This course is intended to provide participants with a systematic coverage of VStar's current functionality, an appreciation of the ways in which it can be extended, and how it can be used for variable star data visualization and analysis. You’ll learn how to create mean plots, phase plots, and perform simple period analysis. This is not a course on statistics but relevant statistical concepts as they apply to the use of VStar will be introduced through reading and discussion.
You must successfully complete exercises and weekly quizzes as well as a final examination to pass the course. The course will be conducted in the AAVSO website forum--the instructor will post reading material and quizzes, and written class discussions will take place. This is an internationally-friendly format: while there are deadlines for assignments, you can otherwise participate in your own time from day to day.
VStar is written in the Java programming language, requiring at least version 1.6 to run on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and OpenSolaris.