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International Year of Astronomy | American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Affiliates | About Us | Participant Sites
International Year of Astronomy | American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Dear Friends, Hi!!! I and our Astronomy group are very motivated to participate. This period near winter and durign the winter we find the bestmoment to make Sky Observations here in our city in Brazil. With my best regards. Um fraterno abraço, Marcelo de Oliveira Souza
Great Marcelo! Looking forward to work with you!
From the initial lists Alan has expressed his concern about the smallest amplitude ones. He's probably right and a first filter we should use to get to the final Top 10 is amplitude. This will make beta Gruis, muCentauri and omega Canis Majoris and chi Ophiuchi to be deleted. Delta Scorpii doesn't show a remarkable amplitude either but it has brightened from 2.25 to 1.90 during last month. I would leave delta Velorum out because of its long period. You could only catch 3 or 4 eclipses per year from a given place if you're lucky enough that your skies are clear and mideclipse takes place at your dark hours.
We have 9 confirmed stars then:
l Car beta Dor eta Aql R Car kappa Pav
zeta Phe
XSgr
W Sgr V Pup
delta Librae was in one of the lists and if we're going to go a little fainter and use binoculars, then this could be our #10 since it is a large amplitude eclipsing binary.
This one and RCar will need optical aid to be followed over their entire cycles. If we don't want stars not visible with the naked eye we should consider some of the ones I have just discarded, e.g. delta Sco or delta Vel.
What do you think?
Best wishes,
Sebastian.
The other Be stars I suggested (omega CMa, chi Oph and muCen), may show some activity but long periods of quiescence make them not so good choices.
Chi Oph has risen from 4.7 to 4.2 this month but it is probably not going to do much more in the future.
Omega CMa is at it s high state but it is not likely to give us any surprise either.
About other stars:
Betelgeuse is at a very bright maximum, it is even brighter than V= 0.3 but its observing season is coming to an end and its amplitude doesn't help. Leave it for the Northern observers. That's it for now.
Cheers,
Sebastian.