AAVSO 115th Annual Meeting | November 7–8, 2026

 

The 115^th  Annual Meeting of the AAVSO will be held at the Drury Hotel, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States, on November 7–8, 2026.

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Mark your calendars! Registration is now open for the 115^th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Variable Star Observers. Join us in Santa Fe, NM this November 7 & 8 for a two-day conference focused on variable star astronomy. Listen to exciting talks, share updates on your own work, and network with fellow astronomers. Observers, students, and researchers of all interests are welcome. 

Register Now  

Abstract Submissions

Interested in giving an in-person or remote oral presentation on variable star research, astronomy history, or astronomy education and outreach? Click here for instructions on submitting an abstract.

Schedule

Schedule subject to change. Click on talk title to view abstract. Presentations on the 7^th and 8^th will be broadcast via Zoom to remote attendees.

Important: Times are given in Mountain Standard Time (MST; UTC-7). Attendees may use World Time Buddy to help convert from MST to their own local time zone.

Keynote Speakers

Arlo Landolt Lecturer: Dr. Joyce Guzik

Dr. Joyce A. Guzik is a Laboratory Fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she has pursued a parallel career in national-security science and stellar astrophysics. She earned her Ph.D. in astrophysics from Iowa State University in 1988 and has worked at LANL since that year, while maintaining a long-standing research program in stellar evolution, stellar pulsation, helioseismology, and asteroseismology. Her astrophysics research uses oscillations of the Sun and other stars to test stellar interior physics, including radiative opacities, equations of state, element diffusion, convection, mass loss, and pulsation-driving mechanisms. She has co-authored more than 85 refereed astrophysics papers and more than 220 conference papers or proceedings, edited or co-edited multiple conference volumes and special collections, and mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Her variable-star work spans solar oscillations, δ Scuti and γ Doradus stars, luminous blue variables, Cepheids, Mira and semiregular variables, white dwarfs, blue stragglers, and α Cygni supergiants, using observations from ground-based networks and space missions including Kepler/K2, BRITE, and TESS. She has been active in AAVSO since 2014, including service on the AAVSO Board from 2015 to 2022, and as editor for recent AAVSO annual meeting proceedings and chair of the abstract committee.

Dr. Guzik provided the following abstract:

Do All Stars Pulsate? Exploring Stellar Variability from the Sun to Supergiants

Stellar astronomy research has undergone a renaissance since the early 1980s, facilitated in part by observations from space such as those of the NASA Kepler and TESS exoplanet discovery missions. The number of variable star classes has increased greatly, and the observations reveal that stars of nearly every mass and evolutionary stage show pulsational variability.

This talk will use analogies and graphs to explain what pulsating variable stars are, why stars pulsate, and how oscillations of the Sun and other stars can be used to infer their global and interior properties and test the physics of stellar models.

We will highlight a few unsolved problems revealed by solar and stellar pulsation observations. We conclude by giving an update on our project to characterize the alpha Cygni variables, including the bright supergiants Deneb (alpha Cygni) and Rigel.

Dr. Diana Dragomir

Dr. Diana Dragomir is an Associate Professor in the UNM Department of Physics and Astronomy and has been with that department since August 2019. She obtained her PhD in Astronomy from the University of British Columbia in 2013. She then was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California Santa Barbara, the University of Chicago, and a NASA Hubble postdoctoral fellow at MIT. Dr. Dragomir's research focuses on the demographics of exoplanets as a way to better understand their formation, and place the Solar System in context. She uses data from the TESS and JWST space telescopes as well as from a range of ground-based observatories. She recently received a NSF CAREER award to continue supporting her group’s work. Outside of planet hunting, she enjoys reading, dog agility, and spending time outdoors.

Dr. Dragomir provided the following abstract:

It’s Up in the Air: Characterizing Exoplanet Atmospheres with JWST and the Essential Role of the Host Star

The James Webb Space Telescope has opened a breathtaking new window into the atmospheres of worlds beyond our Solar System. We are detecting new molecules, probing thermal structure at higher detail than ever before, and beginning to ask whether small rocky planets — the most promising candidates for habitability — hold onto atmospheres at all. In this talk, I will share JWST highlights including our group's work characterizing the atmospheres of small, hot exoplanets. But as JWST pushes into ever more subtle atmospheric signals, a fundamental challenge has come into sharp focus: you cannot understand the planet without understanding its star. Stellar variability, activity cycles, spots, and flares can masquerade as atmospheric features — or bury them entirely. I will discuss how long-term, high-cadence photometric monitoring of exoplanet host stars is becoming an essential complement to space-based atmospheric characterization.

Call for Nominations

The Board of Directors of the AAVSO invites recommendations for 2026 recipients of the Merit Award and the William Tyler Olcott Distinguished Service Award.

The Merit Award is presented to any member who, by majority vote of the AAVSO Board, is deemed to have made an outstanding contribution as an observer, or as a long-standing benefactor. Previous recipients include such luminaries as Leslie C. Peltier, Margaret W. Mayall, and Richard Berry. The William Tyler Olcott Distinguished Service Award is presented to a member of the AAVSO organization for outstanding contributions in mentoring/promoting variable star astronomy. Award winners include David H. Levy, Janet A. Mattei, and Virginia Trimble.

You may submit your recommendation on this form. The deadline to submit is July 30, 2026.

Information for Attendees

Please note: Last year, as part of our commitment to make AAVSO Annual Meetings financially sustainable, we made a few key changes. Those changes successfully reduced the expense of the meeting, so we are repeating them this year:

• There will be no Friday night reception. Instead, the meeting will begin on Saturday morning.
• The AAVSO will not provide lunch; however, there are many restaurants in the vicinity of the venue, and you will have ample time during the two-hour lunch break to eat, socialize, and visit our vendor tables. Additionally, the hotel offers complimentary hot breakfast as well as some evening appetizers.

Group Rate Hotel: Drury Plaza Hotel, Santa Fe, NM

The hotel is located in downtown Santa Fe, within walking distance of many attractions. The group rate, available until October 4^th, is $189/night. Use the link below to reserve a room today:

Click here to make a reservation with the group rate.

Alternatively, reservations may also be made by calling 1-800-325-0720 and referring to your group number 10166015.

• In order to receive the group rate, you must complete your reservation by Sunday, October 4^th. Additionally, space is limited, so we encourage you to book now.
• If you change your mind, you can cancel your reservation up to 48 hours before your arrival. After that time there is a one-night charge at the Group rate.
• The group rate is available for 3 nights prior to the Meeting and 3 nights following the meeting, in case you would like to take advantage of the group rate to do some sightseeing.

Please note: The hotel is located in downtown Santa Fe, so you should plan ahead for parking. Overnight parking for hotel guests is $22 per car, per night. Parking for non-hotel guests during the meeting time is $12 per car, per day, as available.

Reserve Now

Transportation

If You Fly Into Santa Fe Regional Airport

The Drury Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe (828 Paseo de Peralta) is approximately 11 miles and a 16-minute drive from Santa Fe Regional Airport (SAF). The fastest routes are usually via NM-14 N (Cerrillos Rd) to St Francis Dr or to W Alameda St, taking visitors directly to the downtown area.

Directions from SAF:

1. Exit the airport onto Airport Rd.
2. Turn right onto NM-14 N/Cerrillos Rd.
3. Continue onto S St Francis Dr.
4. Follow signs for downtown/Paseo de Peralta.
5. The hotel is located at 828 Paseo de Peralta. [1]

Transportation Options:

• Taxi/Rideshare: A taxi or Uber/Lyft takes about 16–20 minutes and costs approximately $21–$26.
• Shuttle: The Road Runner Shuttle provides service for roughly $15 per person, one-way, but requires advance reservations.
• Rental Car: Rental car agencies are available at the airport.

If You Fly Into Albuquerque International Sunport

NM Shuttle is the primary daily shuttle service that caters directly to this route. They use branded vehicles and are highly reviewed for reliability.

• Cost: Approximately $63 one-way (or $122 round-trip) per person.
• Travel Time: 75 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic and weather.
• Direct Hotel Drop-off: The base fare includes direct drop-off at six major downtown hotels: La Fonda on the Plaza, Inn and Spa at Loretto, Eldorado Hotel & Spa, Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza, Drury Plaza Hotel, and Hotel Santa Fe.
• Other Addresses: If you are staying at an unlisted hotel or a private rental, they will drop you off exactly at your address for an additional $12 fee.
• Schedule: They run four scheduled departures every day of the week.

Alternative Options

If the shuttle schedule doesn't align with your flight, you have a few other ways to make the 65-mile trip north:

A note on the train: The New Mexico Rail Runner Express is highly cost-effective, but it does not connect directly to the airport. You have to take a quick city bus (Route #50) or a short Uber ride from the airport terminal to the Downtown Albuquerque station to catch the northbound train.

Things To Do in Santa Fe, NM

[1] Downtown Santa Fe, near the Drury Hotel.

[2] The IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts.

Santa Fe is a hub of arts & culture, with a walkable downtown full of museums, crafts, and shopping. Within a ten-minute walk of the hotel, you can visit the New Mexico Museum of Art, New Mexico History Museum, and the historic Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Within fifteen minutes, you can find the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, the New Mexico State Capitol (with its extensive art exhibits), and innumerable galleries. On the southeast side of town, Museum Hill boasts a public sculpture garden, the New Mexico Botanical Garden, and no fewer than four individual museums, including the Museum of International Folk Art.

If you plan to visit multiple attractions during your time in Santa Fe, note that the state of New Mexico offers a $30 CulturePass which allows blanket admission to all state museums and historical sites.

[3] Petroglyphs at the La Cienequilla site, just outside Santa Fe.

[4] Cliff dwellings at Bandelier National Monument.

Santa Fe is the oldest capital city in United States, established by Europeans thirteen years before Plymouth Colony was first settled. However, the region has a deep history of human settlement even before that, with evidence of inhabitation by Pueblo Indians stretching back nearly a thousand years. The mesas around Santa Fe still hold ancient pteroglyphs and cliff dwellings, many of which lie on public land and can be viewed with short hikes. Notable sites include Bandelier National Monument and the Puye Cliff Dwellings, as well as the La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs located just west of Santa Fe Regional Airport.

[5] The Sangre de Cristo Mountains offer spectacular sights.

[6] Bandelier National Monument.

Photographers and those who love the outdoors will appreciate the large variety of hiking opportunities on public land just outside Santa Fe. Highlights include Valles Caldera National Preserve, Diablo Canyon, and the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail. The Rio Grande has its headwaters in the mountains north of Santa Fe, and White Rock Overlook offers a scenic view of the young river in its canyon. Birders especially should take note of the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary, located only a few minutes east of Santa Fe in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Finally, for the more astronomically inclined, The Very Large Array is a set of 27 antennas located on the Plains of San Agustin near Magdalena, New Mexico. It has been the world's most sensitive centimeter-band radio telescope for more than 40 years. See https://public.nrao.edu/visit/very-large-array/ for tour information. Note that the site is quite remote, and there is no food service available, so eat or bring food before going. If there is sufficient interest, a special group tour can be done, but it has to be self-organized by participants. There is already a forum dedicated to this purpose.

For more, consult the visitor guide "Santa Fe's Top 16 Must Dos".

When planning your visit, note that Santa Fe lies at an elevation of well over a mile (7000 ft / 2,133 m), making hydration and sun protection extra important. You may wish to consult the City of Santa Fe's "Fast FAQs" to help prepare for this unique climate.

Guest Activities

We are exploring several optional guest activities for spouses, partners, friends, and other guests accompanying attendees of the 115th AAVSO Annual Meeting. To help us determine which activities to offer, please indicate your interest by completing the following form:

Guest Activities Interest Form

Please respond by July 30, 2026.

If you have any questions regarding these activities, please contact us

Cancellation Policy: These activities are organized based on advance commitments from participants. No refunds will be provided for cancellations.

Santa Fe Revisited Walking Tour

Saturday morning | Approximately 2 hours | $65 per person

Join Ana Pacheco, former City Historian of Santa Fe and author of eight books on New Mexico history, for a private guided walking tour of the nation's oldest capital city. This engaging 2 hour experience explores more than 400 years of Santa Fe history, from the arrival of the Ancestral Puebloans and Spanish settlers through the Pueblo Revolt, Mexican and American rule, the Civil War, and Santa Fe's emergence as a world-renowned cultural center. The tour is about one mile along flat terrain with many places to sit.

Hands-On Cooking Class

Saturday afternoon, 2:00 PM | Approximately $95 per person

Experience the flavors of New Mexico with a hands-on cooking class at the Santa Fe School of Cooking. Participants will join one of the school's public classes and prepare a menu selected by the school closer to the event date. Registration and payment will be handled directly through the cooking school's website. Attendance is limited to 15 participants.

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Private Tour

Sunday afternoon | Approximately $40 per person

Explore the life and work of one of America's most celebrated artists through a private guided tour of the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. This intimate experience offers a unique opportunity to learn about O'Keeffe's artistic legacy and her deep connection to New Mexico. Attendance is limited to 15 participants.

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Sponsors

The AAVSO’s Annual Meeting provides a coveted opportunity to showcase your products and services to a uniquely passionate audience of active citizen scientists. Our attendees are practicing astronomers, who not only purchase equipment themselves, but also recommend products to others within their network.

Download a form for more details by clicking the button below.

Sponsor Form

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Last Year's Proceedings

The Proceedings of last year's Annual Meeting have now been made available. You can view the Proceedings at the following link:

Proceedings of the 114^th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Variable Star Observers

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Event Conduct Policy

It is the AAVSO policy that all participants in Society activities will enjoy an environment free from all forms of discrimination, harassment, abuse, bullying and retaliation. Participants will comply with AAVSO’s policies prohibiting such conduct and treat each other with respect and consideration to create a collegial, inclusive, and professional environment at AAVSO events, in person or online.

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Image Attributions

• [1] Photo of Santa Fe, NM by dconvertini, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• [2] Photo of the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts by lank on Pixabay, free for use under the Pixabay Content License

• [3] Photo of the La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs by G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• [4] Photo of cliff dwellings at Bandelier National Monument by SarahStierch, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• [5] Photo of Nambé Falls by kenkopal, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

• [6] Photo of canyon at Bandelier National Monument by Larry Lamsa, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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