[Aavso-photometry] Joint SAS/AAVSO Spring Meeting

[Arne Henden]

Hello Members and Friends of the AAVSO,

Below you will find detailed information about the very exciting
upcoming meeting of the AAVSO.  If you have any questions about this
meeting please contact the SAS office at program at socastrosci.org or the
AAVSO meeting coordinator, Rebecca Turner, at rebecca at aavso.org.

We hope to see many of you in Big Bear!
Arne
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The 98th Spring Meeting of the American Association of Variable Star
Observers

This year the spring meeting of the American Association of Variable
Star Observers (AAVSO) will be held as a joint meeting with the Society
for Astronomical Sciences (SAS) and their 28th Annual Symposium on
Telescope Science.  This joint meeting will take place from May 19th to
May 21st, 2009 at the Northwoods Resort in Big Bear Lake, CA. The
meeting will emphasize amateur research and pro-am collaboration with
amateurs and professionals discussing the use of CCD cameras, software,
hardware, and the latest techniques in data acquisition and analysis. If
you want to know more about photometry, astrometry, spectroscopy and CCD
imaging, and the newest hardware and software techniques, this is the
conference you will NOT want to miss!

The meeting will include: a Monday AAVSO Council Meeting, daily paper
sessions on varying astronomical topics, a Tuesday evening workshop on
Data Mining by Arne Henden and Paula Szkody, a Wednesday evening
workshop on photometry by Jerry Foote and Brian Warner, a Thursday
afternoon membership meeting of the AAVSO, a Thursday night Banquet
featuring keynote speaker and longtime AAVSO member, John Percy.


*WORKSHOPS*
Two workshops have been scheduled, one each on Tuesday and Wednesday
evenings, May 19 and 20. Please note that there is a fee for attendance.
(See registration prices below for specifics.)

DATA MINING: Paula Szkody and Arne Henden
Note: For this workshop you will need a laptop and web browser.

We are entering an era when much data on variable stars exist in the
public domain. The data mining workshop is designed to make observers
comfortable with using available data to enhance their observations as
well as to provide a resource for work on cloudy nights and/or lack of
telescope access. The first hour of the workshop will focus on the AAVSO
data. Their web site is changing along with the usual tools available
and this hour will provide instruction on how to best use the new site.
The last 2 hrs will center on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey data. We will
explore how to access the photometric and spectroscopic data, make
finding charts, find magnitudes of comparison stars, find and classify
new variables, and make simple queries with the SQL language used in
many databases. New material beyond the Nantucket Data Mining Workshop
will be included, so this workshop will be of interest to all attendees.

PHOTOMETRY ESSENTIALS: Jerry Foote and Brian Warner Note: For this
workshop you will need a laptop with MS Excel or Open Office Spread
Sheet installed. The necessary software must be installed before the
workshop begins.

Jerry Foote will cover the essentials of what is required for good
photometry in regards to exposures, signal-to noise, preparing and
measuring images regardless of the software used. Brian Warner will
cover what is required to reduce observations onto a standard system and
work through some basic examples using simple spread sheets.

General note regarding laptops: Laptops should ideally have a fully
charged battery and a spare. SAS will provide power strips to tap into
the floor sockets as much as possible but there are limited facilities.
These will be available on a first come, first served basis.

*CALL FOR PAPERS*
If you are interested in submitting a paper and giving an oral
presentation (20 minutes including Q&A) at the joint meeting, email
the SAS program committee at program at socastrosci.org. SAS is handling
the scheduling of all presentations.  Your abstract must be received
by March 13, 2009. Final papers are due no later than May 3, 2009.
There will be an abstract booklet provided at the meeting.  Presented
papers will be included in the SAS proceedings CD (a non-refereed
publication.)  Presenters have the option of submitting their variable
star related papers to the refereed Journal of the AAVSO in addition
to the SAS proceedings CD. You must notify us that you wish to submit
your paper to the JAAVSO, as all joint meeting presentations will not
automatically be submitted.  You may notify us by sending your title
and abstract to journal at aavso.org.  If you do this at the same time
that you are sending your abstract to SAS (program at socastrosci.org)
then the AAVSO will be aware of your intention to submit and can
contact you with any specific requirements.   If you have any
questions it may be helpful to visit the SAS homepage
(www.socastrosci.org) and click on "Presenters Information."

*HOTEL RESERVATIONS*
The Northwoods Resort (www.northwoodsresort.com) is an elegant mountain
resort offering full amenities. Enjoy and learn in comfort and style!
You must make your own guest room reservations by contacting the
Northwoods Resort at (800) 866-3121. Rooms have been blocked at the
following daily rate: Single/Double: $99.00. Occupancy taxes are 8.25%.
The cutoff date to make your reservation is April 29, 2009.  If you wish
to stay over at the Northwoods through the weekend the same rates will
apply. Interestingly the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference (RTMC)
Astronomy Expo (http://www.rtmcastronomyexpo.org) is being held in Big
Bear immediately following our joint meeting, so you may want to stay
to enjoy this meeting as well! When you call to make your reservation,
please be sure to mention that you will be attending the SAS/AAVSO meeting
in order to receive the group rates.


*TENTATIVE SCHEDULE*
AAVSO Council Meeting (Monday): 830-1730
Morning Paper Sessions (Tue-Thu): 900-1200
Afternoon Paper Sessions: (Tue & Wed): 1330-1630
Data Mining Workshop (Tue): 1830-2130
Photometry Workshop (Wed): 1830-2130
AAVSO Meeting (Thu): 1330-1500
Banquet/Speaker (Thu): 1800-2130


*REGISTRATION*
Meeting registration is being handled through the SAS office.  You may
register online by going to the SAS site (www.socastrosci.org) and
clicking on the PayPal link under Registration.  You may also print the
form included in the "Registration Materials" document (also under
Registration) and mail it to the SAS office with payment.

Society for Astronomical Sciences
8300 Utica Ave., Ste 105 Rancho
Cucamonga, CA 91730
E-mail program at SocAstroSci.org

Prices: (Please note that the pricing structure is a bit different for
this meeting.  Although there is a fee to attend each workshop, the
overall registration fee is substantially lower that usual.)

Symposium Registration Fee (Member) before May 1 $30.00
Symposium Registration Fee (Non-member) before May 1 $50.00
Thursday Banquet - Steak, Chicken or Salmon $32.00
Data Mining Workshop $50.00
Photometry Workshop $50.00
Vendor Fee (Includes 2 Registrations) $150.00