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Scientific Paper Session Schedule 1:30 pm - 3:15 pm Lee Anne Willson When Janet Mattei took over the AAVSO in 1973 we knew very little about the nature of the variability nor was the evolutionary context at all clear. Also at that time the number of researchers around the world actively pursuing Mira-related research was very small - in contrast with the 1920s-1940s when nearly every astronomer whose name is still familiar published a paper having to do with these stars. In the decade 1973-1983 advances were made in modeling these objects, and new observational tools including IUE, IRAS, and molecular radio lines, made them of interest to many more people and began to clarify their nature and significance. 1983-1993 saw consolidation of these observational and theoretical gains. 1993-2003 brought us the first of the massive surveys, including dark matter searches MACHO and OGLE, and the infrared 2-Mass, that not only provided data on the Miras but also clarified their relation to the SR classes. Janet's and AAVSO's involvement in all this included monitoring in support of the astrometric Hipparcos mission, and analysis of the behavior of these stars in collaboration with a number of other astronomers. I will review these developments briefly and highlight the contributions of the AAVSO and Janet Mattei. Margarita Karovska and Janet Mattei We present results from a long-term multi-wavelength study of the nearby symbiotic system CH Cyg. Episodes of significant change in the AAVSO light curve of CH Cyg detected over the past 20 years indicate that dramatic changes occur in the physical environment of this interacting binary system. We discuss the high-resolution imaging, photometry and spectroscopy of the spatial and spectral distribution of the emissions of this system at UV-optical, radio, and X-ray wavelengths, and show that these changes are associated with repeated jet activity in this system. John R. Percy and Jaime L. Coffey RV Tauri (RVT), yellow semi-regular (SRd), and the longer-period Population II Cepheid (CW) variables make up a "spectrum" of low-mass supergiant pulsating variable stars with periods of tens of days. They are in relatively rapid stages of evolution, either executing "thermal flashes" from the extreme red giant state, or contracting from the extreme red giant state to the white dwarf state. Their rapid evolution should be detectable from their period changes, using the (O-C) method. Unfortunately the evolutionary changes are partly masked by random cycle-to-cycle period fluctuations. We have investigated five variables (their GCVS classification and period in days are given in brackets): AG Aur [SRd, 96.0], AV Cyg [SRd, 89.2], SX Her [SRd, 102.9], TX Per [RVT, 78.0] UZ Oph [RVT, 87.4], using a variety of data, dating back to the early 1900's. During some intervals, the data are unfortunately sparse. We have derived mean rates of period change which are consistent with evolutionary predictions, within the limitations of the data. Jaime Coffey was a participant in the University of Toronto's Research Opportunity Program, which enables outstanding second-year students to complete a research project for course credit. We thank the many AAVSO observers and others who, through the years, have made this project possible. Mario Motta, MD In order to allow more time to do both AAVSO observations and general astronomy and have rapid response to alerts, I have built a new observatory that is physically part of my new home. There will also be a new 32” telescope, fully robotic, of a relay scope design that will allow superb optics. I will describe construction and future plans. Seiichi Sakuma Mattei-san was in Japan at the time of the IAU General Assembly which was held in 1997 at Kyoto. It was her first and last visit to Japan. The Variable Star Observers League in Japan has general assembly at the same time of the IAU GA near Kyoto. We invited Mattei-san, Prof. J. Percy, and Prof. B. Warner as the speaker of our GA. Mattei-san's presentation was "Impact of Ground Based Monitoring of Variable Star Observers (including general activities of the AAVSO, and the contributions of Japanese observers to the AAVSO.) Her presentation made a deep impression on us. I suppose she enjoyed the next day's excursion to visit our national treasure, Hikone Castle. Dorrit Hoffleit In 1938 an exceptionally brilliant Turkish lady, Paris Pi?mi?, received her Ph.D. from Ege University and was then given a one-year appointment at Harvard Observatory. There she met a Mexican astronomer and they were eventually married. She became largely responsible for the subsequent prestige of Mexican astronomy. In 1969 Pi?mi? was temporarily back in Turkey when young Janet Akyüz, who had just graduated from Brandeis University in Massachusetts, was also back in Turkey, where she contacted Pi?mi? to ask if Paris could recommend an American Observatory where Janet could apply for a summer job. Paris described the summer program at the Maria Mitchell Observatory on Nantucket for women astronomy students to do research on variable stars. Janet applied and was accepted. That year the AAVSO had been invited to hold its annual meeting on Nantucket. In the unexpected absence of the Director of the Maria Mitchell Observatory, Janet took charge of the meetings so successfully that a few years later when the Director of the AAVSO, Margaret Mayall, was looking for an assistant Janet was given the job. Within two years, Mrs. Mayall was about to retire. From among several qualified candidates Janet was chosen as the new Director. Under her leadership, the AAVSO expanded significantly in both educational and research projects. 3:15 pm - 3:45 pm COFFEE BREAK 3:45 pm - 5:30 pm Paula Szkody Janet and the AAVSO data had a large impact on the work on cataclysmic variables, especially concerning outburst light curves of dwarf novae and ground-based support of space observations. A summary of 12 papers on this subject over 20 years will be presented. William Liller If two novae, one fast and one slow, were to go off simultaneously in a distant galaxy, the fast one would be the brighter of the two. But this means that at some point in time after peak brightness, the two novae, fading at different rates, would become equal in brightness. From a study of 17 novae in the LMC, 13 days is, on the average, that period of time, and the average absolute magnitude then is Mv = -5.9. Matthew Templeton and Aaron Price Dedicated, intensive observing campaigns on specific targets can help to uncover much about individual variable stars. We discuss three of the AAVSO's dedicated observing campaigns undertaken in 2004: the dwarf novae BZ UMa and Var Her 04, and the extrasolar planet transit candidate IL Aqr. Mario Motta, MD The concept of "Partnership in Astronomy" was born one evening in a conversation between Janet Mattei and my wife, Joyce Motta. In an after dinner conversation at my home in 1990, the poor state of science education in schools was discussed. It was also noted that most children are naturally drawn to the stars. At the time I was occasionally giving some lectures to a local school system, and the ATMOB's were beginning to do some outreach as well. Janet and Joyce thought a more formal collaboration between amateurs and local school systems would both teach children about astronomy, but also demonstrate that science could be fun, and would lead to projects that would include observing, reducing data, math skills, and writing skills. Janet used the organizational ability of the AAVSO to develop a manual, got funding for the project, and finally matched amateurs to grade schools in a formal manner. This success then led to Hands-On Astrophysics for older children, and the entire effort fulfilled a longstanding wish of Janet Mattei to have amateur/professional collaboration and to bring astronomy to the school systems to develop new generations of observers and scientists, a fitting legacy for her grand vision. Jaime Garcia Within the conventional educational structure in Latin America, we find a gap between the basic undergraduate formation and the early steps in research activities. To tackle this lack of continuity, we essay a way of solution based on the close interaction between students and researchers focusing a common work, based on variable star research. We have called our experience Scientific Initiation Program or PIC, as the acronym in Spanish, and this program reflects a changing methodology, continuously modeled by the whole group. In this paper we describe our experience that has taken place over 15 years. Michael Saladyga The historical documents and archival records at the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) are for the first time being evaluated, arranged, and cataloged in a systematic and comprehensive way. The goals of this project are to establish an archive that is efficiently accessible, and to produce a descriptive catalog that will be useful both as a finding-aid and as a research tool. Mary Kadooka, James Bedient, Alyce Ikeoka, and Karen Meech In Hawaiian, "ohana" means family. For 3 weeks of each summer from 1999-2003, Janet's ohana was 200 students and teachers attending our "Toward Other Planetary Systems" (TOPS) program. Against a backdrop of sky and sea, volcanoes and tropical forest, she taught them the science of estimating the brightness of variable stars using small telescopes. Using her photographs of flowers and celestial wonders, she shared her passion for nature and the universe with everyone. Her wisdom made our ohana strong, and her unflagging enthusiasm kept us cheerfully working together through fair and foul weather. Our slide show will highlight her TOPS ohana and some of the lives touched by Janet Mattei's commitment to education. M. Helvaci, A. Elmash, T. Tanriverdi, I. Özavci, E. Törün, B. Albayrak,
S.O. Selam, A. Kara, F. Bingöl, B. Mahmutoglu, and ASART POSTER PAPER This study focuses on the observations carried out at the Ankara University Observatory by professionals, student research groups, and amateurs. The idea is to encourage the students and amateurs who are interested in the observations of the variable stars and to bring the amateurs and professionals together in this area to closely interact with each other. In this context, ASART (the Astronomy Research Student Group of Ankara University) has an important role as an interface between the amateur and professional astronomers in Akara (Turkey). In this study we have shortly summarized the type of the ongoing observational projects at the observatory with some examples. |
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