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Home > Getting Started > Observing Tutorials > 5-Star Tutorial (Data Analysis)

The 5-Star Analysis Tutorial  (originally written by Aaron Price as part of the Citizen Sky Project, but re-written by Paul York in June 2014) is meant to introduce you to basic ways of data processing and inspection. It does not assume a background in astrophysics, statistics or anything similar. However, all good researchers need to understand what their data actually mean. So if you have never made a variable star estimate before, we strongly recommend first reading our 10-Star Observing Tutorial [1]. That will give you an idea of where these data come from and what it means to actually observe a variable star.

Click here to download the 5-Star Analysis Tutorial [2] (3MB PDF)

For your convenience, below is a list of some useful links:

  • AAVSO Online Light Curve Generator [3]
  • VStar Data Analysis Software [4]
  • Variable Star Astronomy [5] - online curriculum with excellent introductory chapters on data analysis
  • Time Series Analysis of Astronomical Data [6] - more advanced period analysis tutorial
  • Blog posts by Grant Foster (former AAVSO staff member and pioneer of many of our data analysis methods and software) about data analysis:
    • Through a Picket Fence [7] - About the problem of aliasing in variable star analysis
    • Seeing the Light [8] - About the precision of large data sets of visual observations
    • Skin a cat [9] - About multiple methods of looking for period change
Tags: 
tutorial [10]
analysis [11]
Submitted by owentooke on Thu, 09/07/2017 - 16:30

Source URL: http://www.aavso.org/5-star-analysis-tutorial

Links
[1] http://www.aavso.org/sites/default/files/10startutorial-2013.pdf
[2] http://www.aavso.org/sites/default/files/5-Star_Tutorial_edited-v2.pdf
[3] http://www.aavso.org/lcg
[4] http://www.aavso.org/vstar-overview
[5] http://www.aavso.org/education/vsa/
[6] http://www.aavso.org/time-series-tutorial
[7] http://tamino.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/through-a-picket-fence/
[8] http://tamino.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/seeing-the-light/
[9] http://tamino.wordpress.com/2012/06/13/skin-a-cat/
[10] http://www.aavso.org/category/tags/tutorial
[11] http://www.aavso.org/category/tags/analysis