NationMaster - Encyclopedia: AAVSO

The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) is an organization that collects observations of variable stars by amateur astronomers and uses them to establish light curves for each star's variation in brightness over time.

Since professional astronomers do not have the time or the resources to monitor every variable star, astronomy is one of the few sciences where amateurs can make genuine contributions to scientific research.

The director of the AAVSO for many decades was Janet Mattei, who died in March 2004 of leukemia.

External links

AAVSO website (http://www.aavso.org/)

Results from FactBites:

Reflections in the Eyepiece - Spring 2002 (1476 words)
	Using an AAVSO chart, I started star hopping about five degrees west to the location of W Orionis, a long period Mira-type variable star that ranges from 5.9-7.7 mag.
	AAVSO was founded in 1911 through a joining of amateur astronomers and Harvard Observatory Director Edward Pickering who had been working together for years, but decided to more
	You don't have to be a member of AAVSO to contribute observations, but it is encouraged.

SPACE.com -- Backyard Astronomers Catch Star in Outburst (1389 words)
	In this case, AAVSO predicted SS Cygni might have an outburst in the latter half of August, weeks before the star eventually went off.
	By comparing this data with visual observations made by AAVSO observers, the astronomers discovered that the star was at maximum outburst during the x-ray emissions.
	She plans to have AAVSO members monitor the star and alert her when an outburst begins.

More results at FactBites »

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