The Faint Sky Variability Survey II: Initial Results

We discuss the first results from the Faint Sky Variability Survey (Groot et al. 2000). The data consist of V-band light curves, BVI colours, astrometry, and morphology information on several hundred thousand point and extended sources in the magnitude range V=17-25. We discuss the first 30 survey fields covering an area of 8.4 square degrees towards moderate and high galactic latitudes. We analyse the quality of and discuss our differential photometry light curves. We employ statistical methods to select variable objects and present example variable light curves. The distribution of the colours and magnitudes of point sources in the survey is discussed and compared to galactic star count models. Finally, we discuss our search for trans-Neptunian objects in the FSVS fields observed towards ecliptic opposition.