K2 Star List Files

Part I. Introduction

This document describes how to install a K2 star list file and then use it to build a K2 light curve directory with LcGenerator. If you have any questions, please contact the LcTools author at aschmitt@comcast.net.

Part II. Installing a K2 Star List File

1. Using the table below, find the star list file you wish to access. Right-click on the file and select “Open link in new window” from the pop-up menu. Move the window so you can still see these instructions.

Available K2 Star List Files

2. You will be taken to Google Drive on the Web. Click on the Download icon located in the top right corner of the page. The icon should look like this:

3. Click on the downloaded file to open it in Notepad. You will save the file later on in the process.

Part III. Using LcGenerator to Build a K2 Light Curve Directory

1. Start LcGenerator.

2. In the "Lightcurve Directory" field, type-in pathname "<drive>:\Lightcurves_<K2Project>_C<xx>" where <drive> is replaced with a target drive letter, <K2Project> is replaced with K2, K2_SFF, or K2_EVEREST as applicable, and <xx> is replaced with a 2-digit 0 padded campaign number. For example, "C:\Lightcurves_K2_SFF_C01".

3. In the Project field, select K2, K2_SFF, or K2_EVEREST as applicable from the drop-down list. The project must match <K2Project> in the light curve directory name.

4. In Notepad, select "File->Save As". Navigate to directory "<drive>:\Lightcurves_<K2Project>_C<xx>\Generator" and save the file under the same file name. Then close Notepad.

5. Under the "Star List File" field in LcGenerator, click the Select button. In the subsequent dialog box, double-click file "Stars_C<xx>.txt". The campaign number in the star list file must match the campaign number in the light curve directory.

6. In the Periods group box, click the Select radio button then type-in the target campaign number. The campaign number must match the campaign number in the light curve directory and star list file excluding the leading "0". For example, "1".

7. Select an applicable cadence (Long or Short). Long is the default. If Short is selected, chooses a bin size from the drop-down list. If you intend to run LcSignalFinder later on, a value of 2 points per hour is recommended.

8. Select an applicable flux type (PDCSAP or SAP). PDCSAP is the default.

9. Select an applicable quality filter. The first button is recommended for the K2 project, the third button strongly recommended for the K2_EVEREST project, and the second button strongly recommended for the K2_SFF project.

10. Click the "Start Job" button to begin building light curve files in the specified directory. A sample LcGenerator window for the K2_SFF project is shown below:

See the "LcGenerator User Guide" for details. The document can be opened within LcGenerator by selecting "Help→User Guide" from the menu bar.

11. While the job is executing, you can use LcViewer to view the light curve files built thus far by LcGenerator. See section "Using Work Groups" in the "LcViewer User Guide". The document can be opened within LcViewer by selecting "Help→User Guide" from the menu bar.