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Posted by Paul A Brierley at 22:12 on 2011 Jul 15
Can somebody on this forum please recommend. A good book, for somebody who is, stating out in Variable star observing, through a medium sized telescope.
Posted by Gary Poyner at 10:51 on 2011 Jul 16
GOOD books on general VS observing are rare, as they tend to be specialist topics such as CV’s or Pulsating stars. Probably one of the best general books written in recent times is Gerry A. Good’s ‘Observing Variable Stars’ in Patrick Moore’s practical astronomy series, published by Springer. It was written in 2003, but nothing has been published better in this general field since.The field of variable stars is very dynamic, so anything written in a book about a particular type of star in 2003 stands a chance of being out of date in some aspect in 2011, but Good’s book will give you the basics.The Webb Society Deep Sky Handbook Volume 8 written by John Isles is another book I would recommend. Most of it is out of date now, especially the finder charts and some aspects of the analysis section (written over 20 years ago now), but there is a mine of practical information written within the pages which will always be of value. I think you can still get this book from the Webb Society (or maybe the BAA?) and it should only cost a fiver or so (I think).Gary
Posted by Paul A Brierley at 11:50 on 2011 Jul 16
Thank you Gary,I do actually have the BAA Observing guide to Variable Stars. So I think that I will stick with this for the time being.As soon as that Moon leaves the evening sky. I hope to start observing.
Posted by Gary Poyner at 14:37 on 2011 Jul 16
One good thing about VS observing, is that you can do it in Moonlight! Obviously reduces the limiting magnitude of your scope a bit, and can effect bright red stars if you don’t de-focus, but generally Moonlight doesn’t stop the VS nut from observing. Only cloud can do that! :-)Gary
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