Something I've been meaning to bring up for a long time now has been the switch on AAVSO charts for dwarf novae from listing the approximate interval between a variable's outbursts to that of the orbital period next to the chart label for "Period". The old charts provided a useful figure giving observers a rough idea of the probable outburst cycle interval. Listing the CV's orbital period may have some benefit to a relatively small number of CCD observers, but offers little or nothing in the way of useful information to the host of visual contributors that continues to provide the bulk of the lightcurve data for the majority of these stars.
At a minimum, could not the approximate interval between outbursts be reinstated on our charts?
J.Bortle (BRJ)
I agree wholeheartedly. There is enough room on the chart for both!
Gary [PYG]
The current version of VSX only has space for one period for a star, so for CVs we've used the orbital period as that is the most stable and easily measured period. There are of course many other periods that get involved, such the outburst frequency, superoutburst frequency, any pulsational periods on those systems that include a pulsating white dwarf, etc.
One method of include a generic outburst frequency would be to include a VSP note that describes this period. I agree that placing such a description somewhere on the chart would be useful for the observers, and we'll try to come up with something that seems reasonable when we next update VSP. Thanks for the suggestion!
Arne
In the meantime, you can add the outburst cycle time (or anything you want) to the charts yourself by adding a comment to the comment field. You find this under WHAT COMMENTS SHOULD BE DISPLAYED ON THE CHART?
Mike