Lack of observers.

Hey there folks.

Looking down the page for double and variable stars I note that there are only four reports dealing with the subject in 2007.

Are double and variable star observers a near extinct creature in Ireland, or do they not think their observations are of any interest to others?

Well I'm one of the variable star guys, but in a way, something unexpected or spectacular has to happen eg. nova or supernova to warrant a write up, otherwise the regular predictable variable stuff I think is not to interesting to many people here,.

As for double stars, I don't know, but I would hate to see this forum go due to a lack of use,

me......I'm just waiting for the next supernova !

Keith..

The most famous of variables is Mira of course.

This month's Sky & Telescope has a Fantastic image of a newly discovered "comet tail" it trails behind it. (P.21)

Two degrees long.

In the far-ultraviolet though.

Not for human eyes.

Peter.

I use to do varaible star observing a long time ago for the AAVSO and the Variable Star Observers Group of the IAS which has been going 27 years. There were about 15 active observers at the time, but this has declined to about 3/4 observers according the John O'Neill (present Director of VSOG)

I knew of one guy observing double stars in Dublin for the Webb Society.
I don't know anybody now in Ireland seriously observing double stars at present.

However, I have got interested in monitoring microvariability in exoplanets, definetely alot more challenging than the run of the mill variable star. I tried my hand back in May with my first observations.

I hope VS observing doesn't become extinct in Ireland. There has been a long tradition from the days of Gore in Sligo and Birmingham in Tuam where some of the first classifications were recognised by the latter.

Eamonn A

Hi,

As Eamonn pointed out, we are a small grooup. New Observers/Observations are always welcome.

Don't dismiss the so-called "less spectacular" objects. When you usually do a single observation it may seem pretty dead, but that single data point comes alive when incorporated into a light curve.

There is a whole host of variables of different types to suit ones taste and experience.

I was invited to have a VSOG / AAVSO stand at the last Galway Star Party (where it got a good response) and hope to have it again at the next one in January.

There are plenty of resources at www.aavso.org . There is also a BAA Variable Star Section.

John
(Director, VSOG)

Well, there you go, a new nova has just appeared in Puppis, currently at magnitude 6.7 see my new post, just as Paul writes about this forum is very small

I reguarly contribute to the AAVSO, if you look at there site, you would be fascinated at the sheer amount of different classes of stars there are to observe, and the sheer amount of observations needed.

To me the allure of discovering a nova with credit to your own name is enticement enough, variable star observing is one of very few fields of astronomy whereby something completely never observed before can happen.

Keith..