A. El-Bassuny Alawy (National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt)
A new technique is proposed and developed to handle pre-processed CCD frames in order to identify stellar images and derive their relevant photometric parameters. The technique developed relies on : 1)Assigning approximate position of stellar image centre using two Artificial Intelligence technique (Knowledge Based and Neural Network approaches), 2) Accurate determination of the centre coordinates employing a simple statistical method and 3) Estimating the image peak intensity as a stellar magnitude indicator employing simple numerical analysis methods. The present approach has been coded for personal computer users. It has been applied on a CCD frame for the cluster M67 and the results obtained were discussed in comparison with the DAOPHOT published outcome. The method and technique suggested exhibits simple, fast and precise approach in stellar CCD photometry domain. These characteristics show the usefulness of the present technique in some astronomical applications described.