From: "Derek C Breit" <breit_ideas
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 09:08:38 -0800
Importance: Normal
	FILETIME=[4A3FB980:01C6491C]

I must say I am very pleased at the direction this thread is taking and
to know that I am not alone!

I too have started a bunch of times. I have printed charts. I have made
observations..

I have not submitted them since no one has been able to let me know if
my precision is worth a darn. I would rather not submit an observation
than be wrong..

I eagerly await the continuation of this thread, which I will do from
the sidelines, though feel free to direct email me.

Derek

http://www.poyntsource.com/BREIT_IDEAS/index.htm 



Gaherty
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 7:55 AM


David Williams wrote:


> faint, thousands of charted variables.  It's no wonder that observers 
> ask, "What should I observe?"

Thank you for that bit of history, David.  I now understand the AAVSO
"program" 

A bit of personal history.  I've been an amateur astronomer a heck of a
long 
time, coming up for 49 years now.  I only became a serious variable star

observer less than four years ago, although I'd tried to get going no
less than 
three times earlier.  What stopped me every time was the total _lack_ of

guidance from the AAVSO.  I've been an active participant in virtually
every 
other area of observing and in every case there was some sort of
"beginner's 
program" to get me going: the Messier list, the AL double star list, my
club's 
lunar observing program, etc.  From the AAVSO, at least in the 1960s,
there was 
absolutely nothing in the way of guidance.  When I tried again in 2001,
things 
were a lot better, but the 80 or so stars on the "easy to observe" list
required 
a lot of work on my part to winnow down to a few to get started on.  I
was 
surprised, and continue to be surprised at an attitude among experienced

variable star observers (not all, by any means, but still a lot) that
somehow a 
beginner should be able to figure out a "program" all by themselves and
get 
going on it.  Where this program should come from, I've never quite
understood. 
  Fortunately, I discovered a couple of wonderful mentors, Rick Huziak
and Mike 
Simonsen, who have helped me enormously.

But I still think, that if the AAVSO wants to attract new members, it
needs to 
provide a bit more structure for beginners.  I know all about Boston
being a 
hotbed of Yankee individualism, but there are a lot of folks out there
who would 
jump at variable star observing if they got a teeny tiny bit of
encouragement 
and guidance.  Individuals like Rick and Mike (and even myself) do a lot
of 
that, but not much seems to come from headquarters.

Geoff

Geoff Gaherty  GHT
Foxmead Observatory
Coldwater, Ontario, Canada
http://www.gaherty.ca _______________________________________________