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.
December 12, 2016: Roque Ruiz-Carmona (Ph.D. candidate, Institute of Mathematics, Astrophysics and Particle Physics, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands) has requested AAVSO assistance with his campaign to observe a set of 21 cataclysmic variables (CVs) with the William Herschel Telescope (WHT) at La Palma on 2016 December 16.
Thanks to a lot of hard work by a team of volunteers from both sides of the Atlantic working together, we now have a French translation of the AAVSO Guide to CCD Photometry. You may download this Guide (free-of-charge) from here.
December 1, 2016: The blazar CTA 102 (4C 11.69) has been in an active state in gamma-ray and optical wavelengths since 2015. During 2016, it has had numerous flaring episodes, particularly since late October. It is presently in an unprecedentedly bright optical state, and showing substantially increased emission in gamma-ray and near-infrared wavelengths.
