Archived projects
In addition to active projects, this website maintains information about projects that are completed or otherwise archived.
Southern Eclipsing Binaries – EB and EW Project
CCD Component: Tom Richards DSLR Component: Mark Blackford
Please note that this project is now closed. For up to date information about southern eclipsing binaries, refer to www.eclipsingbinaries.prettyhill.org.
EBs and EWs are (usually) very close eclipsing binaries, hence with very s...
Southern Eclipsing Binaries – EA Project
Programme Coordinator: Tom Richards Project Leaders: Margaret Streamer & David Moriarty
Please note that this project is now closed. For up-to-date information about southern eclipsing binaries, refer to www.eclipsingbinaries.prettyhill.org.
The Southern EAs Project of Variable Stars South is a multi-purpose and ongoing campaign to observe and analyse bright eclipsing binary stars of the EA-type (Algol-like) accessible to Southern Hemisphere observers. The Project is designed to enable anyone with a tracking telescope and a camera, or familiarity with Excel, to take part. Full guidelines on observing and analysing are available.
Despite their importance and easy observability, large numbers of them have had little or no observational work done on them since discovery, and many more require follow-up work to extend and check existing studies. Very bright EBs such as R Ara which used to be the province of visual observers now need monitoring with DSLRs, which are 10 to 100 times more accurate in magnitude estimation and provide well-timed rapid time-series data through a night. For a summary of the importance of EB research, especially by amateurs, including many valuable suggestions for projects, see (Guinan, Engle & Devinney, 2012).
Southern Binaries DSLR Project
Project Leader: Mark Blackford
Please note that this project is now closed. For up-to-date information about southern eclipsing binaries, refer to www.eclipsingbinaries.prettyhill.org.
The SBDSLR Project aims to provide observational data in support of Ed Budding’s The Southern Binaries Programme of CONZ and CAAM. The targets will be bright, relatively under-observed, or newly discovered, southern binaries. They will mostly be eclipsing binaries, but others may be close binaries with possible photometric effects of binarity but not eclipses.
A secondary aim of the SBDSLR Project is to establish DSLR photometry as a legitimate technique for scientific studies of variable stars. Due to their brightness our targets will generally be unsuited to the narrow field of view of CCD imaging through a telescope. DSLR cameras with standard lenses provide fields of view wide enough to include suitable comparison stars.
Equatorial Eclipsing Binaries Project
Programme Coordinator: Tom Richards
Please note that this project is now closed.
The EEB Project, which is joint with the Variable Star Section of the British Astronomical Association, aims to provide new or updated light elements (orbital period and one well-determined time of primary eclipse) of variable stars classified as EA in the GCVS4. Where possible, it also aims to provide orbital, classification and shape data for the stars. The target stars are located in a band within 10° declination of the celestial equator, to enable collaborative northern hemisphere research. All results are to be published in suitable journals, with observers’ data and summary reports on progress published on this website.
This project is suitable for observers new to CCD photometry as well as for experienced observers. Feedback and advice on observing and results will be provided. This is a good opportunity to learn and improve technique, as well as making publishable scientific contributions.