Variable+Star+Investigations

Main Page NDeRC Variable Stars [|NMSO Instructions.doc] -- Remote Observing Instructions NOAO's [|Message of Starlight] introduction to stellar spectroscopy URL for remote observing: http://12.196.245.92 = =

=***Variable Star Investigations***=

--variable star V838 Monocerotis--

//>>What are Variable Stars?<>There are two different classes of variable stars.<>From these two different classes there comes four different types of variable stars.<>__Pulsating Variables__** "are stars that show periodic expansion and contraction of their surface layers. Pulsations may be radial or non-radial. A radially pulsating star remain spherical in shape, while a star experiencing non-radial pulsations may deviate from a sphere periodically." ([|AAVSO])
 * >>__Eruptive variables or Cataclysmic Variables__**, "as the name implies, are stars that have occasional violent outbursts caused by thermonuclear processes either in their surface layers or deep within their interiors." ([|AAVSO])
 * >>__Eclipsing Binary__** will dim when it is eclipsed by a faint companion; and then brightens when the occulting star moves out of the way. "These are binary systems of stars with an orbital plane lying near the line-of-sight of the observer. The components periodically eclipse one another, causing a decrease in the apparent brightness of the system as seen by the observer. The period of the eclipse, which coincides with the orbital period of the system, can range from minutes to years." ([|AAVSO])
 * >>__Rotating Variables__** show small changes in light that may be due to dark or bright spots, or patches on their stellar surfaces (starspots). Rotating stars are often binary systems. ([|AAVSO])

//>>What is a light curve?<>CN's Material, Information and Tasks<<__
CN's Logbook Questions on V Cet [|Observing Variable Stars Outline.doc] Milestone Map for Variable Stars A Tour of the Subatomic Zoo Outline CN's Z Decay Events CN's LIGO Data CN's Cosmic Ray Data

__>>Related Links<<__
[|AAVSO] - Should provide sufficient information about variable stars [|Click Here] - For a powerpoint intro on variable stars. It gives you information on how you can begin your research into observing Variable Stars. [|Amateur AstroSpectroscopy] a link to understand spectroscopy. [|Links to Stellar Spectroscopy] gives you many various links to better understand spectroscopy. [|Variable Stars] a page that can take you to many other sources for variable stars. It contains organizations, newsletters, and other things dealing with variable stars.

__**>>References****<<**__
[|AAVSO] [|Australia Telescope Outreach and Education]