Newsletters
The VSS Newsletter is usually published four times a year. It provides project leaders with the opportunity to publish interim results and project information and for members to report on activities. It includes regular sections on publications, hardware and software relevant to variable star observers. You can filter the list by year by clicking on the links to the right.
VSS Newsletter - January 2023
- From the Director - Mark Blackford
- Lunar occultation of Mars: Did Aristotle miss a significant detail? - Ed Budding
- Frequency analysis of HD 36628 and HD 36882: two newly discovered pulsating variables in Orion – Mark Blackford
- Determining the accuracy of mid eclipse timing by polynomial fit – Roy Axelsen
- Chromospherical activity in the secondary component of BF Vel — David Moriarty
- Obituary - Dr Robert (Bob) Nelson – Robert Jenkins
- Publication watch
VSS Newsletter - October 2022
- From the Director - Mark Blackford
- Letter from AAVSO's new director – Brian Kloppenborg
- Analysis of a Rob McNaught Eclipsing Binary: OQ Lup – Col Bembrick
- RCB Variables in the Large Magellanic Cloud – Mati Morel
- Some interesting stars in the field of VV Orionis – Mark Blackford
- Determining radial velocities of the eclipsing binary components in BF Velorum: update – David Moriarty
- Publication watch
VSS Newsletter - July 2022
- From the Director - Mark Blackford
- Sixth VSS Symposium – Mark Blackford
- New reductions of LMC variables in UOC43 – Mati Morel
- The B star dilemma: To Be or not to Be – Ari Siqueira
- FQ Circini – a strange nova? – Andrew Pearce
- Spectroscopic followup of Southern transients - Tom Love & Hamish Barker
- Determining radial velocities of the eclipsing binary components in BF Velorum, a triple system — David Moriarty
- Constraining the Love numbers k2 and h2 of exoplanets – Lia Marta Bernabò
- Publication watch
VSS Newsletter - April 2022
- From the Director - Mark Blackford
- RASNZ annual conference
- R CMa: The puzzling Algol – Ed Budding
- Period change analysis of V0625 Carinae – Mark G Blackford & Tom Richards
- QZ Carinae - a part of the riddled solved – Stan Walker
- Time series photometry of bright stars with the Star Adventurer Pro - Roy Axelsen
- Cepheids & period changes – Stan Walker
- Software watch – Mark Blackford
VSS Newsletter - January 2022
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- Variable stars in the 19th Century – Mati Morel
- Determining ToMs from sparse photometry – V0701 Cen – Mark Blackford
- Undergraduate project using remote learning and observing – Liam Parker, Hayden Parker, Ross Parker and Faraz Uddin (Harper College)
- The high amplitude delta Scuti star BS Aqr: an updated O-C diagram using TESS data – Roy Axelsen
VSS Newsletter - October 2021
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- RY Carinae and companions – Mati Morel
- Transformation coefficients with R, G and B astrophotography filters – Roy Axelsen
- Simple differential ensemble photometry – Roy Axelsen
- TESS light curves – a treasure trove of variable star data – Mark Blackford
- Reflections on a personal milestone or two* – Peter Williams
VSS Newsletter - July 2021
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- A note on ZZ Carinae – Mati Morel
- Deciphering the RV Grucis O-C diagram – Mark Blackford
- The eclipsing binary FM Vel has an irregular period – Tom Richards, Greg Crawford
- Young stars in the Galaxy: U Oph – Ed Budding
VSS Newsletter - April 2021
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- RASNZ Annual Conference – Steve Butler
- Identifications for five old variables – Mati Morel
- The effects of master flats on the accuracy of DSLR photometry – Roy Axelsen
- Refining the orbital period of KX Velorum – Mark Blackford
- The cycle count error trap – Tom Richards
VSS Newsletter - January 2021
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- A catalogue of nova outbursts in the Magellanic Clouds – Mati Morel
- Untangling the light curve of CX Sculptoris – Mark Blackford
- Sirius observatory damaged by a ‘dust devil’ – David Moriarty
- V777 Sagittarii – this year’s eclipse – Stan Walker
- Sorting alternate filter filenames – Phil Evans
VSS Newsletter - October 2020
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- An updated O-C diagram for the high amplitude delta Scuti star RS Gruis – Roy Axelsen
- Joys and perils of wide field photometry – Mark Blackford
- The period of AQ Tuc – Tom Richards
- What is happening to VW Hydri? – Stan Walker
- Update on MR Aps, V610 Ara, YY Gru and DI Mic – Tom Richards
- Time for navel gazing – David O’Driscoll
VSS Newsletter - July 2020
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- Updated positions for the LMC II 4801 GCVS stars – Mati Morel
- The 2019 super-outburst of VW Hyi – Ian Kemp
- Betelgeuse in the news – Stan Walker
- Ariel & ExoClock: a new project for exoplanet observers – Phil Evans
- QZ Carinae in 2020 – Stan Walker
- “Discovery” of an EB in the field of BF Pavonis – Mark Blackford
VSS Newsletter - April 2020
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- Zoom into VSS?
- A script to study minima timing variations in EBs – Tom Richards
- Eta Carinae photometric campaign: 2019+2021: the first year – Mark Blackford
- Photometry with the ZWO ASI1600MM Pro – Roy Axelsen
- Miras from an astrophysical viewpoint – Stan Walker
- Dual Maxima Mira comparisons – Stan Walker
- SS Crucis – reflections on a forgotten Mira variable – Peter Williams
VSS Newsletter – January 2020
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- Sixth Variable Stars South Symposium – Mark Blackford
- Updated positions for the LMC I HV stars – Mati Morel
- Visual observing of unstudied symbiotic variables – Andrew Pearce
- A new software tool for O-C diagram analysis – Mark Blackford
- Photometry with t...
VSS Newsletter – October 2019
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- Sixth Variable Stars South Symposium – Mark Blackford
- Positions for SMC Novae 1897-1952 – Mati Morel
- As photo bombs go this one’s a beauty – Mark Blackford
- The ZWO ASI 1600 MM-Cool camera – Roy Axelsen
- The inconstant eclipsing binary BO Indus – Mark Bla...
VSS Newsletter – July 2019
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- Positions for LMC Novae 1926-1951 – Mati Morel
- Update on the Eta Car campaign: 2019+2021– Mark Blackford
- Installing MuniWin on Fedora Linux – John Homes
- QZ Carinae – unsubmitted measures required – Stan Walker, Mark Blackford and Ed Budding
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VSS Newsletter – April 2019
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- Period issues in BS Mus: interim report – Tom Richards, Robert Jenkins
- An archive of Variable Star Section publications – Mati Morel
- Photometry of eta Carinae – Mark Blackford
- V777 Sag – a successful campaign – S Walker, M Blackford, E Budding
- ToMs, ins...
VSS Newsletter – January 2019
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- An interesting anniversary – Stan Walker
- QZ Carinae – what is happening with the data? – Mark Blackford, Stan Walker & Ed Budding
- X Phoenicis: still a lost variable – Mati Morel
- Light element determination from survey data using scatter minimisation – Jef...
VSS Newsletter – September 2018
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- Vale Ranald McIntosh (1933-2018)
- Correct placement of five Innes variables – Mati Morel
- A funny thing happened on the way to the observatory the other night – Mark Blackford
- Student project: give it a go! – Carl Knight
- The mystery of WASP-17b – the stor...
VSS Newsletter – June 2018
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- Vale Dr Terry Moon
- VSS symposium 5 – Phil Evans
- From point of light to astrophysical model – Tom Richards, Col Bembrick
- Probing IR Sources with Pan-STARRS – Mati Morel
- Comparison of visual and CCD magnitude estimates – Andrew Pearce
- Note on the period...
VSS Newsletter – April 2018
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- Variable Stars South Symposium 5 – Christchurch May 6 – 7, 2018
- Variables Shine at NACAA – Tom Richards
- QZ Carinae – progress in 018 – Stan Walker
- Low-cost BVRI Filters for CMOS/CCD photometry – Tex Moon
- Analysis of the evolution of ASASSN-17gk colour i...
VSS Newsletter – January 2018
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- 2018 RASNZ conference and 5th VSS symposium
- Astrometric Positions for SMC Variables – Mati Morel
- A look at Mira in 2018 – Stan Walker
- The DY Per star V487 Vel – Andrew Pearce
- V382 Carinae – a yellow hypergiant star – Stan Walker
- Photometry & initial m...
VSS Newsletter – October 2017
- From the director – Mark Blackford
- The one day period phenomenon – Stan Walker
- RY Tuc : A study of the region – Mati Morel
- Z Sag – a hump Mira with a strange colour curve – Stan Walker
- Congarinni observatory – part 3 – Mark Blackford
- The early ejection sequence of classical novae — Carl...
VSS Newsletter – July 2017
- From the directors – Stan Walker & Mark Blackford
- NGC 288 – V1 : A new lightcurve – Mati Morel
- R Tel – a Mira star with fairly consistent humps – Stan Walker
- The mass function in binary star astrophysics – E Budding
- Notes on 42 problematic Innes stars – Mati Morel
- Visual observing with ‘...
VSS Newsletter – April 2017
- From the director – Stan Walker
- NGC 288-V1: a SR variable in a globular cluster – Mati Morel
- Congarinni Observatory – Part 2 – Mark Blackford
- An update on QZ Carinae – Stan Walker
- The Stellar Detective IV – Tom Richards
- Visual observations of the 2015 eclipse of BL Tel – Peter F Williams...
VSS Newsletter – January 2017
- From the director – Stan Walker
- Clive Rowe & the Auckland Observatory – Stan Walker
- Notes on S CMa and Z Pup – Mati Morel
- Congarinni Observatory – Part 1 – Mark Blackford
- Experimantal modelling of bright southern EBs II – Col Bembrick
- Colour measures of hump stars – Stan Walker
- The ste...
VSS Newsletter – October 2016
- From the director – Stan Walker
- The story of S Telescopii = CPD-55°9313 – Mati Morel
- NSV 4964 recovered – Mati Morel
- CE Puppis and other long-period Cepheids – Stan Walker
- It’s about time – part 2 – Phil Evans
- Semi-regulars project update – Aline Homes
- A note on AAVSO data analysis – A...
VSS Newsletter – July 2016
- From the director – Stan Walker
- Recovery of FW Carinae – Mati Morel
- SPIRIT – Paul Luckas
- RR Lyrae light curve project – Victoria Wong
- Nova discovered in Scorpius
- ST Puppis revisited 3 June, 2016 – Stan Walker
- Changes in L2 Puppis reflected in historic AO data – part 1 – Aline Homes, et...
VSS Newsletter – April 2016
- From the director – Stan Walker
- Validation of variables discovered by McNaught – Mati Morel
- Variable Stars South report to the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand, Variable Star Section
- VSS Symposium 4 – Phil Evans
- Deciphering the enigma of QZ Car – Ed Budding
- A toolbox for eclipsi...
VSS Newsletter – January 2016
- From the director — Stan Walker
- 4th Variable Stars South Symposium – Mark Blackford
- Astrometric positions for certain NSV stars – Mati Morel
- Dual maxima Miras for 2016 – and other targets? – Stan Walker
- CCD targets for February to April – Tom Richards
- Photometry of bright stars – Stan Wa...
VSS Newsletter – October 2015
- From the Director – Stan Walker
- VSS Symposium 4 – David O’Driscoll
- A letter from the director of the AAVSO
- Atmospheric Extinction – Mark Blackford
- Visual Cepheid targets for beginners – Stan Walker
- A call for closer monitoring of BV Cen – Alan Plummer
- V854 Cen and Two Declines in 2015...
VSS Newsletter – July 2015
- From the director — Stan Walker
- Honorary RASNZ member award
- Gaia & astrophysical implications – Stan Walker
- Improved data for NSV 3933 and 3936 – Mati Morel
- AAVSO Spring meeting, Indiana, June 2015 – Andrew Pearce
- The EB & EW binaries project DSLR update – Mark Blackford
- A meeting with...
VSS Newsletter – April 2015
- From the director – Stan Walker
- NSV 7590: Resolution of a mystery – Mati Morel
- UU Vul recovered – Mati Morel
- Dual maxima Mira stars in colour – Stan Walker
- V1369 Centauri after 500 days – Stan Walker
- eta Carinae – Stan Walker
- QZ Carinae project – Mark Blackford, Ed Budding, Roger Butla...
VSS Newsletter – January 2015
- And now for someone completely different — Tom Richards
- From the director — Stan Walker
- Activities in 2014 – David Moriarty
- Southern Eclipsing Binaries – EA Project – Margaret Streamer
- Visual observations of the 2013 eclipse of BL Tel – Peter F Williams
- Southern semi-regulars – a progres...
VSS Newsletter – October 2014
- From the director — Tom Richards
- Editorial
- O-B5 Stars in Centaurus: re-evaluation of published data – Mati Morel
- Simplest CCD photometry – Tom Richards
- CCD targets in the EB/EW Project – Tom Richards
- Southern semi-regulars – a progress report – Aline Homes
- SY Fornacis – a high galactic...
VSS Newsletter – July 2014
- From the director — Tom Richards
- Impressions of Whakatane conference – Stan Walker
- An update on the bright Cepheid project – Stan Walker
- Southern semi-regular variables – a chance for new science? – Aline Homes
- The EB and EW binaries project – Mark Blackford (reported by Alan Baldwin)
- Ch...
VSS Newsletter – April 2014
- From the director — Tom Richards
- Notes on NSV 24318 and NSV 24319 — Mati Morel
- Recovery of poorly known variables from MVS — Mati Morel
- Factors affecting novae ejecta — Carl Knight
- Why Self-Correlation — John Homes
- Cepheids with longer periods — Glen Schrader & Stan Walker
- R Scuti – RV...
VSS Newsletter – January 2014
- From the director — Tom Richards
- Discovery/recovery of new Mira variables — Mati Morel
- Novae and their CV cousins — Stan Walker
- Nova Centauri 2013 — Carl Knight & Jonathon Powles
- BL Tel – please explain yourself! — Col Bembrick
- What to do on a cloudy night? — Stephen Hovell
- Southern ec...
VSS Newsletter – November 2013
- Albert Jones Obituary — Bill Allen
- From the director — Tom Richards
- Recovery of Spectral Types in Sagittarius — Mati Morel
- NSV 17642 : Probably Constant — Mati Morel
- RR Lyraes – Some Summer Targets — Stan Walker
- Dual Maxima Miras — Stan Walker
- An update for classical Cepheid observers...
VSS Newsletter – August 2013
- From the director – Tom Richards
- RR Lyrae or Cluster Cepheid Project – Stan Walker
- RASNZ 2013 – a personal recollection – Col Bembrick
- Lucke-Hodge O-B associations in the LMC – Mati Morel
- NSV 7590 – a spurious variable – Mati Morel
VSS Newsletter – April 2013
- From the director - Tom Richards
- RR Lyrae or Cluster Cepheid Project – Stan Walker
- RASNZ 2013 - a personal recollection – Col Bembrick
- Lucke-Hodge O-B associations in the LMC – Mati Morel
- NSV 7590 - a spurious variable – Mati Morel
VSS Newsletter – December 2012
- From the director – Tom Richards
- Old UBV measures from Auckland – Stan Walker
- Identifying NAV stars in the list of Innes variables – Mati Morel
- Update on the Dual Maxima Mira project – Stan Walker
- HD 5980 a boring name for a star system that is anything but – Glen Schrader
- Astronomy 3.0...
VSS Newsletter – August 2012
- From the Director – Tom Richards
- Putting stars in their place: A 50-year odyssey – Mati Morel
- Southern binaries DSLR project update – Mark Blackford
- Postcard from Carterton – Roland Idaczyk
- O – C diagram for η Muscae – Blackford, Butland & Budding
- SPADES – Results rolling in – Tom Richar...
VSS Newsletter – May 2012
- From the director – Tom Richards
- From the editor – Phil Evans
- Conference Report – Tom Richards
- NACAA 2012 – David Benn
- Some targets in the Magellanic Clouds – Alan Plummer
- SPADES – 57 binaries under observation – Tom Richards
- Updates to SPADES data for Ephemerides – Margaret Streamer ...
VSS Newsletter – February 2012
- From the director – Tom Richards
- Bright Cepheids Report – Stan Walker
- Software Watch – Phil Evans
- Photometric Catalogue around M42 – Mati Morel
- DSLR Photometry Atmospheric Extinction Correction – Mark Blackford
- Turning up Results in SPADES – Tom Richards
- Variable Stars Near Eta Carinae...
VSS Newsletter – November 2011
- From the Director — Tom Richards
- Southern Binaries DSLR Project — Mark Blackford
- Southern Eclipsing Binaries and the SPADES Project — David J. W. Moriarty
- BL Tel – Revisited — Col Bembrick
- EEB Project— SZ Piscium — Margaret Streamer
- VStar Overview — David Benn
- Equatorial Eclipsing Bina...
VSS Newsletter – August 2011
- From the director – Tom Richards
- Variables from Linden – Towards the Hub – Alan Plummer
- BL Telescopii – Observations of the 2011 eclipse – Peter F Williams
- A DSLR bright Cepheid project – Can you help? – Stan Walker
- RASNZ Conference Napier, 2011 – Col Bembrick
- Recurrent Novae – Stan Walk...
VSS Newsletter – May 2011
- From the director – Tom Richards
- From the editor – Phil Evans
- The Primary Eclipse of BL Telescopii in 2000 – Col Bembrick & Tony Ainsworth
- BL Tel – 2011 Eclipse Visual Observing Program – Peter Williams
- DSLR Photometry II -Mark Blackford & Glen Schrader
- The CCD Column – Tom Richards
- Br...
VSS Newsletter – February 2011
- From the Director – Tom Richards
- VSS Website Update – David O’Driscoll
- Thoughts from the Editor – Stan Walker
- Stars of the Quarter – V641 Centauri – Neil Butterworth
- ASAS3—Some hints on its use – Stan Walker
- The Stars Out There & Telescopes to See Them – Stan Walker
- DSLR photometry—a P...
VSS Newsletter – November 2010
- From the Director – Tom Richards
- Thoughts from the Editor – Stan Walker
- Stars of the Quarter – Rod Stubbings & Others
- Astronomy in the Desert – Margaret Streamer
- Eclipsing Binary Modelling – Col Bembrick
- BSM South at Ellinbank – Peter Nelson
- A New UG WZ Candidate in Pisces – Stephen Ho...
VSS Newsletter – August 2010
- From the Director
- Thoughts from the Editor
- Stars of the Quarter – Rod Stubbings & Albert Jones
- Equatorial Eclipsing Binaries Project – Tom Richards
- Eclipsing Binaries for Fun and Profit—Part 5 – Bob Nelson
- Cataclysmic Variables in Quiescence – Stan Walker
- Software Review—Muniwin V1.1.2...
VSS Newsletter – May 2010
- From the Director – Tom Richards
- Editor’s Comments – Stan Walker
- Stars of the Month – Stan Walker
- Stars That Go Out – Stephen Hovell/Stan Walker
- The Dual Maxima Mira Project – Stan Walker
- The ESP Bug – Phil Evans
- Remarks on Two Possible Cataclysmic Variables – Mati Morel
- CCD Notes—Wh...
VSS Newsletter – February 2010
- From the Director – Tom Richards
- And a Bit from the Editor – Stan Walker
- Stars of the Quarter – Stan Walker
- TT Arietis: An Exciting CV For Amateurs Too – Stephen Hovell
- A Personal Project – Eric Rumbo
- Bright Star Monitor South – Tom Richards
- The Crows Nest Observatory – Roland Idaczyk ...
VSS Newsletter – November 2009
- From the Director & Editor
- Stars of the Quarter – Stan Walker
- Equatorial Eclipsing Binaries Report – Tom Richards
- A DSLR Experiment – Des Loughney
- Report from the Visual Observing Desk – Alan Plummer
- Meetings Here & There
- Pukemaru Observatory – Stephen Hovell
- Eclipsing Binaries for...
VSS Newsletter – August 2009
- Director’s Comments
- Editorial
- Stars of the Quarter—omicron Ceti—Nova Sagittarii & Nova Ophiuchi—V1412 Aquilae
- Cataclysmic Variables—Current Projects – Paddy McGee
- Amateur Spectroscopy Today – Bernard Heathcote
- Eclipsing Binaries for Fun and Profit—II – Bob Nelson
- Report on QZ Carinae P...
VSS Newsletter – May 2009
- Director’s Comments
- Editorial
- Stars of the Quarter—BH Crucis—EX Hydrae—SR Crateris
- Eclipsing Binaries for Fun and Profit – Bob Nelson
- Around the World with Eclipsing Binaries – Tom Richards
- Visual Observing and Variable Stars South – Alan Plummer
- Satellite Mutual Occultations—Jupiter,...
VSS Newsletter – February 2009
- Meet VSS – Tom Richards
- From the Editor – Stan Walker
- L2 Puppis – Stan Walker
- Observing Comments – Roger Pickard
- Greetings from North – Arne Henden
- Loan Cameras
- Visual Observers (& Project) – Alan Plummer
- The Long Period Variables – Stan Walker
- YY Cen & Neighbour – Stan Walker
- QZ...
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