Submitting observations on computer disk or via E-Mail  (VSS Circular 77)

More observers have been sending their current observations on disk or by
electronic mail and a couple have also provided data for previous years in
this form. In several cases software has had to be specially written to
convert files to the required format but this is preferable to entering the
observations again from scratch. However, devising different solutions for
each new contributor takes up extra time so it would be very helpful if
everyone kept as close as possible to the standard format. The following
example shows the preferred layout for a machine-readable observer report;

*BAAVSS*
*Year* 1990
*Name* A N Other
*Addr* 1 Place, Over There, London.
*Loc*  0W 51N
*Inst* 1 = B10X50, 2=R250

*Star*  AH Dra
*Chart* DAP 25.1.72
*GMAT*
Jan 04,1159 / 2(2)v(1)6 /   7.8 /  2/ 1/ M
Jan 16,0825 / 1(2)v(1)2 /   7.4 /  1/  / T,H
Feb 10,1000 / 2+2 , 1-1 /  7.4  /  1/  / O{5W 52N} x01
*X01* Obs from South Wales

*Star*  GK Per
*Chart* IDH 1977 Aug
*UT*
Feb 14,1912 / <D        /  <12.3 / 2 / 2/ M
Mar 19,2205 / D(1)v(1)E /   12.5 / 1 /  /
Apr 23,2000 / =C        /   11.8 /   /  / M

*End*

Further blocks of observations for other variables can be added before
'*End*', and files can contain up to about 700 observations. All files
should be simple ASCII text with the observation lines divided into fields by
a separating character ('/' in the above example, but the ':' or ';' can also
be used). The last three fields are the class, instrument code, and comment
fields, respectively. If the class or instrument fields are blank, the entry
on the previous line is assumed. The important point to note is that the
lines should still have the same number of separators. It is quite important
to get the format of the observation lines right as it can be very fiddly to
correct them (it is much easier to correct the keyword lines).

Another helpful detail is to use standard comments in the last field rather
than whole words. The following table lists the meaning of comment letters
that are handled automatically by the system;

 A Artificial light  H Haze             O Other location   V Averted vision
 B Bias              I Invisible        P Photographic     W Wind affecting
 C Cloud             J                  Q Query?           X Extra comment
 D Difficult         K                  R                  Y
 E Extrafocal        L Low              S Speed (hurried)  Z
 F Fog/mist          M Moon             T Twilight/dawn
 G Glimpsed          N Mean (averaged)  U Universal time

The letters 'I', 'N', and 'U' are unnecessary in computer reports and 'J',
'K', 'R', 'Y', and 'Z' should not be used. The letter 'P' on its own denotes
that the estimate and photograph were by the same person. If an estimate is
made from a photo taken by someone else, then enclose the photographer's name
in braces - eg; 'P{D McAdam}' - both names are then logged. The named
photographer becomes the default on further P-comments with empty braces;
'P{}'. Temporary geographical locations can also be placed inside braces in
the comments, eg; 'O{37E 2S}' for an observation made from Nairobi, Kenya.
Latitude and longitude are stored to 1 degree accuracy and these examples are
read automatically. A more precise position could be entered further along
the default location line ('*Loc*').

Initially it was thought that the method column would have to be included in
machine readable reports but this proved unnecessary. Although step estimates
are written and keyed in different styles the recognition routine has a degree
of sophistication and is able to read and understand them in conjunction with
cross-related sequences. In the following table of methods s1, s2 represent
numeric step values and c1, c2 represent comparison names with c1 brighter
than c2 on the sequence. Each line in the table contains various ways of
writing one method separated by commas and the equivalent Argelander ones
continue on the line below. The first variation on each line is the
preferred form. Non-specific estimates have a single chevron with '>',
meaning brighter than, and '<', meaning fainter than. Observations
containing only the latter method, of course, are negative observations made
when the variable was too faint to be seen.

  1.  V(n1)c1(n2)c2                               (F)     V n1 c1 n2 c2
  2.  c1(n1)V(n2)c2                               (F)     c1 n1 V n2 c2
  3.  c1(n1)c2(n2)V                               (F)     c1 n1 c2 n2 V
  4.  =c1,  V=c1,  c1=V                           (F)
  5.  c1+s1,  =c1+s1,  V=c1+s1,                   (P)
                                 (s1)c1, V(s1)c1  (A)
  6.  c1-s1,  =c1-s1,  V=c1-s1,                   (P)
                                 c1(s1), c1(s1)V  (A)
  7.  >c1,  V>c1,  c1<V                           (P)
  8.  <c1,  V<c1,  c1>V                           (P)
  9.  >c1+s1,  V>c1+s1                            (P)
 10.  <c1-s1,  V<c1-s1                            (P)

On all estimating methods, leading chevrons and round or square brackets ('<',
'(', '[') are taken to be equivalent; similarly, the trailing ones are also
interchangeable ('>', ')', ']'). Fractional estimates are occasionally
written without brackets as shown at the extreme right. These cannot be read
automatically so they should be keyed with the brackets. Mixed estimates
separated by commas are allowed in an observation and the average is taken.
Method 2 is sometimes purposely written 'c2(n1)V(n2)c1' where two sequence
comparisons of nearly the same magnitude have been seen in reverse order. If
such estimates are unavoidable, they are best confirmed with an X-comment.

Greek letters can be produced on certain computers by using special character
codes but these codes are machine-dependent so it is best to use their English
names instead. These can be abbreviated to the first three letters to save
on typing. eg; 'omi' = omicron, 'eps' = epsilon, and so on.

Instrument specifications on the *Inst* lines can be read automatically if
they comply with a simple syntax, eg; '1=R305, 2=C127X60, 3=C127X100,
4=B10X50...' etc. Initial letters denote 'R'eflector, 'C'atadioptric,
'G'lass (refractor), 'F'inder, 'M'onocular and 'B'inocular. The aperture in
millimetres should come first except for Binos, Monoculars, and Finders.
Photographers can include film types after the focal length and F-ratio, eg;
'305mm F4 K2415'.

Some less-used ways of writing dates and times can be handled; decimal days
UT or GMAT are indicated by placing a full stop after the preceding keywords
- '*UT*.' or '*GMAT*.' - which switches the routine into reading decimals
instead of hhmm. JD are always in decimal but are seldom used in normal
reports.

Finally, please keep sending computer reports, if you are already doing so,
because this is a great help towards dealing with the annual input. If the
files are near to the format outlined above, so much the better. Observers who
think they can start reporting this way are invited to contact me for more
details. I would also be pleased to hear from more people who can undertake
entry of some of the more historic lists.

Dave McAdam