Visual Observing Manual

The AAVSO Manual for Visual Observing of Variable Stars (ISBN 1-878174-66-5) is a comprehensive guide to variable star observing. Included is a lot of information and tips on how to make variable star observations and report them to the AAVSO.  The Manual is available online in .pdf format.  Translations of the Manual are available in several languages.

English language version

Complete Manual
AAVSO Manual for Visual Observing of Variable Stars - January 2010 Edition - updated April 2011 (7.9 MB)

Sections

• Intro & Table of Contents (296 KB)
• Chapter 1 - Preparations (1.0 MB)
• Chapter 2 - Variable Star Charts (514 KB)
• Chapter 3 - Making Observations (1.1 MB)
• Chapter 4 - About Variable Stars (2.1 MB)
• Chapter 5 - Figuring the Date (702 KB)
• Chapter 6 - Planning an Observing Session (316 KB)
• Chapter 7 - Submitting Observations to the AAVSO (469 KB)
• Chapter 8 - Sample Observation (1.2 MB)
• Appendix 1 - Sample Long-Term Light Curves (1.7 MB)
• Appendix 2 - AAVSO Sections (246 KB)
• Appendix 3 - Additional Resources (228 KB)
• Appendix 4 - Star Names (255 KB)
• Index (167 KB)

Translations

In an effort to make the Manual more useful to our members and observers world-wide, we have undertaken a project to translate the manual into different languages. Thanks to the assistance of several ambitious and hard-working volunteers in various countries, we now offer translations of the Manual in the following languages:

Chinese - translated by Cheng Simiao, January 2012 (2008 version by Dr. Philip K. Lu also available).
French - translated by Dominique Naillon, January 2006.
German (in progress)
Hungarian - translated by Péter Molnár and Dr. Laszlo Kiss, January 2010.
Italian - translated by Dr. Giuseppe Bianco, December 2008.
Japanese - translated by Seiji Tsuji, May 2009.
Persian - translated by F. Bahrani and her colleagues at the Dr. Hesabi Institute, February 2012.
Polish - translated by Andrzej Grabowski and Jerzy Speil, December 2007.
Portuguese - translated by David Duarte Cavalcante Pinto and members of CEAAL, April 2011.
Spanish - translated by Jaime Garcia, April 2006.
Turkish - translated by Tuğrul Uşşaklı, Sabahattin Bilsel, and Haldun Menali, December 2006.

Draft versions (not fully formatted) - January 2012

Since we are considering revisions and a new way to present the Visual Observing Manual. the following versions have not been formatted in the same way as the other languages were. Instead, they are being made available in a draft state until the new presentation becomes available.

Russian (11.1 MB .doc) - translated by Artemy Kilin, October 2011.

Additional resources

Finnish Manual on variable star observing by Mika Luostarinen