD data being reduced here. In Fig.~\ref{yuko} +we show the residuals that result when we based our PSF on a star whose +peak counts were 30000 ADUs. +Empirically we found that stars with peaks of 18K ADUs (a mere 40K electrons) +were safe to use, with the result that the dynamic range of our data +was simply not quite as advertised. Although the PSF function broke down +above 18K, the chip remained ``linear" in the sense that aperture photometry +continued to give good results---the total number of counts continued to +scale right up to the A/D limit of 32,767 ADUs (72K electrons after bias +is allowed for). This appears to be a subtle charge transfer +\begin{figure} +\vspace{7.0in} +\caption{\label{yuko} A ``before" and ``after" pair of images, where the +PSF was constructed with a star that was too bright. Note the systematic +residuals for the two bright stars. A ``bad" PSF star would result in a +similar effect; however, in these data we found that there was always a +systematic effect if the PSF stars were about 18000 ADU.} +\end{figure} +problem. + +We will assume that you have gotten the PSF to the point where +the cores of the stars disappear cleanly, although there may be residuals +present due to the neighbors. Our next step is to get rid of these neighbors +so that you can make a cleaner PSF. Edit the {\bf nstar} output file +{\bf n602csb.nst.1} and delete the lines associated with the PSF stars, +leaving only the neighbors behind. You can recognize the PSF stars, as +they are the first entry in each group. When you are done with this +editing job, re-run {\bf substar}, using the edited ``.nst" file as the +photometry file. Again in running {\bf substar} make sure you {\bf verify} +the PSF radius to the smaller value you decided above. Examine the results +on the image display. Now the PSF stars should be there but the neighbors +should be cleanly subtracted. Are they? If so, you are ready to proceed. +If not, re-read the above and keep at it until you get those neighbors +reasonably well out of the frame. + +We can now run {\bf psf} on the subtracted frame---the one with only the +neighbors gone. We have added some noise by doing the subtraction, and +so we should reset {\bf datamin} to several sigma below the previously +used +value. We are going to have to do more typing this time when +we run it, as the defaults for things will get very confused when we +tell it that the ``Image for which to build PSF" is actually +{\bf n60csb.sub.1}. For the ``Aperture photometry file" we can tell +it the original photometry file {\bf n602csb.mag.1} if we want, or +even the old ``.psg" file {\bf n602csb.psg.1} since every star that +we are concerned about (PSF star plus neighbor) is there. Go ahead +and give it the next `version" number for the ``Output psf image" +{\bf n602csb.psf.2} and for the ``Output psf group file" +{\bf n602csb.psg.2}. +We can of course do this all on the command line: + +\centerline{ {\bf psf n602csb.sub.1 n602csb.mag.1 n602csb.psf.2 +n602csb.psg.2 datamin=-150.} } + +\noindent +An example is shown in Fig.~\ref{psf1}. +{\it This time make sure you take the +large psf radius.} +\begin{figure} +\vspace{7.0in} +\caption{\label{psf1} Making the first revision PSF using the frames with the +neighbors subtracted. Compare this to Fig. 23, which shows the +same region before the neighbors have been removed.} +\end{figure} +Make a new PSF using the cursor as before. + +How good is this revised PSF? There's only one way to find out: run +{\bf nstar} on the original frame, this time keeping the psf radius large. +Then do {\bf substar} and examine the frame with both the PSF stars and +neighbors subtracted. Does this show a substantial improvement over the +first version? Now that you have a cleaner PSF it may be necessary to repeat +this procedure (edit the {\bf n602csb.nst.2} file, remove the PSF stars, +run {\bf substar} using this edited file to produce a frame with the +just the neighbors subtracted this time using a better PSF, run {\bf psf} +on this improved subtracted frame) but probably not. + +\subsection{Doing the psf-fitting: {\bf allstar}.} +The next step is to go ahead and run simultaneous PSF-fitting on all +your stars, and produce a subtracted frame with these stars removed. +To do both these things you need only run {\bf allstar}. The defaults +are likely to be right: see Fig.~\ref{allstar}. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.5in} +\caption{\label{allstar} Running {\bf allstar}.} +\end{figure} +As you may imagine, {\bf allstar} produces a photometry file +{\bf n602csb.als.1}, and another subtracted image: {\bf imagename.sub.N}. + +Display the subtracted frame, and blink it against the original. Has +IRAF/daophot done a nice job? If the stars are clearly gone with a few +hidden ones now revealed, you can be proud of yourself---if the results +are disappointing, there is only one place to look, and that is in the +making of the PSF. Assuming that all is well, it is now time to +add those previously hidden stars into the photometry. +The easiest way to do this is to run {\bf daofind} on the subtracted +image. +Set the value of {\bf datamin} to a value several sigma lower +than what you had used earlier in case the subtraction process generated +some spuriously small values, and you will want to {\it increase} the +value of threshold by 1 or 2 sigma above what you used previously. +Why? Because the subtraction process has certainly added noise to the +frame, and if you don't do this you will be mainly adding spurious +detections. Use {\bf tvmark} as before to examine the results of {\bf +daofind}; remember that the coordinate file name will be +{\bf imagename.sub.N.coo.1} this time around. If you are really close, +but want to add a couple of stars, re-run {\bf tvmark} on this file +using +{\bf interactive+}; this will allow you to add (and delete) coordinates +from the file. + +Now run {\bf phot} using this new coordinate file as the input list. +However, you do want to use the {\it original} frame for this photometry; +otherwise the sky values for the newly found stars will be very messed +up owing to the many subtracted images. A new aperture photometry file +{\bf n602csb.mag.2} will have been produced. Use {\bf append} to +concatenate these two files: {\bf append n602csb.mag.1,n602csb.mag.2 +n602csb.mag.3}. You can now re-run {\bf allstar} using this combined +photometry file as the input. + +\subsection{Matching the frames} +In the example here we have been reducing the {\it B} frame of +a set of {\it UBV}. Once all three frames have been reduced it is often +necessary to do a little fiddling. Have the same stars been identified +in each group? In many cases you don't want the same stars to have been +identified in each clump---afterall, some stars are red, some are blue +(that's presumably why you are doing this afterall, right?), but in some +cases you may find that a clump was identified as three objects on the +{\it U} and the {\it V} frames and clearly should have been three on the +{\it B} frame but instead is four or two. What to do? + +Using {\bf tvmark} it is relatively easy to set this right. First we +need to use {\bf txdump} to produce a file for each frame that can be +displayed. Do something like an + +\centerline{ {\bf txdump n602csu.als.2 $>$ tvu}} + +\noindent +followed by an + +\centerline{ {\bf txdump n602csb.als.2 $>$ +tvb}} + +\noindent +and a + +\centerline{ {\bf +txdump n602csv.als.2 $>$ tvv}} + +\noindent +In each case select {\bf xc,yc} and use +{\bf MAG!=INDEF} as a selection criteria. Thus you will then have three text +files that contain only the x's and y's of the stars with photometry. + +Next display the three frames ({\bf display n602csu 1}, {\bf display +n602csb 2}, {\bf display n602csv 3}) and put colored dots up to denote +the different allstar stars: + +\centerline{ {\bf tvmark 1 tvu color=204 inter-},} + +\centerline{ +{\bf tvmark 2 tvb color=205 inter-},} + +\noindent +and + +\centerline{ {\bf tvmark 3 tvv color=206 +inter-}} + +\noindent +will give pleasing results. Zoom, pan, register, and blink +around the frames until you are convinced that you really do want to +add or delete a star here or there. If you want to add or delete a star to the +{\it U} frame list, do a + +\centerline{ {\bf tvmark 1 tvu color=203 inter+}} + +\noindent +You are +now in interactive mode, and centering the cursor on the star you want +to add and striking the ``a" key will append the x and y value of the +cursor the tvu list. Similarly, striking the ``u" key +will delete a star from the list if you are using IRAF v2.9 or later. +(For earlier versions you are just going to have to do a little +editing by hand, good luck!) The star you add or delete will have +a white dot appear on top of it. +If you need to switch to a different coordinate file, simply exit the +interactive {\bf tvmark} with a ``q" and re-execute it specifying, for +example, {\bf tvmark 3 tvv color=203 inter+}. + +When you are done with adding and deleting stars, then it is time to +redo the photometry. Do a {\bf phot n602csu coords=tvv datamin=100} +in order to generate new aperture photometry and sky values. These +can then be run through {\bf allstar}, and the procedure repeated for +each +of the frames. + +\subsection{Determining the Aperture Correction} + +The zero-point of your magnitudes have been set as follows. When you +ran {\bf phot} using a small aperture (3 pixels in the example above) +magnitudes were defined as -2.5 * log{(Counts above sky)/(Exposure +time)} + Const. +(The constant Const was hidden away in {\bf photpars} and is the +magnitude assigned to a star that had a total of one ADU per second +within the measuring aperture you used.) When you defined your PSF the +magnitudes of the PSF stars determined from the aperture photometry were +then used to set the zero-point of the PSF. However, your standard +stars were presumably measured (if you did things right) through a much +larger aperture, and what we must do now is measure how much brighter +the PSF would have been had its zero-point been tied to the same size +aperture used for the standard stars. + +We need to determine the aperture correction from the brightest, +unsaturated stars (so there will still be reasonable signal above sky +at the size of the large aperture); if you can pick out stars that are +reasonably well isolated, so much the better. If this sounds vaguely +familiar to you, you're right---this is basically what you did for +selecting PSF stars, and these would be a good starting point for +selecting stars for determining the aperture correction. Ideally you +would like to use at least five such stars, but since when is data +reduction ideal? Nevertheless, it is in the determination of the +aperture correction the largest uncertainty enters in doing CCD +photometry on crowded fields. + +We will first need to pick out the brightest, isolated stars and then +to subtract off any stars that might affect their being measured through +the large ``standard star" aperture (e.g., something like 15 pixels). +To do this we need good photometry of any of these neighbor stars, and +we describe two ways to do this (1) the very long complicated way, and +(2) the very short easy way: + +\begin{enumerate} + +\item {\bf Method 1: Using the image display} +We can also use {\bf tvmark} to mark the stars that we wish to use for +aperture photometry. First we should remind ourselves what are multiple +stars and what aren't: {\bf display} the image, and then use {\bf +tvmark} to mark the stars with {\bf allstar} photometry: + +\centerline{ {\bf display n602csb 1} } + +\centerline{ {\bf txdump n602csb.als.2 xc,yc yes $>$ tvb} } + +\centerline{ {\bf tvmark 1 tvb color=204 interact-} } + +\noindent +Now go through and mark the stars you want to use as the aperture +correction stars {\it plus any neighbors that might contribute light +to a large aperture centered on the bright stars:} + +\centerline{ {\bf tvmark 1 bapstars color=203 interact+ }} + +\noindent +Use the ``a" key to generate a list ({\bf bapstars}) of the approximate +{\it x} and {\it y} positions of these stars. Next run this list +through {\bf phot} to generate improved centers and good sky values: + +\centerline{ {\bf phot n602csb bapstars bapphot calgor=``centroid" } } + +\noindent +Next run the photometry output file {\bf bapphot} through {\bf group}: + +\centerline{ {\bf group n602csb bapphot default default crit=0.2} } + +\noindent +This will have generated a ``group" file {\bf n602csb.grp.1}. + +\noindent +Finally (!) run this group file through {\bf nstar}: + +\centerline{ {\bf nstar n602csb default default default} } + +\item {\bf Method 2: Using the ``.psg" files} +If you used a goodly number ($>3-5$, say) stars in +making the PSF, then we will simply use these stars as the aperture +correction stars. Your last {\bf nstar} run should have produced an +``{\bf .nst}" file that contains good photometry for the PSF stars {\it +and} their neighbors. (If you don't remember if you did this, run {\bf +nstar} using the ``{\bf .psg}" as the input group file.) Note that this +method relies upon the assumption that the sum of the psf radius and psf +fitting radius is about as large as the size of the large aperture you +will use, so that all the important neighbors have been included in the +point-spread-function group, but this is probably a reasonable +assumption. + +\end{enumerate} + +Now that we are done with the preliminaries (!!), +we now want to produce two files: one of them containing only the +neighbors that we wish to subtract off, and another containing only the +bright isolated stars which we want to use in computing the aperture +correction. To do this we will use {\bf group} to divide up the ``{\bf +.nst}" file (we could simply use the editor but that would be a lot of +work). First we will use {\bf txdump} on the {\bf nstar} file to see the magnitude +range covered by the PSF stars and their neighbors: hopefully there +won't be any overlap. To do this try + +\centerline{ {\bf txdump n602csb.nst.3 id,group,mag yes} } + +\noindent +In the example shown in Fig.~\ref{grouping} we see that the PSF stars +\begin{figure} +\vspace{2.0in} +\caption{\label{grouping} The three PSF stars and their groups.} +\end{figure} +have magnitudes of 13.9, 15.0, and 16.5 in the three groups; all the +neighbor stars are fainter than 17.0. Thus we can use {\bf select} +to create a file containing the +photometry of the faint stars: + +\centerline{ {\bf select n602csb.nst.3 n602csbsub} } + +\noindent +and answer {\bf MAG$>$17.0} when you are queried for the ``Boolean +expression". This will put the photometry of the stars you wish to get +rid of into the file {\bf n602csbsub}. Next do an + +\centerline{ {\bf txdump n602csb.nst.3 xc,yc $>$ n602csbap} } + +\noindent +and answer {\bf MAG$<$17.0} in response to ``Boolean expression". This +will put the {\it x} and {\it y} values of the stars we wish to use for +the aperture correction into the file +{\bf n602csbap}. Next subtract the stars in the first file: + +\centerline{ {\bf substar n602csb n602csbsub} } + +\noindent and accept the defaults. This will result in the subtracted +image {\bf n602csb.sub.N}. It is this file on which we wish to run +the aperture photometry to determine the aperture correction: + +\centerline{ +{\bf phot n602csb.sub.N n602csbap n602csbapresults apertures=3.,15. annulus=20. dannu=5.} } + +\noindent +You will see something like Fig.~\ref{apcor1} on your terminal. +In this example we've made the assumption that the aperture size that +set your zero-point in making the PSF was 3 pixels (i.e., what you used +with {\bf phot} Way Back When), and that the aperture size used on your +standard stars was 15 pixels. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.0in} +\caption{\label{apcor1} The aperture correction run of {\bf phot}.} +\end{figure} +It is time to drag out your hand calculator. Using all three stars we +find an average aperture correction of $-0.371$ with a standard +deviation of the mean of 0.012 mag; given the large range in magnitude, +I might have been tempted to ignore the two fainter stars and keep the +aperture correction based only upon the brightest star (the frame is +sparsely populated, and there isn't a whole heck of a lot else we can +do). By an amazing coincidence, the aperture correction based just on +the brightest star is also $-0.371$. + + +\subsection{{\bf daophot} summary} +\begin{itemize} +\item Set up {\bf datapars} and {\bf daopars}. + \begin{enumerate} + \item Do an {\bf imhead} on some image and note the keywords for the + filter position, the effective exposure time, and the effective + airmass. + \item Use {\bf display} and {\bf imexamine} on a few frames to + determine the typical full-width-half-max + of stars and what would be a good + value to use for the radius of the psf (i.e., what radius will + contain the brightest star for which you wish to do photometry.) + \item Enter these into {\bf daopars} (psfrad) and {\bf datapars} + (header key words, fwhm). Also check that the correct values + are entered in {\bf datapars} for the gain (photons per ADU) + and read-noise (in electrons), as well as the ``maximum good data + value". + \end{enumerate} +\item Find stars. + \begin {enumerate} + \item Do an {\bf implot} or {\bf imexamine} to determine the sky + level on your frame. Calculate the expected $1\sigma$ error. + \item Enter the sky value minus 3$\sigma$ as your value for + {\bf datamin} in {\bf datapars}. + \item Run {\bf daofind} using as a threshold value 3 to 5 $\sigma$. + \item Use {\bf tvmark} to mark the stars found ({\bf imagename.coo.1}). + If you need to, rerun {\bf daofind} with a larger or small + threshold. + \end {enumerate} +\item Run aperture photometry using {\bf phot}. +\item Generate a PSF. Run {\bf psf} and add stars using the ``a" key. Try + to select bright, uncrowded stars. Then: + \begin {enumerate} + \item Run {\bf nstar} using the file {\bf imagename.psg.1} as the + ``input photometry group" file. If there are neighbors, be sure + to decrease the psf radius as explained above. + Run {\bf substar} (also using the smaller sized psf radius) + and display the + resultant subtracted frame {\bf imagename.sub.1}. Do the residuals + of the PSF stars look consistent, or is one of them funny? If need + be, start over. + \item Remove any neighbor stars by editing the PSF stars out of the + ``.nst" file, and rerunning {\bf substar}. Run + {\bf psf} on the subtracted file, using the normal psf radius again. + You will have to over-ride the defaults for the input and output file + names now that you are using the subtracted image. Rerun {\bf nstar} + on the original frame using the normal psf radius and the revised + PSF. Run {\bf substar} and display the results. Are the PSF stars + nicely removed, and do the areas around the PSF stars look clean? + It may be necessary to remove neighbors again using this revised + PSF. + \end {enumerate} +\item Run {\bf allstar}. Display the subtracted frame and see if your stars + have been nicely subtracted off. +\item Run {\bf daofind} on the subtracted frame, using a value for + {\bf threshold} which is another $\sigma$ or two larger than before, + and a value for {\bf datamin} which is several $\sigma$ lower than + before. Use {\bf tvmark} to examine the results, and if need be + run {\bf tvmark} interactively so that you may add any extra stars. +\item Run aperture photometry using {\bf phot} {\it on the original frame}, + using the new coordinate list produced above. +\item {\bf append} the two aperture photometry files. +\item Run {\bf allstar} using the combine photometry file. +\item Repeat all of the above for each frame in your ``set" (e.g., all short + and long exposures in each filter of a single field, say. +\item Use {\bf txdump} to select the stars from the allstar files which + have magnitudes not equal to ``INDEF". Mark these stars using + {\bf tvmark}, and then use the capabilities of the image display + and {\bf tvmark} to match stars consistently from frame to frame. + Rerun {\bf phot} and {\bf allstar} on the final coordinate lists. +\item Determine the aperture corrections. +\item Transform + to the standard system (see the next section) and then + publish the results. +\end{itemize} +\section{Transforming to the Standard System} + +This section will eventually tell you how to easily and painless obtain +the transformation equations for going from your instrumental magnitudes +to the standard system, and how to apply these transformation equations +to your program fields. Unfortunately, the IRAF routines for doing this +are still under construction. +In the meanwhile, we are providing here a kludge solution that can be +used by initiates of Stetson's VMS CCDCAL routines. If you haven't been +made a member of the club yet, and don't feel like waiting until the +IRAF routines are become available before you get results, then I would +recommend getting a hold of the good Dr. Stetson and bribing him until he +offers to send you a copy of CCDCAL. There is an excellent manual that +comes along with it, and we will not attempt to repeat any of that +material here. + +\subsection{Standard Star Solution} +First we will describe how to get output good enough to fool +the CCDCAL software into believing the photometry was produced by CCDOBS +(for the standard magnitudes), and what modifications need to be made +to CCDSTD.FOR + +On the standard file do a {\bf txdump standstuff lid,ifilt,xair,mag,merr +$>$ foolit} to dump the star number, filter number, airmass, and +instrumental magnitudes and errors into the file {\bf foolit}. +Unfortunately, you are now going to have to edit this file and stick in +the star name (in what ever form you have it in creating the library of +standard stars with CCDLIB) in place of the image name and star ID. +(These were simply placed in the file to help guide you). While you are +at it, line up the filter numbers, airmasses, and magnitudes into nice, +neat columns. When you get done, stick in a line at the top that gives +the number of instrumental magnitudes and their names, using a +i1,13x,n(6x,a6) format. For instance, in the case shown here there +are 3 instrumental magnitudes, U, B, and V. Finally, the filter numbers +have to be edited so they agree with these (e.g., they must denote +instrumental magnitude 1, 2, and 3...now aren't you sorry you didn't +decide to wait until the IRAF routines were finished?). In +Fig~\ref{groan} we show an example of the ``before" and ``after" file. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{3.5in} +\caption{\label{groan}The output of {\bf txdump} and the final file +ready for {\bf ccdstd}. Note the switching of the filter number ``5" +with ``1".} +\end{figure} + +CCDOBS.FOR itself now needs to be modified. Search for line statement +``1120" (which will say JSTAR=JSTAR+1). Add a line that sets the +integration time to 1 (tint=1.). Modify the READ statement as shown +in Fig.~\ref{ccdobs}, and finally modify the 213 FORMAT statement +so it actually matches your data file. +\begin{figure} +\vspace{2.5in} +\caption{\label{ccdobs} Modifications to CCDOBS.FOR} +\end{figure} +You should now be able to compile, link, and run this modified +version of CCDOBS and have it work on your standard star data. + +\subsection{Program Stars} +The work required for faking ``CCDCAL" is actually a lot less. The data +files are easily produced. Do a + +\centerline{{\bf txdump n602csu.als.2 +id,xc,yc,mag,merr,nit,chi $>$ csu} } + +\centerline{{\bf txdump n602csb.als.2 id,xc,yc,mag,merr,nit,chi $>$ +csb}} + +\centerline{{\bf txdump n602csv.als.2 id,xc,yc,mag,merr,nit,chi $>$ +csv}} + +\noindent +answering {\bf MAG!=INDEF} to ``boolean expression" each time. +These three files ({\bf csu}, {\bf csb}, {\bf csv} can be used +with CCDCAL once a single modification is made to CCDCAL.FOR: on +statement number 2020 change the format to ``free format", e.g., +2020 IF(NL(IOBS).NE.2) READ(2,*,END=2040). When CCDCAL queries +you for an integration time, be sure to tell it 1.0, as your data have +already been corrected for exposure times. + +\section{Acknowledgements} +We are grateful to Jeannette Barnes and Carol Neese for critical +readings of this document, although final blame for style and content +of course rests with the authors. +\end{document} |