[vsnet-chat 2930] Outburst visual observations

[Lew Cook <lcoo@yahoo.com>]

Let's not forget that the primary purpose of the visual observers
watching the dwarf novae is to add to the collection of data on those
stars. The visual observers, especially the vehemently dedicated ones
like Danie Overbeek (to name but a single example of many) develop an
incredible collection of information on these stars. Even/especially
the "fainter than" observations are extremely valuable. I used the
data on a few selected stars to do several papers (for JAAVSO and VSS
RASNZ publ.) on the frequency of outbursts on these stars in the
1980's. Without the vast collection of these data points, it is not
possible to discover the long term trends and characteristics in
these stars' outburst cycles which is necessary in the development of
the theory of these outbursts. 

Data gaps were the most frustrating to me because there was often the
question: "Was there an outburst there that no one saw or was the
star quiet?" The observations at quiescence were as valuable as those
in outburst, often because there were few of them.

Currently I am engaged in the "ambulance chasing" or "smoke jumping"
side of variable star work, running to newly reported outbreaks of
flames. The visual observers do us "smoke eaters" a tremendous favor
by maintaining a fire watch in the forest of the dwarf novae and
reporting the ones that flare up. I choose which fires to fight and
which to ignore. I ignore some spectacular blazes and some dull ones,
too. Without the "rangers", we collectively would fail to work some
really interesting outbursts. As with any forest ranger, all smoke
should be reported. Choosing where to report which star's outburst is
a matter of (current) debate of greater heat than it deserves. 

The difference between the dwarf novae observers and (tree) forest
rangers is that it is often just as important to know there is no
smoke. A failure to report a negative observation on a star hinders
work of others on that star. Please report them all, and just because
the star "wasn't there", it doesn't mean there isn't interest and
value in the observation. The smoke jumpers don't care, but the
theorists may.

In the long run, the work of the fire crews gets published because
the fire rangers reported the smoke in the first place, and the
observer who reported the fire is often left out of the news. These
unbelievably dedicated ladies and gentlemen deserve our appreciation
and a big THANK YOU! 

=====
Regards, Lew 
=== NEW! HOT Star! Shines in X-Rays!===
  Check out Lew's work on
"The noisiest star in the Universe"
http://vsnet.lewcook.com/xte1118.htm

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