[vsnet-chat 3061] Reszelski's observations

[Afoevb@aol.com]

Dear Colleagues,
I wish to brung my little contribution to the chat concerning Reszelski's 
observations. I observe predominantly long-period variables and CVs wich are 
enough bright in maximum, then faint CVs are inaccessible even with a 
relatively important telescope : my observation site in Strasbourg is to 
polluted (industry, mist in the Rhine valley between the Vosges and the Black 
Forest, and light, light, light). I observe since 40 years, first 
photographically, then visually, at the end of the sixties with a 12" 
Brun-Newtonian : in this mount the eyepiece-holder is be used as axes of 
rotation in standing position - the observers head is always in the same 
position, hence less fatigue and the possibility to "work" quickly and well 
(a picture of my instrument appeared in a bulletin of the VSOLJ!). My 
instrument is equipped with a 80mm finder and a Amici prism, ocular near the 
telescope's ocular (for bright variables). Like Dr Kato I constructed "stars 
speedways" (for examples R CrB - S CrB - RT Boo - X CrB - V CrB - W CrB - Z 
CrB - T CrB - RU Her - VV Her - NP Her or 'beta Her' - DO Her - U Her - R Her 
- R Ser - AH Ser - WX Ser - S Ser - WW Ser - RU Ser - U Ser - DN Her - SS Her 
or 'delta Her' - RT- AH-SY-RS-UZ-AL-SU-RY-WZ-YY-AA-V443). I follow always the 
same way and, after years of observations, I know the fields of about 400 
stars wich a find in some secondes. I make observations continuously for 
about one hour or more, then rest for 10 or 15 minutes, a second run, then 
rest, a third run and, more rarely a fourth run (the following morning 
work!). 
To find the variable : 10 / 15 seconds
Estimation : 30 / 40 seconds
Next variable : 10 / 15 seconds and so on.
During the first run about 50/60 estimations, 45/50 during the second run, 
between 100 and 150 during a night. So I observed in summer or winter. Now it 
is to cold in winter ... and I am near 77! So from October to May I observe 
during some minutes with binoculars. I use the telescope only in summer : 
unfortunately the sky is dark late in the night and the unfortunate 
"summertime" does not help matters. 
Moreover, sadly, I sold my telescope in 1991 and purchased a Celestron-11 
(280mm aperture) : the work is more difficult. I planed to acquire a CCD 
camera ... but various problems (above all the age!) prevents me from doing 
it. So I think it will be difficult to reach 50000 observations!
Friendly greetings to all the variable star observers around the world
Emile Schweitzer - AFOEV (french association of variable star observers)

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