The detection and measurement of faint features in cometary image is generally troublesome due to the high value of the ratio of the brightness of the nucleus to the tail, the large size and low surface brightness of the coma and tail and the disturbing presence of field stars trails. The image processing is based on background removal by median filtering. Sample results are shown for the case study of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3.
We have been performing a wide-field photometric monitoring program, named SPVS (Short-Period Variability Survey), at the Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory (BOAO). The observation system consists of a small refracting telescope (D = 155 mm, f = 1050 mm) and a 2k×3k CCD Camera. The field of view is 1.0°×1.5°. Detection limit is about V = 13 for short-period small amplitude variables such as δ Scuti-type pulsating stars, and about V = 15 for long-period large amplitude variables such as eclipsing binaries and RR Lyrae stars. The instrument is designed to be remote-controlled through internet. The primary purpose of this project is to search for variable objects in bright Galactic open clusters. We present results of test observations conducted towards NGC 7092.