[vsnet-chat 3638] Re: Overobserving

[Taichi Kato <tkato>]

Re: Overobserving

     It may be worth noting that modern programs more tend to encourage
high sampling.  People may remember the recommended observing frequency
for symbiotic variables was once in a week, in order to avoid systematic
error just as Hers mentioned.  However, this recommendation is becoming
less valid in modern days: the major part of the rise in the recent
outburst of Z And took only three or four days -- the classical frequency
of observations would not have record such a rapid change.
How all of us can be sure LPVs will not experience such dramatic changes?
[I have already received a notice that some VSOLJ observers are
overobserving UV Aur, but there is much reasoning for doing that, since
UV Aur is one of Mira stars having symbiotic properties.  Recalling that
CH Cyg was a normal M giant early in the 20-th century, one may wonder
how many such "dormant" erupters reside in normally looking LPVs.]

     Another possibility of "overobserving" may come from some sort of
campaign observations.  The VSOLJ is yearly having campaigns of observing
Mira itself.  The campaign include many novice observers, and nightly
observations by themselves or by experienced observers are pure
encouragement for these observers.  In some cases, Mira itself is the
single target for these observers.  Similar campaigns, either systematic
or voluntary, for well-observed and bright variable stars (e.g. binocular
LPVs) also exist.  Different forms of encouraging observers can exist,
particularly in the era of internet; sticking to the old convention may not
be always the best and single solution.

     However, if the observer is well-experienced, and has time to
turn to another object, observing additional stars instead of making
frequent observations of a few stars may be recommeded to maximize the
output, of course depending on the situation.

Regards,
Taichi Kato

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