[vsnet-chat 956] Re: Supernova reports

["Fraser Farrell" <fraserf@dove.net.au>]

G'day all,

> While supernova observations are interesting, maybe it's a good idea to set
> up a separate vsnet list for observations of this kind. At the moment, they
> sometimes seem to be dominating vsnet-obs. Comments on this ???

Why a different list for SNe?  If we do this, then why not also have 
different lists for UGs, Miras, novae, etc?  Or northern and southern 
hemisphere variables?  And what of the objects that get reclassified,
sometimes as a result of what is written in vsnet mails?

I see hundreds of vsnet messages every month which describe stars that
are too faint for me to see, or never rise out of Aurora Suburbia, or
never rise at all.  But I am not going to ask VSNET administrators to
set up a "vsnet-obs-BrighterSouthernStars" mailing list for me; because
some interesting observations are done using bigger telescopes than
mine.  Some of them are even of stars north of the equator ;-)

Seriously though, we cannot guess what stars may be interesting to each
and every reader - either now or in future years.  So I reckon vsnet-obs
will best serve its purpose (reporting of recent observations) by
continuing to include _all_ types of variable stars and starlike objects.

However, the concept of a "digest" or "summary" mailing list has worked
well in other busy message forums.  So why not a "vsnet-digest" compiled
by the VSNET administrators? "vsnet-digest" messages might include such
things as:
- the existing long-period variables report (monthly?)
- the existing CVs and peculiar variables report (weekly?)
- a new Supernovae Report (weekly?) like the CVs report

Messages in "vsnet-digest", like "vsnet-charts", could only be posted by
the VSNET administrators.  Anyone with limited time (or bandwidth) could
then subscribe only to "vsnet-digest".  Other potential subscribers
might include astronomy educators, observatory operators, schools, or
astronomers whose main interest(s) is not variables but who like to be
informed (just in case).

After all, some of us subscribe only to "vsnet-alert" for similar
reasons.  Comments, anyone?


cheers,
Fraser Farrell

http://vsnet.dove.net.au/~fraserf/  email: fraserf@dove.net.au
traditional: PO Box 332, Christies Beach, SA 5165, Australia

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