January 31, 2017 : The BRIght Target Explorer-Constellation (BRITE-Constellation) satellite suite is obtaining high-precision photometry of selected very bright (mv < 4) stars. Its purpose is to investigate the "stellar structure and evolution of the brightest stars in the sky and their interaction with the local environment." The AAVSO is part of the BRITE-Constellation Ground Based Observations Team (GBOT), supporting cutting-edge science from the BRITE-Constellation satellites and coordinating with BRITE-Constellation scientist Dr.
January 25, 2017: The beginning of the observing window for the Chandra TOO observations of the SU
UMa-type dwarf nova YZ Cnc that are the focus of AAVSO Alert Notice 565 and AAVSO Special Notice #427 has been delayed.
Principal Investigator Dr. Christian Knigge (University of Southampton) informs us that Chandra Mission Planning has informed him that the beginning of the Chandra-observable window for YZ Cnc has been delayed until 2017 February 5.
January 23, 2017: The observing campaign is continuing for the SU UMa-type dwarf nova YZ Cnc. In AAVSO Alert Notice 565, Dr. Christian Knigge (University of Southampton) and colleagues requested AAVSO coverage in support of Chandra X-ray observations to be carried out via a Target of Opportunity (TOO) triggering when the system was in a suitable outburst.
We hope that new observers will find this tutorial very useful for learning how to make their first variable star estimates. Since no prior experience is required, the 10-Star Training Tutorials are also ideal for use in schools and clubs.
In addition to the English and Arabic versions, the 10-Star Training Tutorial is available in Polish, Turkish, and Chinese. There is also a Southern Hemisphere version available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
December 19, 2016: Dr. Christian Knigge (University of Southampton) and colleagues have requested AAVSO coverage of the SU UMa-type dwarf nova YZ Cnc in support of Chandra X-ray observations to be carried out via a Target of Opportunity (TOO) triggering when the system is in a suitable outburst.
YZ Cnc has normal outbursts about every 7-10 days, and superoutbursts about every 100-110 days. The astronomers are planning to use a superoutburst to trigger the TOO observations.
