Observations of CHIRON by Denis Bergeron, Val-des-bois, Quebec, Canada
(E-MAIL: bergeron@achilles.net)

Coordinates of my site:
LONGITUDE: 75 deg. 31' 56 '' WEST
LATITUDE: +45 deg. 53' 42'' NORTH
ALTITUDE: Around  200 feets

Night of  June 16, 1995 around 03h00 UT

Hello dear friend astronomer,

This is my eighth report of observation about CHIRON.

My astronomical equipment is a Meade SCT LX-200 10'' F10 telescope with 
a telecompressor lens to reduce my f/ratio to about F5.2  
(FL: 51,6 inches) and a SBIG ST-6 CCD camera at prime focus. I also use 
a CCD SBIG ST-4 at prime focus of my piggyback  SCT telescope 4'' F10 
to autoguide my Meade. All CCD pictures were exposed 5 minutes each. 
I had taken 8 exposures during this session. My first exposure was 
taken on June 16th 1995 at 02h37 UT and my last picture on June 16th 
at 03h27UT. No filter was used. The seeing was poor (HAZY).

During this observation session, I have taken 2 dark frames of  5 minutes. 
In the end, I took a flat field image. The following days, I averaged my 
dark frames and I calibrated (dark subtract and FF corrected) all my 
pictures. With my software, I add up 8  images centered on CHIRON to 
show CHIRON alone (see CHIRON.FIT). I haven't detected any evidence 
of COMA around CHIRON. 

I include images in FITS ,TIFF, FLI and ST6 format. The picture in FITS 
format are the result of the addition of my 8 images (averaged). Use these 
images if you wish analyse them. The TIFF pictures are the same image but 
it's for indicate where is CHIRON in the image. I include an ANIMATION of 
CHIRON in the sky (CHIRON.FLI). To see the blink effect, try a software 
such as AUTODESK ANIMATION  (AAPLAY) capable to read FLI files.  The  time 
lapsed between the first and last image used to make the FLI image is 
around 40 minutes. Finally, I include 2 ST6 images with HEADERS to make 
ASTROMETRY with ASTROMETRICA software.  This software is very good to 
determine precise positions (USE WITH GSC CD ROM) and you can send the 
final report directly to MPC by E-MAIL.

I use Chiron's ephemeris supplied by CPC. They are very precise. If you 
wish to find Chiron easily, use software with the GUIDE STAR CATALOG such 
MEGASTAR, THE SKY or others. Plot the position of Chiron on the chart and 
try to identify  stars in the area where Chiron is. Be patient!

Don't expose your images more than 10 minutes. I detect a slight shift in 
my images. It's best to take many 5mn images and add them up to increase 
the S/N. Be careful to don't saturate the pixels. If you have images of 
Chiron, please prepare the best ones and send a copy of them to CPC. I'm 
very interested to look at them.

See my others reports

Best regards