[Aavso-photometry] [AAVSO-DIS] The New HOA == Variable Star Astronomy (VSA)

[Steve Beckwith]

This is impressive Arne.  I remember this project being announced at one of
the annual meetings.  Donna's done a great job.  

Is it all right if I forward your email to our club members?

- Steve

Beckwith Strings
Bolton, MA
978-779-5227
www.beckwithstrings.com

-----Original Message-----
From: aavso-discussion-bounces at aavso.org
[mailto:aavso-discussion-bounces at aavso.org] On Behalf Of Mario Motta
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 1:43 PM
To: arne
Cc: Aavso-Photometry; AAVSO-DIS
Subject: Re: [AAVSO-DIS] The New HOA == Variable Star Astronomy (VSA)

Great! As one of the many who also worked on the HOA project, (The plot was
hatched by Janet Mattei at my home many, many moons ago, by an off comment
by my wife Joyce about the need to teach science better to schoolchildren),
I am thrilled to see this available as a resource.
Great job Arne and especially Donna Young for her tireless efforts.

Mario Motta


On 2/24/09, arne <arne at aavso.org> wrote:
>
> Hands On Astrophysics was a major initiative of the AAVSO
> during the 1990's.  It was funded by a grant from NSF, and
> resulted in a great package that taught astrophysical
> concepts through the study of variable stars.  The package
> contained an excellent manual in a 3-ring binder; a VHS
> tape; 35mm slides, hardcopy photos and finding charts of
> stellar fields, and even a complete software package that
> could display light curves and do basic period searches.
> The package was geared towards the educator, though many
> copies were sold to individuals.
>
> This package was very expensive for the AAVSO to produce.
> We had depleted most of the stock about the time that I
> became Director.  Donna Young and I sat down together,
> and she expressed interest in bringing this package into
> the modern world.  This made perfect sense to me - she was
> one of the primary authors of the original HOA manual,
> and was willing to perform the work as a volunteer.  She
> began the process by converting a few chapters to use on
> her Chandra site, and slowly worked through the remaining
> chapters with the help of several of her coworkers (especially
> Pamela Perry).
>
> I am proud to announce that the entire manual and most
> of the supporting material is again available through the
> AAVSO website, this time for free.  As linked through
> the home page:
> http://www.aavso.org/education/vsa/
> you can download individual chapters or supporting material.
> The software, VSTAR, has yet to be converted from its original
> DOS roots (we are looking for a grant to cover this cost), but
> we hope that it will happen sooner than later.  Note also
> that Donna was unhappy with the original "Astrophysics" title,
> as she felt that it frightened away some potential readers,
> and so has renamed the curriculum "Variable Star Astronomy."
> It is the same manual and material, though updated with
> modern links.
>
> I hope you enjoy the final product as much as I have, and
> use it frequently in your classrooms and club activities.
> Arne
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