SLIDES AND PRINTS:

Slides

Thirty-one 35mm slides are included in the HOA materials. These slides may be used with the lessons in the manual to help illustrate the changing brightness of variable stars. The slides include:

• Finder slides of each of the five constellations included in HOA.

• Multiple views of each of the constellations.

• Seven views of the Cygnus constellation in its entirety. These views are the same as in the Cygnus constellation prints and show several variable stars in different stages of variation.

• Seven views of the field of the variable star W Cygni. These views are the same as the W Cyg prints and follow the variable through most of its cycle of brightness variation.

Below is the major finder slide of the constellation Cygnus. It outlines the stars in the constellation and identifies them. This is the first step in locating a star. Using these guideposts students can look for the individual stars which interest them. Select the image for a close-up view.

The Cygnus Star Finder Slide

Prints

There are a total of 14 photographic prints included in the HOA materials. The prints of the Cygnus region show several variable stars in different stages of their variation. That is, the prints are a way to show directly the variable nature of these stars' brightness. The prints are on high-quality, durable glossy paper. Seven of the prints show the constellation Cygnus in its entirety. The other seven prints show the field of the variable star W Cygni, and follow the star through much of its brightness cycle.

These prints can be used in situations when real-sky observing is not possible, or when companion slides cannot be used. They can also help facilitate group work.

There are many stars in the Cygnus field which vary in brightness. Students could use observation or tracing activities to help determine the identity of the stars and estimate their brightness using the comparison stars. They make excellent examples for many of the lessons in the manual.

Star is Faint	Star is Bright
Above is an example of a variable star in action.