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Tables of Contents for Observing Variable Stars
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
Foreword
xiii
2
Opening thoughts
xv
4
Acknowledgments
xix
Part 1 Getting to know the sky
1
16
1 Beginning with the Big Dipper
1
6
1.1 The Dipper as a road sign
2
3
1.2 Your own constellations
5
1
1.3 Southern Cross
6
1
2 Magnitude, color, and distance
7
2
2.1 Magnitude
7
1
2.2 Color
8
1
2.3 Distance
9
1
3 A word on binoculars and telescopes
9
5
3.1 Choosing binoculars
10
1
3.2 Telescopes
11
3
4 Learning to see
14
3
4.1 Training your eye
14
1
4.2 VZ Camelopardalis
15
2
Part 2 Getting to know the variables
17
94
5 Meeting the family
17
3
5.1 Pulsating variables: Cepheids
17
1
5.2 Mira stars
18
1
5.3 Eruptive stars
19
1
5.4 Eclipsing binaries
20
1
6 Getting started with Cepheids
20
5
6.1 Delta Cephei
20
2
6.2 Eta Aquilae
22
1
6.3 The Cepheids
23
2
7 Algol, the demon of autumn
25
3
7.1 Eclipsing binary stars
25
1
7.2 Beta Lyrae
26
2
8 How to estimate a variable
28
4
8.1 Z Ursae Majoris and the AAVSO method
28
3
8.2 Other ways of estimating variables
31
1
9 Names and records
32
5
9.1 Designation
34
1
9.2 Variable
34
1
9.3 Date and time
35
2
9.4 Magnitude
37
1
10 Observing hints
37
6
10.1 Size and power of telescope
37
1
10.2 Get to know the star field
38
1
10.3 Normal frequency of observation
38
1
10.4 A note on AAVSO charts
39
1
10.5 Factors affecting observation
39
3
10.6 Seven ways to ruin a variable star estimate
42
1
10.7 Finding the maximum: Pogson's bisected chords
42
1
11 Stately and wonderful
43
8
11.1 R Leonis
43
4
11.2 Mira the Wonderful
47
4
12 Stars of challenge
51
5
12.1 R Leporis
51
4
12.2 Chi Cygni
55
1
13 Bright, easy, and interesting
56
3
13.1 R Scuti
57
1
13.2 X Herculis, g Herculis, and RR Coronae Borealis
58
1
13.3 W Cygni
58
1
14 Betelgeuse: easy and hard
59
4
14.1 Estimating Betelgeuse
59
2
14.2 Mu Cephei
61
1
14.3 A look inside
62
1
14.4 Betelgeuse song
62
1
15 Not too regular
63
4
15.1 S Persei
63
2
15.2 W Orionis
65
1
15.3 In the mind's eye
65
2
16 Nova? What nova?
67
6
16.1 A nova in Cygnus
67
1
16.2 T Coronae Borealis
68
1
16.3 Searching for novae
68
4
16.4 Watching an old nova
72
1
17 Supernovae
73
6
17.1 A thousand years ago
73
2
17.2 Type I and Type II
75
1
17.3 The supernova of 1987
76
1
17.4 Long journey of the neutrinos
77
1
17.5 Observing and searching
78
1
17.6 Supernova song
79
1
18 Three stars for all seasons
79
9
18.1 A look at SS Cygni
80
3
18.2 U Geminorum
83
3
18.3 Z Camelopardalis
86
2
19 A nova in reverse?
88
5
19.1 R Coronae Borealis
88
3
19.2 RY Sagittarii
91
2
20 RU Lupi?
93
3
20.1 T Tauri
93
1
20.2 RU Lupi
94
2
21 Orion, the star factory
96
8
21.1 V351 Orionis
97
1
21.2 How Orion stars vary
97
3
21.3 Other Orion variables
100
3
21.4 Eclipsing binaries in M42
103
1
22 Other variable things
104
3
22.1 Variable nebulae
104
1
22.2 Active galaxies
104
1
22.3 Minor planets
105
1
22.4 Comets
106
1
23 The Sun
107
4
23.1 Observing the Sun
108
1
23.2 Projects
108
1
23.3 The Sun's future
109
2
Part 3 Suggested variables for observation throughout the year
111
64
24 Introduction
111
1
25 January, February, March
112
14
25.1 Observing hints for cold weather
112
1
25.2 Camelopardalis
113
3
25.3 Perseus
116
2
25.4 Taurus
118
1
25.5 Orion
118
1
25.6 Lepus
119
1
25.7 Auriga
119
3
25.8 Canis Major
122
1
25.9 Gemini
123
1
25.10 Monoceros
124
1
25.11 Puppis
125
1
26 April, May, June
126
16
26.1 Lynx
126
1
26.2 Cancer
126
3
26.3 Ursa Major and vicinity
129
4
26.4 Ursa Minor
133
1
26.5 Leo
134
1
26.6 Leo Minor
135
1
26.7 Virgo
136
1
26.8 Canes Venatici
137
1
26.9 Hydra
137
1
26.10 Bootes
138
1
26.11 Draco
139
1
26.12 Libra
140
1
26.13 Lupus
141
1
27 July, August, September
142
14
27.1 Corona Borealis
142
1
27.2 Serpens
143
1
27.3 Ophiuchus
144
2
27.4 Hercules
146
1
27.5 Lyra
146
3
27.6 Scorpius
149
1
27.7 Sagittarius
149
2
27.8 Corona Austrina
151
1
27.9 Aquila
151
1
27.10 Sagitta
152
1
27.11 Vulpecula
153
1
27.12 Cygnus
154
2
28 October, November, December
156
13
28.1 Capricornus
157
1
28.2 Delphinus
158
1
28.3 Equuleus
158
1
28.4 Aquarius
159
1
28.5 Pegasus
159
1
28.6 Lacerta
160
2
28.7 Cepheus
162
2
28.8 Pisces
164
1
28.9 Andromeda
164
1
28.10 Cassiopeia
165
2
28.11 Cetus
167
1
28.12 Triangulum
168
1
28.13 Aries
169
1
28.14 Eridanus
169
1
29 Southern sky notes
169
6
29.1 Apus
169
1
29.2 Ara
170
1
29.3 Carina
170
1
29.4 Chamaeleon
171
1
29.5 Centaurus
171
1
29.6 Crux
171
1
29.7 Hydrus
172
1
29.8 Microscopium
172
1
29.9 Musca
172
1
29.10 Norma
172
1
29.11 Octans
172
1
29.12 Pavo
173
1
29.13 Pyxis
173
1
29.14 Telescopium
173
1
29.15 Tucana
173
2
Part 4 A miscellany
175
18
30 Stars and people
175
5
30.1 John Goodricke
176
1
30.2 AAVSO, observing as community
177
2
30.3 Leslie C. Peltier
179
1
31 The next generation
180
3
32 Going further
183
4
32.1 Books
183
4
32.2 Some major amateur variable star organizations
187
1
33 Glossary and abbreviations
187
6
33.1 Glossary
187
3
33.2 The Greek alphabet
190
1
33.3 Abbreviations of constellations
191
2
Index
193