AAVSO Variable Star Chart Volunteer Projects

Making variable star charts is a very time consuming and detail-oriented process. The AAVSO currently has a few groups of dedicated observers committed to help improve the chart catalog. Below is a summary of some of the projects. If you are interested in helping out contact charts@aavso.org or the e-mail address listed in the description.

• AAVSO Comparison Star Database Working Group: About ten volunteers are going through all AAVSO charts and documenting the comparison star sequence on each chart. Eventually this database will be used to create an automated online chart making program, transform observations made with old charts to agree with observations made with new charts, and it will eventually be published and shared with the professional community. This is a difficult project and needs volunteers who are good with astronomical databases, computers, and independant by nature. It's a long project, but this will end up being one of the most important accomplishments in the organization's history. Those involved have a good reason to be proud of their contribution to science. Vance Petriew is the team leader.
• AAVSO Chart Making Team: This is a new team dedicated to revising existing and publishing new variable star charts. The team just began work at the start of Summer 2003 and is expecting their first releases to occur around the beginning of August. After that, new charts should be released at a fairly steady and quick pace. Detail oriented individuals interested in making or checking charts are welcomed! Mike Simonsen is the team leader.

For a further idea of what the teams do read the AAVSO Chart Team and Comparison Star Database Working Group FY2003 Annual Reports