IN THIS ISSUE: H NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS AAVSO MEETINGS . 3 TRIMBLEFEST! . 4 AAVSO ANNUAL CAMPAIGN 2018 . 4 THE LEGACY CONTINUES . 5 ISSUE NO. 77 JULY 2018 WWW.AAVSO.ORG H OBSERVING OBSERVER’S CORNER . 9 PERIODIC NORTH-SOUTH HEMISPHERE PHASE CORRELATIONS OF THE SUN . 10 OBSERVING CAMPAIGNS UPDATE . 15 Complete table of contents on page 2 AAVSONewsletter SINCE 1911... The AAVSO is an international non-profit organization of variable star observers whose mission is: to observe and analyze variable stars; to collect and archive observations for FROM THE worldwide access; and to forge strong collaborations and mentoring between amateurs and professionals that promote both scientific research DIRECTOR’S DESK and education on variable sources. STELLA KAFKA The value of science choir members—is a skill that scientists-in- communication training appreciate and aspire to excel in. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE KRISTINE LARSEN This century’s great Science communication is about translating advances in technology difficult concepts in layman’s terms and sharing Celebrating our common have brought changes in the excitement of discovery with everyone around love of all things variable our communication avenues us. It is about transparency of methods used, (and some that are constant) and our need to share scientific information. explaining data acquisition techniques, answering Within the professional community, long gone questions on the meaning of uncertainties. I hope you are all enjoying are the days when the lone scientist produced the Northern Hemisphere single-author manuscripts, shared them at It is also important in order to convey the Summer, despite the short conferences and in specialized refereed journals, impact of science in our lives. Astronomy nights. If you can’t fit in an observing run, and discussed them only with the small group of helps us explore the world around us, helps us you can still participate in all things variable. colleagues who worked in the same field. Long understand where we came from and how we Become a solar observer (we have a section gone are the days when journalists struggled evolve, gives us a perspective on our place in for that!) or introduce a young person (or even to understand scientific jargon and tried to the universe. Especially now, we live in exciting not-so-young person) to the joys of observing present it in as many layman’s terms as they times, when technological advances enable a variable stars! You don’t need pristine dark skies possibly could. Long gone are the days when closer look at extrasolar planets, the discovery to make visual estimates of naked eye variables only Hubble Space Telescope photographs were of Earth’s sisters around other stars, and the such as Eta Aquilae or Gamma Cassiopeiae, featured almost exclusively in newspapers and possible study of exo-planet atmospheres. Sharing and warm summer nights are the perfect time magazines by the HST’s outreach bureau. Scientific this information with taxpayers is essential for to show someone how to do binocular viewing. communication has now shifted dramatically: astronomy to retain its rightful place in people’s scientists today aspire to share their discoveries priority list and continue to thrive. This summer is also a time for vacations and with the public through press releases, social star parties, as well as professional conferences media announcements, blog entries, podcasts, In June, I was fortunate to attend the national and meetings. For example, I’m looking forward and interviews. New discoveries in astronomy meeting of ComSciCon (https://comscicon.com), seeing old friends of the human and stellar are a part of our life. And learning how to share a convention that is designed by science graduate variety at Stellafane this year. If you are going, scientific discoveries with our favorite social students for science graduate students to provide please stop by the McGregor Observatory groups—friends, family, teammates, neighbors, science communication skills to the scientists Library, where I will be parked for most of the CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 1 The AAVSO Newsletter Number 77 July 2018 THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS DIRECTOR Stella Kafka PRESIDENT Kristine M. Larsen 1ST VICE PRESIDENT Bill Stein 2ND VICE PRESIDENT Kevin B. Marvel DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE work of scientists. It is about democracy. It is CONTINUED... SECRETARY Gary Walker about making informed decisions which will determine our quality of life in the future. It is TREASURER Robert Stephens of the future. I was in a room with graduate about ensuring that information is not distorted students from all over the US representing all COUNCILORS when shared, and that everyone knows data- scientific fields (from cognitive sciences to the driven facts with the caveats that come along. It study of microbes, Venus, and bats), and observed Richard Berry Katrien Kolenberg is also about appreciating what those “caveats” them articulate their work in a way that is at Tom Calderwood Arlo Landolt tells us about results, and about moving forward once elaborate, straightforward, and exciting. Michael Cook Gordon Myers to improve the outcome of our work. Through this meeting, participants learned Joyce A. Guzik Gregory R. Sivakoff the value of being concise and of staying away Michael Joner Every few months, we ask you to let us from specialized terminology when describing know about talks you give in your clubs and complex concepts to non-experts. They also NEWSLETTER astronomy groups to promote variable star discussed the value of diversity in promoting EDITOR Elizabeth O. Waagen astronomy, and I am delighted to see the range science, the importance of ethics in conducting PRODUCTION EDITOR Michael Saladyga of activities by our members around the globe research, disclosing conflicts of interest, and (https://www.aavso.org/talking-about-the- The AAVSO Newsletter is published in January, presenting results. The mastered the art of aavso). It is just as important to disseminate the April, July, and October. Items of general interest the 60-second “elevator pitch,” where they AAVSO’s work to a wider audience, and share to be considered for the Newsletter should be presented their science results in a succinct, fun, sent to [email protected]. the importance (and relevance) of studying the and energetic way. And, most importantly, they variable sky with all. I am sure that many of you are Membership in the AAVSO is open to anyone who went back to their home institutions to share engaged in other forms of science dissemination is interested in variable stars and in contributing to their newfound knowledge with their peers. I and sharing within your communities, and we the support of valuable research. Members include left the meeting both inspired and energized. professional astronomers, amateur astronomers, would love to hear more about your outreach Inspired by this next group of science leaders researchers, educators, students, and those who activities. If you have stories to share, please love variable star astronomy. Photo courtesy of who are prioritizing sharing their work with send them to us at [email protected] …we will Aaron Springford. anyone anywhere, enabling non-scientists to include them in our next newsletter. get a deeper understanding of their discoveries. AAVSO Energized by interacting with a smart, tech- 49 Bay State Road Best wishes—clear skies, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, USA savvy, and poised group of young leaders. Rest 617-354-0484 / 1-888-802-STAR(7827) assured, science is in good hands. Stella. www.aavso.org Science communication is more than discussing fun scientific results and learning about the PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE CONTINUED... If you are doing a double-take at this CONTENTS moment and realizing that I said I was From the Director’s Desk 1 weekend (moderating the programming during going to a “Medieval Congress”, that isn’t President’s Message 1 the day and observing with the aforementioned a misprint. One of the joys of astronomy AAVSO Meetings 3 binoculars at night). As you read this column, is that it has always been—and I am bold Trimblefest! 4 I will be far from my usual time zone, over the enough to predict always will be—relevant AAVSO Annual Campaign 2018— fill our sky with stars! 4 “pond” in England, attending the International to the human experience. Over the past The Legacy Continues 5 Medieval Congress at Leeds University before few years I have taught myself how to use Mensaje del Director 7 taking the train south to the University of a medieval astrolabe and do professional Mensaje del Presidente 8 Warwick for the joint AAVSO/BAA meeting. workshops at medieval studies conferences. In Memoriam 8 Observer’s Corner 9 I also hope to see old friends and make new It is a very fulfilling experience to see Periodic North-South Hemisphere Phase ones at the joint meeting. persons trained in literature, history, or Correlations of the Sun 10 the arts enthusiastically doing science (and Who Speaks for the R Coronae Borealis Stars? 12 math)! My hope is that they will bring that Exoplanet Observing Section Update 12 Ed. note: the Spanish language versions of the enthusiasm and confidence to their own LPV Section Update 13 Director’s and President’s messages can be found on Young Stellar Objects Section Update 13 classrooms whenever they describe the pages 7 and 8. Photoelectric Photometry Section Update 14 astrolabe in its medieval context. Observing Campaigns Update 15 CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 2 The AAVSO Newsletter Number 77 July 2018 NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE CONTINUED... AAVSO MEETINGS While our astronomical technology has certainly Next meeting advanced since medieval times, the wonder of the night sky has not. In some ways, I would 107th Spring Meeting: July 6–8, 2018, AAVSO-British Astronomical Association (BAA), argue it is more wonderful still, as now we University of Warwick, Coventry, England (2018 Spring Meeting) know that it is teeming with wonders unseen https://www.britastro.org/node/10727 by the basic human eye.