Signal-to-noise calculator for CCD photometry at WIYN 0.9m

Michael Richmond
Aug 13, 2013
Dec 28, 2016

This form allows you to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio for a star observed with the WIYN 0.9-m telescope. You can vary the parameters and find out what sort of results to expect.

Assumptions:

• WIYN 0.9-m telescope at Kitt Peak
• reflectivity of primary from 2012 measurements, assumes reflectivity of secondary is the same
• standard Johnson-Cousins filters
• the star has the same spectrum as Vega, so it will give inaccurate results for very cool, red stars.
• sky values for Kitt Peak, assuming 3-day moon
• extinction coefficients for Kitt Peak, from Direct Imaging manual

If you want to see the calculations themselves, try reading the Perl source code to the calculator. Or, if you just want to see the equations governing the calculations, try this article by Steve Howell.

Last updated Dec 28, 2016 by Michael Richmond.