HOW TO USE AAVSO BULLETIN 71 FOR 2008

The AAVSO Bulletin is essential in planning your observing schedule each
month.  It contains predicted dates of maxima and minima of long period
variables in a schematic representation and shows when a variable will be
brighter than magnitude 11.0 or fainter than magnitude 13.5.

The first step in planning your monthly observing schedule is to determine
which part of the sky you will be able to see (see Table I).  Secondly, check
the Bulletin (reading the introductory page first!) to find out which
observable long period variable stars will be at the appropriate brightness
for your equipment.

Example:  Table I indicates that in the month of January 2008, from 2 hours
after sunset until midnight, stars between 1 hour and 9 hours of right
ascension are observable.  Turn to page 2 of the Bulletin and look at the
possibilities.  If you have a 2.5-inch telescope which has a limiting
magnitude of 10 to 11, the + signs on page 2 under January show that the stars
0004+51 SS Cas, 0010+46 X And, 0010-32 S Scl, 0017+26 T And, 0018-62 S Tuc,
0019-09 S Cet, 0024-38A T Scl, 0031+79 Y Cep, 0044-35 X Scl, 0049+58 W Cas,
0054-75 U Tuc, 0106-30 U Scl, and 0152+54 U Per will be brighter than
magnitude 11 during this month and so they would be good candidates for
observing with a small telescope.

During the same month, with the same telescope, do not observe 0003-39 V Scl,
0018+38 R And, 0025-46 T Phe, 0040+47 U Cas, 0041+32 RW And, 0044+35 V And,
0047+46A RV Cas, 0110+41A UZ And, 0112+08 S Psc, 0133+38 Y And, or 0159+12
S Ari, since these stars will be fainter than 13.5, as the - signs indicate,
and will be below the limit of a small telescope.

If you have a large-aperture telescope (6-inch or more) or a charge-coupled
device (CCD), please observe faint magnitude stars, and in particular faint
minima, since observers with smaller-aperture equipment can adequately cover
the brighter stars.

After the star name, a symbol may appear. These symbols indicate differing
levels of need of observation. However, caution should be used in observing
these stars, as many of them are very difficult to observe or have poor
charts (these charts are being improved as quickly as possible). The
symbols and their meanings are:

 # - needs more observations
 & - needs more observations urgently
 @ - needs more observations very urgently
 % - has good CCDV or multicolor photometry, but more visual observations 
     are needed (usually more visual observations are needed very urgently)

A well-scheduled program making use of the AAVSO Bulletin will increase the
value of your astronomical contribution, as well as heighten the efficiency
and enjoyment of your observing.

                                    TABLE I

      Approximate Observing Windows Centered on the 15th of the Month
                     from 2 Hours after Sunset to Midnight

   Month   Right Ascen.      Month   Right Ascen.      Month   Right Ascen.

   Jan.    1 -  9 hours      May     11 - 18 hours     Sep.    18 - 2 hours
   Feb.    3 - 11   "        June    13 - 19   "       Oct.    19 - 3   "
   Mar.    5 - 13   "        July    15 - 21   "       Nov.    21 - 5   "
   Apr.    7 - 15   "        Aug.    16 - 23   "       Dec.    23 - 7   "