Issues with the calibration computer

The Amazon Cloud computer, occam, that receives images from AAVSOnet sites, calibrates them, and transfers them to VPHOT or ftp, has had issues and needed to be rebuilt. It is a complex process, due to the multiple software packages that needed to be reinstalled and updated, as well as our custom scripts and connections to the various sites.

No data has been lost, and the AAVSOnet telescopes are working just fine. However, until occam is running smoothly again, we will not be transferring any calibrated images. This means that you will get several nights of data in rapid succession when things return to normal (probably a couple of weeks). Site managers might see issues with updating plans; proposers might see a delay in acceptance and in getting their first images. We will probably deprecate Remark-o-Matic, and so image inspectors will have a different process for submitting their reports.

We apologize for this inconvenience, and will get things running as quickly as possible.

1 Like

Do you know how long this has been a problem? For some time I have noticed my results have deviated quite a bit from those of other experienced observers of the same target who don’t use AAVSOnet systems, different enough so that I haven’t been reporting them.

Once the calibration process is resolved will it be possible to re-calibrate the affected images so that observers can repeat the photometry?

Phil. SPP

Hi Phil,
This was a recent issue and did not involve image calibration, so I don’t think it is the cause of your photometric offset. If you want to share a couple of errant images with me (HQA), I’ll take a look at them.