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Variable Star Section |
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 The Variable Star Section was formed in 1890, the year the BAA was founded, with the aim of collecting and analysing observations of variable stars. The Section is run by a small group of Officers who deal with various aspects separately but meet at intervals to discuss and decide future plans and policy. Feedback to members is through the VSS Circulars published four times a year and through the BAA Journal.
As well as helping to monitor the activity of hundreds of variables and produce their light curves, the VSS database enables the section to supply records to professional and amateur astronomers for analysis. Papers are published in the BAA Journal, the VSS Circulars and elsewhere. Anyone interested in section data for analysis should contact the Director.
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New Long Term Polar Monitoring Programme |
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Further to the article by Dr Boris Gaensicke of Warwick University in Circular 129 for September 2006, it has been decided to include ALL of the stars listed in a new observing programme on "Long Term Polar Monitoring".
Although this will be heavily biased towards CCD observers there are a number of objects suitable for visual observers and Gary Poyner has offered the following notes:-
BY Cam is a very active AM star in the mid 15's range. Hourly variations of up to 0.7 mag are observable at times. Low states (to 17th mag) are uncommon. Look out for flickering!
QQ Vul is fairly bright at 14.5 in high state. Alert if you suspect the star fading.
ST LMi can sometimes be seen rising above 16th magnitude to occasional 'peeks' to the mid-15's, but these are short term events.
AN & AR UMa are possible visual targets with the larger telescope in the mid 16's. AN UMa occasionally reaches 15.5
MR Ser can usually be seen in the mid 15's.
Gary Poyner has also offered to co-ordinate the programme and so any queries etc should initially be addressed to him.
AAVSO charts already exist for the following stars:-
Star Sequence
BY Cam Henden
ST LMi Henden/Sumner
MR Ser Henden/Price
QQ Vul Henden/Price
AN UMa Stanton
AR UMa Tycho & Henden
EU UMa Henden/Sumner
Mike Simonsen has produced a chart for SDSSJ0155 Cet from a Henden sequence.
CCD images should still be taken of these stars as there is no reason why monitoring of the fields can't begin immediately. Photometry can always be reduced at a later date once a chart and sequence is available.
I do hope observers rise to this challenge and I strongly urge you to thoroughly read Boris's article - especially the final paragraph.
Roger Pickard, Director
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