Skip to main content
  • About Us
    • The Organization
      • Vision/Mission
      • What We Do
      • Services
      • Work & Research
      • Volunteer
      • History
      • The AAVSO Archives
      • By-Laws
      • Contact Us
    • The People
      • Council Members, Officers & Section Leaders
      • Staff
      • Honors & Awards
      • In Memoriam
    • Outreach
      • Presentation Library
      • Writers Bureau
      • Speakers Bureau
    • The Location
      • AAVSO Headquarters
      • Directions
      • Guest Suite
    • Our Publications
      • Annual Report
      • The Journal of the AAVSO
      • Alert and Special Notices
      • AAVSO Newsletter
      • Visual Observing Manual
      • CCD Observing Manual
      • Solar Bulletin
      • plus many more...
    • Apply for Membership
    • Renew Membership
    • Support the AAVSO
      • Funds
      • Amazon.com
      • Benefactors
    • AAVSO Store
    • Citizen Sky Project
  • Community
    • Meetings
    • Forums
    • Live Chat Room
    • Staff Blog
    • Social Media
  • Variable Stars
    • What Are They & Why Observe Them?
    • The Stories Variables Tell
    • Types of Variables
    • Variable Star of the Season
    • Education Materials
      • CHOICE Online Institute
      • Science Olympiad
      • Two Eyes, 3D
      • Variable Star Astronomy
      • H-R Diagram Plotting Activity
    • Reporting Variable Star Discoveries
    • Variable Star Index (VSX)
    • AAVSO in Print - Publications Using AAVSO Data
  • Observing
    • Observing at a Glance
    • Observing Sections
    • Observing Manuals
      • Visual Observing Manual
      • CCD Photometry Manual
      • DSLR Photometry Manual
    • Alert and Special Notices
    • Observing Campaigns
    • WebObs (Search AID or Submit Your Data)
    • Variable Star Charts
      • Variable Star Plotter (VSP)
      • Report Chart Errors
      • Request Comparison Stars
    • Observation Planner Tool
    • JD Calculator & Calendar
    • Software Directory
  • Data
    • AAVSO International Database (AID)
    • Portal for Researchers
    • Historic Light Curves
    • WebObs (Submit/Search Data)
    • Data Access
      • Download Data in Ascii Form
      • Light Curve Generator (LCG)
      • MyNewsFlash - Real-Time Data Delivery
      • WebObs Search (Searches AID)
    • Data Analysis
      • VPHOT - Online Photometry Tool
      • Zapper - Help Validate Data
      • VStar - Java Visualization & Analysis Tool
    • The AAVSO Photometric All-Sky Survey (APASS)
    • AAVSOnet
  • Getting Started
    • What Are Variable Stars?
    • Things to Do
    • Find a Mentor
    • Online Forum for Help and Advice
    • Star Tutorials
      • 10-Star Tutorial (Visual Observations of Variable Stars)
      • 5-Star Tutorial (Data Analysis)
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Donate
  • Amazon
Home
Print This Page

For Observers

Enter data VSP Light Curve Generator View recent data VSX

 

For New Observers

  • Mentor Program
  • 10-Star Tutorial
  • Request AAVSO Observer Code
  • List of Easy to Observe Stars
  • How Often Should I Observe My Stars?
  • Online Resources
  • FAQs
 

Talk to Observers
 

Who's on chat?

Participate in live chat with AAVSO observers and staff.

Access the chat room

Check out a Forum

Participate in ongoing discussions on topics of interest to observers.
Current threads

AAVSO Binocular Program


The AAVSO Binocular Program consists of 153 stars in the northern and southern hemispheres. They are mostly semi-regulars and Miras, with a few other types sprinkled in. Most of the stars range between 3.0 and 9.5V and can be observed best using simple hand held binoculars.

Observing Sections

Cataclysmic Variables (CVnet)

Novae, dwarf novae, recurrent novae and symbiotic variables

Long Period Variables

Miras, Semiregulars, RV Tau and all your favorite red giants

Eclipsing Variables

Algol, beta Per, W UMa and all your favorite eclipsing binaries

Young Stellar Objects

Observing program for Pre-Main Sequence (YSO/PMS) stars

Short Period Pulsating Variables

Cepheids, and RR Lyrae stars

High Energy Network

Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) and other high energy astrophysical phenomena

Solar

Sunspots and Sudden Ionospheric Disturbances (SIDs)
 

 

       

Tools, Resources and References


  • AAVSO Bulletin 76 for 2013
    Predicted Dates of Maxima and Minima of 371 Long Period Variables for 2013
  • Observation Planner Tool
    Calculate when objects of interest are visible to you
  • Eclipsing Binary Ephemerides
    For planning EB observations
  • JD Calculator and Calendars
    Convert any date and time to Julian Date
  • AAVSOnet
    AAVSO's robotic telescope network
  • VPhot
    AAVSO photometric software 
  • Landolt Standard Stars in VSP
    Plot charts with Landolt standards
  • Reporting Discoveries
    Procedure for reporting new variable star discoveries

  • Variable Star of the Season Archive
    Interesting and informative articles about individual variable stars
  • AAVSO In Print
    A partial listing of all literature using AAVSO data or resources
  • Cataclysmic Variable Circular Archives
    Daily average magnitudes of CVs for the previous 30 days from AAVSO data. Published weekly.
  • Long Period Variable Circular Archive
    Daily average magnitudes of LPVs for the previous 30 days from AAVSO data. Published weekly.
  • Data Usage Report
    Get notified when others download your data
  • CHET
    Report a chart error
  • Request a new sequence
    Ask the chart team for comp stars for your variable star
Page Editor: SXN
Last Updated: May 27, 2013 - 9:14am
Keywords:
  • CCD observers
  • new observers
  • observers
  • PEP observers
  • visual observers
  • Printer-friendly version

Visual Observers

  • Visual Observing Manual
  • Suggested Stars for Visual Observers
  • AAVSO Bulletin
  • Visual Resource and Reading List
  • AAVSO Binocular Program

CCD Observers

  • CCD Observing Manual
  • Suggested Stars for CCD Observers
  • VPHOT
  • CCD Resource and Reading List

PEP Observers

  • The AAVSO Photoelectric Photometry (PEP) Program
  • Suggested Stars for PEP Observers

Useful Links

  • Variable Star Bookstore
  • Variable Star Organizations
  • More Links
Contact Us :: Join Us :: Donate
Stay Connected:
  • About Us
    • The Organization
      • Vision/Mission
      • What We Do
      • Services
      • Work & Research
      • Volunteer
      • History
      • The AAVSO Archives
      • By-Laws
      • Contact Us
    • The People
      • Council Members, Officers & Section Leaders
      • Staff
      • Honors & Awards
      • In Memoriam
    • Outreach
      • Presentation Library
      • Writers Bureau
      • Speakers Bureau
    • The Location
      • AAVSO Headquarters
      • Directions
      • Guest Suite
    • Our Publications
      • Annual Report
      • The Journal of the AAVSO
      • Alert and Special Notices
      • AAVSO Newsletter
      • Visual Observing Manual
      • CCD Observing Manual
      • Solar Bulletin
      • plus many more...
    • Apply for Membership
    • Renew Membership
    • Support the AAVSO
      • Funds
      • Amazon.com
      • Benefactors
    • AAVSO Store
    • Citizen Sky Project
  • Community
    • Meetings
    • Forums
    • Live Chat Room
    • Staff Blog
    • Social Media
  • Variable Stars
    • What Are They & Why Observe Them?
    • The Stories Variables Tell
    • Types of Variables
    • Variable Star of the Season
    • Education Materials
      • CHOICE Online Institute
      • Science Olympiad
      • Two Eyes, 3D
      • Variable Star Astronomy
      • H-R Diagram Plotting Activity
    • Reporting Variable Star Discoveries
    • Variable Star Index (VSX)
    • AAVSO in Print - Publications Using AAVSO Data
  • Observing
    • Observing at a Glance
    • Observing Sections
    • Observing Manuals
      • Visual Observing Manual
      • CCD Photometry Manual
      • DSLR Photometry Manual
    • Alert and Special Notices
    • Observing Campaigns
    • WebObs (Search AID or Submit Your Data)
    • Variable Star Charts
      • Variable Star Plotter (VSP)
      • Report Chart Errors
      • Request Comparison Stars
    • Observation Planner Tool
    • JD Calculator & Calendar
    • Software Directory
  • Data
    • AAVSO International Database (AID)
    • Portal for Researchers
    • Historic Light Curves
    • WebObs (Submit/Search Data)
    • Data Access
      • Download Data in Ascii Form
      • Light Curve Generator (LCG)
      • MyNewsFlash - Real-Time Data Delivery
      • WebObs Search (Searches AID)
    • Data Analysis
      • VPHOT - Online Photometry Tool
      • Zapper - Help Validate Data
      • VStar - Java Visualization & Analysis Tool
    • The AAVSO Photometric All-Sky Survey (APASS)
    • AAVSOnet
  • Getting Started
    • What Are Variable Stars?
    • Things to Do
    • Find a Mentor
    • Online Forum for Help and Advice
    • Star Tutorials
      • 10-Star Tutorial (Visual Observations of Variable Stars)
      • 5-Star Tutorial (Data Analysis)
AAVSO 49 Bay State Rd. Cambridge, MA 02138 aavso@aavso.org 617-354-0484
 

Sponsored By:

 

unihedron

Santa Barbara Instrument Group Swinburne Astronomy Online
 

Diffraction Limited

Put Your Logo Here ...

 

 

 

Donate to the AAVSO via Amazon.com