A Message To Astronomy Clubs

An enterprising astronomy club can play a crucial role in helping its members make significant scientific contributions in any of several areas of astronomy. The discovery of a bright supernova is a contribution to science which is valuable in a truly unique way.

Here are some suggestions for the club executive to think about:

1. Form a supernova search section in your club.
2. Assign leadership to an experienced, active, deep-sky observer, who will: (a) encourage interested members to take up supernova hunting; (b) build up a library of resources (as set out earlier in this manual); (c) affiliate with the AAVSO Supernova Search Committee and utilize its verification teams. Eventually, it may be possible for your section to develop its own verification team.

   These aims may take some years to develop fully. It may be a good idea to begin this project in cooperation with a neighboring club. It will all be worth while if one of your members discovers a supernova. That would be something for the whole club to feel proud of, and would be an achievement of which the whole club could feel itself to be a part. Also, there is nothing like a major discovery made within the circle of club members to galvanize new interest and effort.

3. Establish a club prize to be presented to any member who finds a supernova. Similar prizes could be given for finding a comet or a nova. They need not be expensive.
4. Make sure that all negative galaxy observations are reported to the AAVSO on proper forms.
5. Encourage members of your supernova section, or any members interested in this type of observing, to join the AAVSO and to be part of the AAVSO supernova search operation. AAVSO members include team of several hundred observers from around the world, and the AAVSO Supernova Search Committee is a resource that members can call upon for help, and for verification of a discovery. Members can benefit from the expertise and availability of the AAVSO's verification teams. The teams have significant contacts with professional astronomers, and good experience in handling both real discoveries and false alarms.

Address all inquiries about membership in the AAVSO, and all general inquiries, to the Director of the AAVSO