General AAVSO Discussion

Hi folks,

I'm quite new to Variable Stars (but a long time Astronomy amateur) looking for advice to get a book on the subject that covers Variable Star types, some of the Physics involved and, if possible, visual observation.

I think I want some hint to choose between two books both named Observing Variable Stars, one by G A Good and another by David H Levy. Should you point to another candidate, I will be grateful anyway.

Thanks in advance,

Friends,

AAVSO data were featured in the American Astronomical Society's news pages again: This time, the published story is about TYC-2505-672-1, a record-breaking binary star system with a 69 year eclipse period! You can find the full story under:

http://aasnova.org/2016/05/02/record-breaking-eclipsing-binary/

Many thanks to all who observed the system! Another example of groundbreaking science that comes out of AAVSO observer's work!

Best wishes - clear skies,

While the backbone of any organization is its membership and volunteers, the future of the organization typically rests with the leadership.  In our case, the leadership is entrusted to the AAVSO Council.

Every member of the AAVSO is eligible to become a candidate for the Council.  It is important for the survival of the organization that members step forward and volunteer to be a Council member to ensure our long-term survival and viability.

The April 2016 issue of the AAVSO Newsletter (No. 68) is published and online. Members may read it immediately; it is embargoed to non-members until the next issue is published in July. The January 2016 issue is now available to all readers, members and non-members alike.  Many thanks to all who contributed material to the Newsletter.

Good reading!

Elizabeth Waagen, AAVSO HQ

Friends,

This year, we worked with Astronomers Without Borders to create a variable stars program for stargazers all over the world. This is primarily for those who have never observed variable stars and would like to try such observations. The program can be found under:

http://astronomerswithoutborders.org/gam2016-news/latest-news/3267-vari…

Hi Everyone,

Responding to a challenge that President Larsen put forward to the Council to make a contribution to the AAVSO Annual Campaign, I stepped up to the plate and made a contribution this morning.  I am sure the rest of Council will do likewise, each to their ability to contribute, and I hope you all will consider doing similarly.

Friends,

The AAVSO 2016 annual meeting will take place November 10-12, at the Boston Mariott in Burlington MA. Please save the date; we hope to see you there! 

Best wishes - clear skies,

Stella.

The theme of this year’s spring meeting is Pulsating Stars. The meeting will begin on Thursday evening at 6pm CDT with a keynote address by Dr. Horace Smith, Professor Emeritus of Michigan State University and a noted expert on RR Lyrae stars. Dr. Smith's talk will be accessible remotely, to anyone for free, via GoToWebinar. The link to register will be made available soon. Stay tuned.

Title- Learning from Pulsating Stars: Progress over the Last Century

Registration is now open for three CHOICE courses beginning in April and May.

Hello everyone. As part of a school project I'm trying to obtain a period-luminosity relationship for extragalactic Classical Cepheids (in either the SMC or the LMC, so that all the stars I analyse are at the same distance from Earth) in the near infrared band (NIR). I know that the T8 in Siding Springs on the iTelescope platform has a NIR filter; however, the telescope has an extremely wide field of view and the filter doesn't seem to work for me.