Photometry: New techniques, an introduction

Abstract

In most fields of observational astronomy, the new techniques we have now and are developing offer great potentials for more and better data, and thus to increased understanding of the universe about us. Photometry, as perhaps the most fundamental of all the observational tools, is no exception. The next years will be most exciting, but we must always be aware of the potential pitfalls involved with new technology. In fact, the new technologies must be handled with great care in order to insure that our data is really first class. New generation small telescopes can be a great asset, offering great complementarity to the new large telescopes and to space astronomy.