[vsnet-chat 5608] New Variable Star book

["G. Arlen Good" <garlen@qwest.net>]

Dear Variable Star Observers,

There is a new book for Variable Star observers being published by
Springer-Verlag. It will be out in December (about six weeks). You can take
a look at it at Amazon.com.uk: (at the following URL):

>http://vsnet.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/1852334983/rev
i
ews/026-3903400-7150836<

   It's listed at the American Amazon.com too but I haven't provided a
description or table of contents for those folks yet.

   Attached below is the table of contents for your review. I'm the author
and I received input from several professional astronomers such as Joe
Patterson, Doug Hall, John Percy, Arne Henden and Taichi Kato as well as
many amateur astronomers from around the world, most of them Variable Star
observers. The book contains many light curves, artist's conception drawings
of various types of variable stars, examples of charts, planning guides,
preparation checklists and much that you may find of value.

Gerry A. Good
Albuquerque, New Mexico


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 - Observing Variable Stars
  Why do amateur astronomers observe variable stars
  A short chronicle of variable star observations
  Stellar evolution
  The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
  A profile of variable stars

Chapter 2 - The Variable Stars
  The classification of variable stars

Chapter 3 - Eruptive Variable Stars
  B[e] stars
  FU Orionis stars
  gamma Cassiopeia stars
  Irregular variables
  R Coronae Borealis stars
  RS Canum Venaticorum stars
  S Doradus stars
  UV Ceti stars
  Wolf-Rayet stars

Chapter 4 - Pulsating Variable stars
  53 Persei stars
  alpha Cygni stars
  beta Cep stars
  BL Boo stars
  Cepheids
  W Virginis stars
  delta Cepheids
  delta Scuti stars
  gamma Doradus stars
  Slow Irregular variables
  lambda Bootis stars
  Mira variables
  Maia variables
  mid B variables
  PV Telescopii stars
  RPHS variables
  RR Lyrae stars
  RV Tauri variables
  Semiregular variables
  SX Phoenicis variables
  UU Herculis stars
  ZZ Ceti stars

Chapter 5 - Cataclysmic Variables
  AM Canis Venaticorum stars
  AM Herculis stars
  DQ Herculis stars
  Novae
  Novalike variables
  SW Sextanis stars
  TOADS
  VY Sculptoris stars
  Supernovae
  U Geminorum variables
  WZ Sagittae stars
  V Sagittae stars
  Z Andromedae stars

Chapter 6 - Rotating Variable Stars
  alpha2 Canum Venaticorum stars
  BY Draconis stars
  Ellipsoidal variables
  FK Comae stars
  Pulsars
  SX Arietis stars

Chapter 7 - Close Binary Eclipsing Systems
  Algol type stars
  beta Lyrae variables
  Planetary exlipsing variables
  W UMa type stars

Chapter 8 - Optically Variable Close Binaries
  X-Ray bursters
  Fluctuating X-Ray systems
  X-Ray irregulars
  X-Ray binaries
  X-Ray, Novalike systems
  X-Ray pulsar systems
  gamma Ray Bursts

Chapter 9 - A General Approach to Observing Variable Stars
  Using your eyes to observe
  Dark adaptation
  Averted vision
  How color affects variable star observing
  Using binoculars
  Using a telescope
  Types of telescopes
  Mounts
  Oculars
  Finder scopes
  CCDs
  Photoelectic Photometry

Chapter 10 - Planning
  Reporting
  Selecting targets
  Planning resources

Chapter 11 - Preparations
  The Celestial Coordinate System
  Charts
  Preparing your own charts
  Star sequences
  Dates and times
  The Internet

Chapter 12 - Methods
  Observing with binoculars
  Observing with a telescope
  Estimating magnitudes
  The Argelander Method of estimating brightness
  The Pogson method of estimating brightness
  Fractional method of estimating brightness
  Computer programs
  Collecting data
  Searching for Supernovae
  Recording data
  Reporting new discoveries

Chapter 13 - Variable Star Data Management, Reduction, and Analysis
  Database management
  Data reduction
  Analysis
  Errors
  Rejection of data
  Spreadsheets
  Light curves
  Phase diagrams
  Computer analysis

Chapter 14 - Variable Star Reporting and Recording Organizations
  BAA VSS
  VSNET
  ASSA
  AAVSO
  BAV
  AFOEV
  VSSRASZ
  BBSAG
  ISN
  CBAT

Chapter 15 - Variable Star Observing and Amateur Astronomers

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