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Needs More Observations (NMO) Campaign As most of you know, each year AAVSO releases a Bulletin with predicted dates of maxima and minima for long period variables (LPVs). For many stars there is not enough data to make reliable predictions or create light curves demonstrating the behavior of these stars. These stars are listed in a supplement to the Bulletin, "Stars in Need of More Observations". We have created a subset of that list, primarily for northern observers, as a planning tool to help encourage observers to submit more observations of these neglected stars, and placed it online at http://home.earthlink.net/~joevp/nmolist.html Stars are selected that are north of -15 degrees in declination. They are then sorted by their current observed magnitudes from AAVSO Quick Look data. Stars brighter than 13.5V are designated B for brighter. Stars fainter than 13.5V are designated F for fainter. Stars with no data available in the Quick Look files are designated NA. Stars with observations more than 30 days old are designated O. Each of these categories is listed in order of increasing RA. In the 'notes' column, stars are designated "conjunction" if they are in or approaching conjunction with the sun. Observations of stars setting shortly after sunset are important to help fill in seasonal gaps in the data. Conversely, stars that are coming out of conjunction and are visible before dawn are designated "morning". Observations of these stars are important to fill in seasonal gaps in the data also. We encourage visual observers to obtain positive estimates of the stars brighter than 13.5V first, and then move on to other targets. CCD observers and visual observers with large aperture scopes are encouraged to go after the objects fainter than 13.5V. Any observations of stars with old or no data are useful. The list will be revised and posted before the first of each month for the duration of the campaign. We also have an email discussion group for observers to share information ab out observing these stars. If you would like to join in, email me off list and I will add you to the recipients list. Regards, Mike Simonsen mikesimonsen@mindspring.com NMO Campaign homepage http://home.earthlink.net/~joevp/nmo.html
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