The Contribution of Amateur Astronomers to the Study of Variable Stars

Abstract

The observation of variable stars is one of the most important and the most fruitful areas of stellar astronomy. The contribution of large numbers of visual observations is a determining factor in drawing up light-curves, the latter being the key to the interpretation of the process of variability within these stars.It is not easy for a professional astronomer to obtain access to modern telescopes, especially to those of large aperture, and it may even be difficult, given the large number of projects put forward. In any case, these large instruments are often unsuitable for the observation of variable stars. Amateurs, on the other hand, have instruments that have a lower degree of precision, but their greater number and the good organization that exists for the reduction of data obtained, represent trump cards in preparing light-curves.