AAVSO activities fall into a few main categories: observing, data mining, analysis and other. Below is a quick summary of each.
Observing - Point your eyes to the skies.
There are hundreds of thousands of variable stars observable from Earth. To properly study a star, one needs to follow it over a period of time. Astronomers simply don't have the resources to monitor them all. This is where you come in.
Observing a variable star is relatively simple. You basically compare the brightness of the variable star with that of nearby non-variable stars and then report that brightness to the AAVSO. This can be done with or without a telescope or binoculars. The easiest way to get started is by making observations with your eyes. However, more sophisticated measurements can be made with digital equipment such as DSLR or CCD cameras.
When you have made your first observations and are ready to report them, you need to have AAVSO Observer Initials (an observer code) so you may sumbit your observations to the AAVSO International Database:
- Create a free AAVSO account and confirm through the confirmation email
- Once logged in, go to your account page (also accessible via the green "My Account" button in the upper left), and under Personal Information, click the hyperlink for requesting an obscode.
- Get started observing
Data Mining - Finding and Classifying Variables
Some people don't have access to a telescope or time at night to observe. Others prefer working with data rather than taking. If you fall into this category then data mining is the option for you. Using the multitude of surveys you can find new variables, classify existing variables, or discover something previously unknown all from the comfort of your house. Here are a few VSX specific projects to help you get started.
Analysis - Research of One's Own
Professionals need amateurs to not only help monitor variable stars, but also to help study them. There are simply too many stars and too few professionals to fully explore the field of variable star science. As a result, over the past century our members have been involved in discovering new variable stars, categorizing discoveries, testing (and proposing) theories of variable star science, etc. The AAVSO has published a peer-reviewed journal since 1971 that consists mainly of papers written by our members. The journal is indexed in professional astronomy catalogs and carried by university libraries across the world.
Other - Explore the Full Spectrum of the Scientific Method
Approximately half of our members do not actively go out and observe variable stars. Instead, they contribute by applying their computers and skills in other areas (a.k.a. armchair astronomy). This is a form of citizen science we call citizen astronomy, because it is the only area of science where amateurs can contribute at such a high level. Observation is just one phase in the scientific process. There are lots of other ways to contribute scientifically.
- Research the history of variable stars and write review articles for the journal
- Become an AAVSO Ambassador
- Participate in public outreach by giving talks, writing blogs, producing videos, etc.
- Make tools! Participate in one of our open source software projects. Programmers, quality testers and technical writers are all needed.
- Feel free to simply lurk and hang out in our e-mail discussion groups, online forums or chat rooms. Just soak in the discussion until a topic strikes your fancy.
You can: