Thank you Roy,
I guess I just got lucky in finding this one. When your undertaking measuring asteroids photometrically to determine their spin rates/amplitude you avoid known variable stars in the field of view as these will skew your photometric results on your target asteroid thus greatly degrading the value of your results.
It’s when you click on a previously unknown variable star and you look at the results you have one of those; “oh, that’s looks strange” moments and then you have to investigate deeper.
Since variable star observing involves specific ways of doing things I guess there is a steep learning curve for me, so I am thinking the best place to start is with short period relatively bright scientifically interesting variable stars and this program from the AAVSO is one I would be definitely interested in called the SPP (Short Period Pulsator) Program which includes a number of RR Lyrae stars and a few delta Scutid stars with large amplitudes with some RR Lyrae stars that exhibit the Blahzko effect as well as some large-amplitude delta Scuti stars that have multiple periods. So it would be great monitoring these stars while not chasing down asteroids.
Collaboration work is the only way to go Roy, its gels people with different skill sets and equipment to work on a specific project in a timely manner otherwise if your doing it by yourself it takes longer (a lot longer sometimes) and can be more frustrating to get the work done.
A recent collaboration project Cherryvalley Observatory worked on was minor planet 4678 Ninian with three other Italian amateur astronomers to determine its spin rate/amplitude which turned out to be around 58 hours, there is no way I could have done this on my own. We hope to have our paper published in the next edition of the Minor Planet Bulletin, so yes working together has great benefits indeed including new friendships, learning from other amateur astronomers and helping you out with observations if the skies are cloudy here, which lets face it is most of the time.
Best wishes and clear skies
Mike
I83 Cherryvalley Observatory
After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say; "I WANT TO SEE THE MANAGER".
