What is HOA?

Hands-On Astrophysics is an AAVSO educational project developed with funds from the National Science Foundation. It is a flexible set of hands-on educational materials, activities, and investigations, based on the AAVSO's unique electronic database of variable star measurements. Students will be able to experience the excitement of doing real science with real data--making new measurements and new discoveries. By carrying out all aspects of the research process, they can develop and integrate skills in science, math, computing, and other areas.

Hands-On Astrophysics will help students acquire fundamental science skills and develop an understanding of basic astronomy concepts; it will provide interdisciplinary connections, and take students through the whole scientific process while working with real data. This curriculum also will inform students about variable stars and their importance to the professional astronomical community, and give them the necessary information and skills to study variable star behavior or to become amateur variable star observers.

Students learn the necessary skills to make observations, analyze their data with graphing and statistical techniques, make predictions, and compare predicted and observational values, as well as learn how to develop sophisticated mathematical models. Students will learn about variable stars by using the activities, software, charts, slide sets, and videos that accompany the teacher and student manual. Students will be able to access the AAVSO database, and share their investigations and observations with other students via the internet web site.

The study of variable stars is particularly suited to science, math, and computer education. Students can observe variable stars, and analyze the brightness changes in the stars they observe by using the database of over 10 million observations and the computer programs provided. Except for a few exercises in skill development, there are no "right" answers in this curriculum. The data obtained and the results of the analysis of that data by students is the "right" answer. The amount of data and the mathematical refinement techniques will give reasonably accurate results. Students will understand that their observations can be reliable, and that their data can be useful enough to be used by professional astronomers.

Who is HOA for?

HOA is a curriculum that benefits ANYONE who is interested in learning more about variable stars. The content is useful in astronomy, physical science, mathematics, computer classes, independent projects, and has interdisciplinary connections that make it appropriate for history and English classes. The material is appropriate for middle school through introductory college level classes, depending upon the chapters selected. The curriculum is self-contained: no prior knowledge of astronomy, variable star astronomy, or physics is necessary. Some chapters could be adapted for younger audiences at the elementary school level while others could even benefit most amateur astronomers. If you have an interest in learning more about variable stars, HOA is definitely for you.

What is the AAVSO?

The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) is a non-profit scientific and educational organization founded in 1911. It is the largest organization of variable star observers worldwide, with members in over 40 countries. Its purpose is to coordinate variable star observations made largely by dedicated amateur astronomers, evaluate the accuracy of these observations, compile, process, and publish them, and make them available to researchers, educators, and those who love variable stars. AAVSO Headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, now receives over 350,000 observations yearly, from 550 observers worldwide, over half of whom live outside of the United States. Since the founding of the AAVSO in 1911, we have compiled over 10 million observations of variable stars.

AAVSO Services to the Astronomical Community

The AAVSO provides a wide range of services to the astronomical community. AAVSO International Database data, both published and unpublished, are disseminated extensively to astronomers around the world, upon request, and are becoming increasingly available from the AAVSO web site as well.

AAVSO data and services have been used, referenced, and acknowledged in hundreds of professional astronomical publications.

AAVSO services are sought by astronomers for many purposes, including:

• Real-time, up-to-date information on unusual stellar activity;
• Assistance in the scheduling and executing of variable star observing programs coordinating earth-based large telescopes and instruments aboard satellites;
• Assistance in simultaneous optical observations of program stars and immediate notification of their activity during earth-based or satellite observing programs;
• Correlation of AAVSO optical data with spectroscopic, photometric, and polarimetric multi-wavelength data;
• Collaborative statistical analysis of stellar behavior using long-term AAVSO data.

Collaboration between the AAVSO and professional astronomers for real-time information or simultaneous optical observations has enabled the successful execution of hundreds of observing programs, particularly those using satellites such as Apollo-Soyuz, High Energy Astronomical Observatories 1 and 2 (HEAO 1 and 2), International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE), Roentgen Satellite (ROSAT), European X-Ray Observatory Satellite (EXOSAT), High Precision Parallax Collecting Satellite (HIPPARCOS), Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE), and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).

A significant number of rare events have been observed with these satellites as a result of timely notification by the AAVSO.

AAVSO data and services may be obtained by writing to the Director of the AAVSO at AAVSO Headquarters and stating the purpose of the request and the type of AAVSO data or services needed.

Services to Observers and Members

The AAVSO enables variable star observers to contribute vitally to variable star astronomy by accepting their observations, incorporating them into the AAVSO International Database, publishing them, and making them available to the professional astronomer. Incorporating an observer’s observations into the AAVSO archives means that future researchers will have access to those observations, so the observer is contributing to the science of the future as well as the present.

Also, the AAVSO coordinates observing runs between professional and amateur astronomers, in which observations from amateur astronomers play an important role in correlating observations obtained with special instruments at earth-based observatories or aboard satellites.

On request, the AAVSO will help set up an appropriate observing program for an individual, an astronomy club, an elementary school, high school, or college, etc. In this way observers, students, and faculty are able to make the best use of their resources and to do valuable science. The AAVSO can also assist in teaching observing techniques and in suggesting stars to be included in a program.

Learn more about the AAVSO from the "Overview and Purpose" web page on the AAVSO site.