1. NGC or GCVS? Mike Simonsen C.E. Scovil Observatory Imlay City, MI, USA
Life After Messier
NGC or GCVS?
Mike Simonsen
C.E. Scovil Observatory
Imlay City, MI, USA

2. Evolution of a Stargazer
Stars
Constellations
First telescope
The Moon
Planets
Messier Objects
Aperture fever!
NGC catalog
Fainter and fainter and fainter fuzzies
Photography or CCD imaging
Insanity and bankruptcy!
Amateur astronomers usually follow a predictable path of growth and interest. From easy to find, bright objects to fainter and more challenging targets.

3. Evolution of a Variable Star Observer
Stars
Constellations
First telescope
The Moon
Planets
Messier Objects
Variable Stars!
Aperture fever!
Fainter and fainter and fainter variables
CCD imaging
Some amateurs veer of the evolutionary track to become variable star observers.

4. Never were truer words spoken.
WARNING!!!
"I feel it my duty to warn any others who may show signs of star susceptibility that they approach the observing of variable stars with the utmost caution. It is easy to become an addict and, as usual, the longer the indulgence is continued the more difficult it becomes to make a clean break and go back to a normal life.“
  Leslie C. Peltier
Never were truer words spoken.
The slides following this are examples of variable stars residing near well-known Messier objects.

5. M13 Hercules Globular Cluster
Finder chart to W Herculis, showing proximity to M13.

6. W Her (Herculis) Mira 8.2-13.5v
Light curve of W Herculis and the AAVSO chart for observing the star.

7. A deeper chart for the faint part of W Her activity
A deeper chart for the faint part of W Her activity. All the next slides follow in this same format. Finder charts showing Messier objects and then light curves and charts.

8. M57 Ring Nebula in Lyra

9. RX Lyr (Lyrae) Mira 10.9-<15.5v

11. M31 Andromeda Galaxy

13. RX And/ U And

14. RX And (Andromedae) UGZ Z Cam type variable Outbursts and standstills
Very active!
Can be followed nightly for signs of activity
Magnitude range v

15. U And (Andromedae) Mira Period 346 days Magnitude range 9.9-14.0v
Bright stars in field make it easy to find and identify

16. M33 Triangulum Galaxy

17. V Tri (Trianguli) Eclipsing binary system
You can observe an entire eclipse in one night
Total duration approximately 4 hours

18. TY Psc (Piscium) UGSU Outbursts and Superoutbursts
Very handy, recognizable asterism in the field
TY Psc also resides in the vicinity of M33.

19. M42 The Great Nebula in Orion

20. M42, a giant stellar nursery… Chock full of variables!
Shocking demonstration of the number of variables close to the Orion Nebula!

21. S Ori (Orionis)

22. S Orionis
Mira
Period 419 days
Magnitude range v

23. M10 and M12 Nice warm summer night targets

24. Two globulars point to one nice variable star

25. SS Ophiuchi
Mira
Period 180 days
Magnitude range V

26. Get close to SS Oph!

27. M81 and M82 in Ursa Major

28. Star hop to variables while everyone else is looking at M82 for the 100th time!

29. CI UMa UG 13.8-<17.7v

30. CH UMa UG V

31. R UMa Mira 6.6-14.3v Period 301 days

32. Evolution…Survival of the Fittest
Learn to star hop like a MONSTER observing variable stars
The most interesting things to look at are those that change
The Sun, planets, comets
VARIABLE STARS!
Are you looking for a challenge?
Do you need a motivation to get that telescope out of the closet?
Have fun, expand your horizons, and contribute to science
Observing Variable Stars is Fun and Rewarding
The AAVSO Wants YOU!