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Introducing Variable Stars Without Using Sophisticated Technology

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Michael Kohl
Highschool of Wald ZH, CH-8637 Laupen ZH, Switzerland

Abstract
Photographs of TV Cas and U Cep taken by students equipped with conventional cameras and mobile, self-made mountings are used to introduce variable stars and, in particular, eclipsing binaries. The first step--by making a simple visual comparison--is to discover that variable stars do exist. The star's brightness change is then estimated by visual comparison with surrounding stars and measured by means of digitized photographs. Plots of luminosity versus time produce a light curve that can be discussed in terms of the star's regularity and periodicity.

Link to article on ADS