Introduction to the Bright Cepheids Charts
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The AAVSO DSLR Observing Manual
The AAVSO DSLR Observing Manual AAVSO 49 Bay State Road Cambridge, MA 02138 email: [email protected] Version 1.2 Copyright 2014 AAVSO Foreword This manual is a basic introduction and guide to using a DSLR camera to make variable star observations. The target audience is first-time beginner to intermediate level DSLR observers, although many advanced observers may find the content contained herein useful. The AAVSO DSLR Observing Manual was inspired by the great interest in DSLR photometry witnessed during the AAVSO’s Citizen Sky program. Consumer-grade imaging devices are rapidly evolving, so we have elected to write this manual to be as general as possible and move the software and camera-specific topics to the AAVSO DSLR forums. If you find an area where this document could use improvement, please let us know. Please send any feedback or suggestions to [email protected]. Most of the content for these chapters was written during the third Citizen Sky workshop during March 22-24, 2013 at the AAVSO. The persons responsible for creation of most of the content in the chapters are: Chapter 1 (Introduction): Colin Littlefield, Paul Norris, Richard (Doc) Kinne, Matthew Templeton Chapter 2 (Equipment overview): Roger Pieri, Rebecca Jackson, Michael Brewster, Matthew Templeton Chapter 3 (Software overview): Mark Blackford, Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein, Martin Connors, Ian Doktor Chapters 4 & 5 (Image acquisition and processing): Robert Buchheim, Donald Collins, Tim Hager, Bob Manske, Matthew Templeton Chapter 6 (Transformation): Brian Kloppenborg, Arne Henden Chapter 7 (Observing program): Des Loughney, Mike Simonsen, Todd Brown Various figures: Paul Valleli Clear skies, and Good Observing! Arne Henden, Director Rebecca Turner, Operations Director Brian Kloppenborg, Editor Matthew Templeton, Science Director Elizabeth Waagen, Senior Technical Assistant American Association of Variable Star Observers Cambridge, Massachusetts June 2014 i Index 1. -
The Heavens in August a Study of Short Period Variables
100 SCIENTIFIC,AMERlCAN July 31, 1915 The Heavens in August A Study of Short Period Variables By Prof. Henry Norris Russell, Ph.D. HE warm clear nights of summer offer the amateur which is marked on our map, .and the second lies about and but 18 minutes of arc apart, while Neptune is only T the best chance for star-gazing in all the year, and, two fifths of the way from this to () Ophiuchi (also a degree away on the other side. This simultaneous fortunately, he has one of the finest portions of the shown on the map) and is the only bright star near conjunction of three planets is rather remarkable, but, heavens at his command in the splendid region of the this line. The character of the variation is in both as they rise less than an hour earlier than the Sun, Milky Way, which stretches from Cassiopeia and cases very similar to that of the stars previously de Neptune will be utterly invisible, though the other two Cygnus through Aquila to Sagittarius and Scorpio, and scribed. w Sagittarii varies from magnitude 4.3 to 5.1 planets may easily be seen with a telescope (provided forms a vast circle right across the summit of the vault in a period of 7.595 days, the ris� in brightness taking with suitable finding circles ) even in broad daylight, of heaven. about half as long as the fall, and the maximum being and in the same low-power field. The veriest novice can learn in an hour to identify a little more than twice the minimum light. -
Fundamental Parameters of Wolf-Rayet Stars VI
Astron. Astrophys. 320, 500–524 (1997) ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS Fundamental parameters of Wolf-Rayet stars VI. Large Magellanic Cloud WNL stars? P.A.Crowther and L.J. Smith Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK Received 5 February 1996 / Accepted 26 June 1996 Abstract. We present a detailed, quantitative study of late WN Key words: stars: Wolf-Rayet;mass-loss; evolution; fundamen- (WNL) stars in the LMC, based on new optical spectroscopy tal parameters – galaxies: Magellanic Clouds (AAT, MSO) and the Hillier (1990) atmospheric model. In a pre- vious paper (Crowther et al. 1995a), we showed that 4 out of the 10 known LMC Ofpe/WN9 stars should be re-classified WN9– 10. We now present observations of the remaining stars (except the LBV R127), and show that they are also WNL (WN9–11) 1. Introduction stars, with the exception of R99. Our total sample consists of 17 stars, and represents all but one of the single LMC WN6– Quantitative studies of hot luminous stars in galaxies are im- 11 population and allows a direct comparison with the stellar portant for a number of reasons. First, and probably foremost, parameters and chemical abundances of Galactic WNL stars is the information they provide on the effect of the environment (Crowther et al. 1995b; Hamann et al. 1995a). Previously un- on such fundamental properties as the mass-loss rate and stellar published ultraviolet (HST-FOS, IUE-HIRES) spectroscopy are evolution. In the standard picture (e.g. Maeder & Meynet 1987) presented for a subset of our programme stars. -
A Basic Requirement for Studying the Heavens Is Determining Where In
Abasic requirement for studying the heavens is determining where in the sky things are. To specify sky positions, astronomers have developed several coordinate systems. Each uses a coordinate grid projected on to the celestial sphere, in analogy to the geographic coordinate system used on the surface of the Earth. The coordinate systems differ only in their choice of the fundamental plane, which divides the sky into two equal hemispheres along a great circle (the fundamental plane of the geographic system is the Earth's equator) . Each coordinate system is named for its choice of fundamental plane. The equatorial coordinate system is probably the most widely used celestial coordinate system. It is also the one most closely related to the geographic coordinate system, because they use the same fun damental plane and the same poles. The projection of the Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere is called the celestial equator. Similarly, projecting the geographic poles on to the celest ial sphere defines the north and south celestial poles. However, there is an important difference between the equatorial and geographic coordinate systems: the geographic system is fixed to the Earth; it rotates as the Earth does . The equatorial system is fixed to the stars, so it appears to rotate across the sky with the stars, but of course it's really the Earth rotating under the fixed sky. The latitudinal (latitude-like) angle of the equatorial system is called declination (Dec for short) . It measures the angle of an object above or below the celestial equator. The longitud inal angle is called the right ascension (RA for short). -
Stats2010 E Final.Pdf
Imprint Publisher: Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik Editors and Layout: W. Collmar und J. Zanker-Smith Personnel 1 PERSONNEL 2010 Directors Min. Dir. J. Meyer, Section Head, Federal Ministry of Prof. Dr. R. Bender, Optical and Interpretative Astronomy, Economics and Technology also Professorship for Astronomy/Astrophysics at the Prof. Dr. E. Rohkamm, Thyssen Krupp AG, Düsseldorf Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich Prof. Dr. R. Genzel, Infrared- and Submillimeter- Scientifi c Advisory Board Astronomy, also Prof. of Physics, University of California, Prof. Dr. R. Davies, Oxford University (UK) Berkeley (USA) (Managing Director) Prof. Dr. R. Ellis, CALTECH (USA) Prof. Dr. Kirpal Nandra, High-Energy Astrophysics Dr. N. Gehrels, NASA/GSFC (USA) Prof. Dr. G. Morfi ll, Theory, Non-linear Dynamics, Complex Prof. Dr. F. Harrison, CALTECH (USA) Plasmas Prof. Dr. O. Havnes, University of Tromsø (Norway) Prof. Dr. G. Haerendel (emeritus) Prof. Dr. P. Léna, Université Paris VII (France) Prof. Dr. R. Lüst (emeritus) Prof. Dr. R. McCray, University of Colorado (USA), Prof. Dr. K. Pinkau (emeritus) Chair of Board Prof. Dr. J. Trümper (emeritus) Prof. Dr. M. Salvati, Osservatorio Astrofi sico di Arcetri (Italy) Junior Research Groups and Minerva Fellows Dr. N.M. Förster Schreiber Humboldt Awardee Dr. S. Khochfar Prof. Dr. P. Henry, University of Hawaii (USA) Prof. Dr. H. Netzer, Tel Aviv University (Israel) MPG Fellow Prof. Dr. V. Tsytovich, Russian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Dr. A. Burkert (LMU) Moscow (Russia) Manager’s Assistant Prof. S. Veilleux, University of Maryland (USA) Dr. H. Scheingraber A. v. Humboldt Fellows Scientifi c Secretary Prof. Dr. D. Jaffe, University of Texas (USA) Dr. -
Information Bulletin on Variable Stars
COMMISSIONS AND OF THE I A U INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS Nos November July EDITORS L SZABADOS K OLAH TECHNICAL EDITOR A HOLL TYPESETTING K ORI ADMINISTRATION Zs KOVARI EDITORIAL BOARD L A BALONA M BREGER E BUDDING M deGROOT E GUINAN D S HALL P HARMANEC M JERZYKIEWICZ K C LEUNG M RODONO N N SAMUS J SMAK C STERKEN Chair H BUDAPEST XI I Box HUNGARY URL httpwwwkonkolyhuIBVSIBVShtml HU ISSN COPYRIGHT NOTICE IBVS is published on b ehalf of the th and nd Commissions of the IAU by the Konkoly Observatory Budap est Hungary Individual issues could b e downloaded for scientic and educational purp oses free of charge Bibliographic information of the recent issues could b e entered to indexing sys tems No IBVS issues may b e stored in a public retrieval system in any form or by any means electronic or otherwise without the prior written p ermission of the publishers Prior written p ermission of the publishers is required for entering IBVS issues to an electronic indexing or bibliographic system to o CONTENTS C STERKEN A JONES B VOS I ZEGELAAR AM van GENDEREN M de GROOT On the Cyclicity of the S Dor Phases in AG Carinae ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: : J BOROVICKA L SAROUNOVA The Period and Lightcurve of NSV ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::: W LILLER AF JONES A New Very Long Period Variable Star in Norma ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::: EA KARITSKAYA VP GORANSKIJ Unusual Fading of V Cygni Cyg X in Early November ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -
Variable Star Classification and Light Curves Manual
Variable Star Classification and Light Curves An AAVSO course for the Carolyn Hurless Online Institute for Continuing Education in Astronomy (CHOICE) This is copyrighted material meant only for official enrollees in this online course. Do not share this document with others. Please do not quote from it without prior permission from the AAVSO. Table of Contents Course Description and Requirements for Completion Chapter One- 1. Introduction . What are variable stars? . The first known variable stars 2. Variable Star Names . Constellation names . Greek letters (Bayer letters) . GCVS naming scheme . Other naming conventions . Naming variable star types 3. The Main Types of variability Extrinsic . Eclipsing . Rotating . Microlensing Intrinsic . Pulsating . Eruptive . Cataclysmic . X-Ray 4. The Variability Tree Chapter Two- 1. Rotating Variables . The Sun . BY Dra stars . RS CVn stars . Rotating ellipsoidal variables 2. Eclipsing Variables . EA . EB . EW . EP . Roche Lobes 1 Chapter Three- 1. Pulsating Variables . Classical Cepheids . Type II Cepheids . RV Tau stars . Delta Sct stars . RR Lyr stars . Miras . Semi-regular stars 2. Eruptive Variables . Young Stellar Objects . T Tau stars . FUOrs . EXOrs . UXOrs . UV Cet stars . Gamma Cas stars . S Dor stars . R CrB stars Chapter Four- 1. Cataclysmic Variables . Dwarf Novae . Novae . Recurrent Novae . Magnetic CVs . Symbiotic Variables . Supernovae 2. Other Variables . Gamma-Ray Bursters . Active Galactic Nuclei 2 Course Description and Requirements for Completion This course is an overview of the types of variable stars most commonly observed by AAVSO observers. We discuss the physical processes behind what makes each type variable and how this is demonstrated in their light curves. Variable star names and nomenclature are placed in a historical context to aid in understanding today’s classification scheme. -
MAS Mentoring Project Overview 2020
Macarthur Astronomical Society Student Projects in Astronomy A Guide of Teachers and Mentors 2020 (c) Macarthur Astronomical Society, 2020 DRAFT The following Project Overviews are based on those suggested by Dr Rahmi Jackson of Broughton Anglican College. The Focus Questions and Issues section should be used by teachers and mentors to guide students in formulating their own questions about the topic. References to the NSW 7-10 Science Syllabus have been included. Note that only those sections relevant are included. For example, subsections a and d may be used, but subsections b and c are omitted as they do not relate to this topic. A generic risk assessment is provided, but schools should ensure that it aligns with school- based policies. MAS Student Projects in Astronomy page 1 Project overviews Semester 1, 2020: Project Stage Technical difficulty 4 5 6 1 The Moons of Jupiter X X X Moderate to high (extension) NOT available Semester 1 2 Astrophotography X X X Moderate to high 3 Light pollution X X Moderate 4 Variable stars X X Moderate to high 5 Spectroscopy X X High 6 A changing lunarscape X X Low to moderate Recommended project 7 Magnitude of stars X X Moderate to high Recommended for technically able students 8 A survey of southern skies X X Low to moderate 9 Double Stars X X Moderate to high 10 The Phases of the Moon X X Low to moderate Recommended project 11 Observing the Sun X X Moderate MAS Student Projects in Astronomy page 2 Project overviews Semester 2, 2020: Project Stage Technical difficulty 4 5 6 1 The Moons of Jupiter -
Nova Report 2006-2007
NOVA REPORTNOVA 2006 - 2007 NOVA REPORT 2006-2007 Illustration on the front cover The cover image shows a composite image of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A). This object is the brightest radio source in the sky, and has been created by a supernova explosion about 330 year ago. The star itself had a mass of around 20 times the mass of the sun, but by the time it exploded it must have lost most of the outer layers. The red and green colors in the image are obtained from a million second observation of Cas A with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The blue image is obtained with the Very Large Array at a wavelength of 21.7 cm. The emission is caused by very high energy electrons swirling around in a magnetic field. The red image is based on the ratio of line emission of Si XIII over Mg XI, which brings out the bi-polar, jet-like, structure. The green image is the Si XIII line emission itself, showing that most X-ray emission comes from a shell of stellar debris. Faintly visible in green in the center is a point-like source, which is presumably the neutron star, created just prior to the supernova explosion. Image credits: Creation/compilation: Jacco Vink. The data were obtained from: NASA Chandra X-ray observatory and Very Large Array (downloaded from Astronomy Digital Image Library http://adil.ncsa.uiuc. edu). Related scientific publications: Hwang, Vink, et al., 2004, Astrophys. J. 615, L117; Helder and Vink, 2008, Astrophys. J. in press. -
THE CONSTELLATION MUSCA, the FLY Musca Australis (Latin: Southern Fly) Is a Small Constellation in the Deep Southern Sky
THE CONSTELLATION MUSCA, THE FLY Musca Australis (Latin: Southern Fly) is a small constellation in the deep southern sky. It was one of twelve constellations created by Petrus Plancius from the observations of Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman and it first appeared on a 35-cm diameter celestial globe published in 1597 in Amsterdam by Plancius and Jodocus Hondius. The first depiction of this constellation in a celestial atlas was in Johann Bayer's Uranometria of 1603. It was also known as Apis (Latin: bee) for two hundred years. Musca remains below the horizon for most Northern Hemisphere observers. Also known as the Southern or Indian Fly, the French Mouche Australe ou Indienne, the German Südliche Fliege, and the Italian Mosca Australe, it lies partly in the Milky Way, south of Crux and east of the Chamaeleon. De Houtman included it in his southern star catalogue in 1598 under the Dutch name De Vlieghe, ‘The Fly’ This title generally is supposed to have been substituted by La Caille, about 1752, for Bayer's Apis, the Bee; but Halley, in 1679, had called it Musca Apis; and even previous to him, Riccioli catalogued it as Apis seu Musca. Even in our day the idea of a Bee prevails, for Stieler's Planisphere of 1872 has Biene, and an alternative title in France is Abeille. When the Northern Fly was merged with Aries by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 1929, Musca Australis was given its modern shortened name Musca. It is the only official constellation depicting an insect. Julius Schiller, who redrew and named all the 88 constellations united Musca with the Bird of Paradise and the Chamaeleon as mother Eve. -
Newsletter 2017-3 July 2017
Newsletter 2017-3 July 2017 www.variablestarssouth.org She’s only three but already she can spot Jupiter. Stephen Hovell’s grand-daughter Phoebe checks out the finder scope on his new 28" Dobsonian. See Stephen’s article on page 19 Contents From the directors - Stan Walker & Mark Blackford ....................................................................................................2 NGC 288 - V1 : A new lightcurve – Mati Morel ................................................................................................................4 R Tel - a Mira star with fairly consistent humps – Stan Walker ...................................................................6 The mass function in binary star astrophysics – E Budding ...........................................................................9 Notes on 42 problematic Innes stars – Mati Morel ..................................................................................................13 Visual observing with ‘Kororia’ – Stephen Hovell ........................................................................................................19 The VSS Double Maximum project extended – Stan Walker ...................................................................23 Recording eclipsing binary minima – Tom Richards ...............................................................................................29 Software watch ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................31 -
Alternate Constellation Guide
ARKANSAS NATURAL SKY ASSOCIATION LEARNING THE CONSTELLATIONS (Library Telescope Manual included) By Robert Togni Cover Image courtesy of Wikimedia. Do not write in this book, and return with scope to library. A personal copy of this guide can be obtained online at www.darkskyarkansas.com Preface This publication was inspired by and built upon Robert (Rocky) Togni’s quest to share the night sky with all who can be enticed under it. His belief is that the best place to start a relationship with the night sky is to learn the constellations and explore the principle ob- jects within them with the naked eye and a pair of common binoculars. Over a period of years, Rocky evolved a concept, using seasonal asterisms like the Summer Triangle and the Winter Hexagon, to create an easy to use set of simple charts to make learning one’s way around the night sky as simple and fun as possible. Recognizing that the most avid defenders of the natural night time environment are those who have grown to know and love nature at night and exploring the universe that it re- veals, the Arkansas Natural Sky Association (ANSA) asked Rocky if the Association could publish his guide. The hope being that making this available in printed form at vari- ous star parties and other relevant venues would help bring more people to the night sky as well as provide funds for the Association’s work. Once hooked, the owner will definitely want to seek deeper guides. But there is no better publication for opening the sky for the neophyte observer, making the guide the perfect companion for a library telescope.