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Astronomy is a unique science that
cannot be studied in a typical laboratory setting here on earth. Instead,
astronomers turn their attentions and telescopes to the sky in order to study their subjects. Since
professional astronomers often do not have the telescope time needed to follow a particular star or group of
stars, the dedication of amateur astronomers is often an invaluable means of collecting information. Nowhere
is this more true than in the field of variable star astronomy. Since 1911, thousands of amateur astronomers
from all over the world and from all backgrounds have contributed observations, one at a time, to make up
the more than 15.5 million data points housed in the AAVSO International Database!
Anyone can be a variable star observer. All you really need to begin observing are: your unaided eyes, a
pair of binoculars, or a telescope; some variable star charts to help you navigate your way through the sky;
some basic instructions; and a little patience. For those interested in observing activity on our closest
star, the sun, or a particular type of variable, such as the Eclipsing Binary and RR Lyrae type stars, or if
hunting for novae, supernovae, or optical counterparts to energetic Gamma Ray Bursts strikes your fancy, we
have observing programs designed to help satisfy your appetite. For those interested in branching out into
Photoelectric Photometry and Charge-Coupled Device observing, our knowledgable Committees are there to help.
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