Resources & Organisations

• Variable Star Section, Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (VSS RASNZ)
  The Southern Hemisphere's variable star headquarters for over 60 years; the VSS RASNZ is the premier source for starcharts, archival data and recent observations of variables in the More Scenic Half Of The Sky. The VSS RASNZ database now holds about 4 million observations and is growing by 80,000-90,000 observations per year.
  
  Among other publications, the VSS RASNZ produces "The Observation Of Variable Stars", an excellent guide designed especially for beginners in southern latitudes. The 5th edition has just been released at a cost of $NZ 35.00 plus postage. Charts for hundreds of southern variables are also available at cost. Membership of the VSS RASNZ is free.
  
  Beginning observers outside New Zealand can be directed to experienced local observer(s) when possible.
  
  Postal address: PO Box 3093, Greerton, Tauranga, NEW ZEALAND.
  E-mail: varstar@voyager.co.nz
  WWW: http://www.rasnz.org.nz
  
  
• VSNET
  A huge site run by the Department of Astronomy, Kyoto University, Japan, for variable star observers and researchers (amateur & professional). Both English and Japanese versions of the site are provided.
  
  VSNET operates several free mailing lists (in English) for alert notices, observations, announcements, and general discussion related to variable stars; and invites contributions from the variable star community. Regular contributors include observers from all continents.
  Note - some VSNET mailing lists have a lot of traffic!
  VSNET maintains an extensive archive of observations by the Variable Star Observer's League of Japan (VSOLJ) and other contributors worldwide - including the AFOEV. The VSNET sites also have many variable star charts, regularly updated lightcurves, freeware programming tools & utilities (DOS & Windows), and numerous links to variable star sites around the world.
  
  Postal address: Dept of Astronomy, Faculty of Science, Kyoto University, Oiwake-cho, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, KYOTO 606-01, JAPAN.
  E-mail: vsnet-adm@kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp
  WWW: http://www.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/vsnet/
  FTP: ftp://ftp.kusastro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/pub/vsnet/
  
  
• American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
  The AAVSO was founded in 1911 to coordinate variable star observations made (mostly) by amateurs. It now coordinates, archives, compiles, disseminates and processes over 300,000 observations per year. The AAVSO also produces charts for (mostly Northern Hemisphere) variable stars, as well as several publications. Some publications - including introductory material - are available from their WWW & FTP sites. The AAVSO also has a free mailing list for alert notices. The AAVSO does charge membership fees, and subscription fees if you want to receive printed material.
  
  The AAVSO have placed many of their variable star charts online in both GIF and PostScript format. Note that the majority of AAVSO charts are for northern and equatorial variables.
  
  Postal address: 25 Birch St, Cambridge, MASS 02138, USA
  E-mail: aavso@aavso.org
  WWW: http://www.aavso.org
  FTP: ftp://ftp.aavso.org
  Charts: http://charts.aavso.org
  
  
• Association Francaise pour Observations des Etoiles Variables (AFOEV)
  (loosely translated: French Association for Observations of Variable Stars).
  
  Dual websites written in English and French, although the French version seems to have more local content and introductory material. An online observations archive is available, as well as many links to French astronomy resources.
  
  Postal address: 16 rue de Plobsheim, 67100 Strasbourg, FRANCE
  E-mail: afoev@cdsxba.u-strasbg.fr
  WWW (version Francaise): http://astro.u-strasbg.fr/afoev/french.html
  WWW (English version): http://astro.u-strasbg.fr/afoev/english.html
  
  
• Asociaci de Variabilistas de Espa (AVE)
  (loosely translated: Spanish Variable Star Observers Association)
  
  A website written in Spanish. Offers several Windows programs of interest to variable star observers, databases, a (partial) mirror of the VSNET site, and links to Spanish astronomy resources.
  
  WWW: http://www.uv.es/~regalado/avesp.htm
  FTP: ftp://geo.uv.es
  
  
• British Astronomical Association, Variable Star Section (BAA VSS)
  Coordinates variable star observations by BAA members throughout the world. This large website contains downloadable BAA charts, lists of variables on the BAA observing programmes, online databases and lightcurves. Numerous links to other BAA Sections and British astronomy resources.
  
  The BAA also has a Australian branch (the BAA, NSW).
  
  Postal address: 67 Ellerton Rd, Kingstanding, Birmingham B44 OQE, ENGLAND
  E-mail: variables@britastro.org
  WWW: http://www.britastro.org/vss/
  
  
• Brazil Observational Astronomy Network
  Observers of southern variable stars and other objects. A good site duplicated in both English and Portuguese, with local content and local links.
  
  WWW: http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/9355/index.htm
  
  
• BRNO and MEDUZA (Czech Astronomical Society, Variable Star Sections)
  A good site with plenty of local content, including results of BRNO's eclipsing binaries programme and MEDUZA's observations of other types of variables. BRNO has placed over 600 of its observing charts online.
  
  Some free (DOS) programs for variable star data processing, including CCD image analysis, are available for download. The site is duplicated in English and Czech. Many links to Czech and other European astronomy sites.
  
  WWW: http://astro.sci.muni.cz/variables/
  
  
• Bundesdeutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft fuer Veraenderliche Sterne (BAV)
  (loosely translated: German Variable Stars Association)
  
  Another good site with plenty of local content; and duplicated in German and English. Frequently updated.
  
  Postal address: BAV, Munsterdamm 90, 12169 Berlin, GERMANY
  E-mail: tl@thola.de
  WWW (Deutsch): http://thola.de/bav_inhalt.html
  WWW (English): http://thola.de/bav_inhalt_e.html
  
  
• CBAT Supernova Checker
  Is your suspected supernova (or nova) actually an asteroid? Use the Supernova Checker at http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/ps/CheckSN to avoid possible embarrassment!
  
  
• Centre for Backyard Astrophysics (CBA)
  Mainly for dwarf nova observers (visual and electronic). CBA organizes international observing projects on dwarf novae; and has several national branches.
  
  E-mail: cba@phys.columbia.edu
  WWW: http://cba.phys.columbia.edu
  
  
  
• Information Bulletin of Variable Stars (IBVS)
  This is published by Konkoly Observatory (on behalf of IAU Commissions 27 and 42) and is intended to provide new information on variable stars. Recent issues of the IBVS are available online in TeX and Postscript format; and Konkoly have scanned most earlier IBVS issues and placed them online. The printed version of the IBVS is still available by subscription.
  
  Articles from amateur and professional astronomers are invited; see their WWW site for a guide to authors. The IBVS site is also the home of webpages about IAU Commissions 27 (variable stars) and 42 (close binaries).
  
  Postal address: Konkoly Observatory, PO Box 67, H-1525 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
  E-mail: IBVS@konkoly.hu
  WWW: http://www.konkoly.hu
  FTP: ftp://ftp.konkoly.hu/pub/ibvs/
  
  
• International Supernova Network (ISN)
  A service for visual, photographic, and electronic supernova hunters. Their WWW site includes news, charts & images of the latest discoveries; and details of how to join the ISN and its free mailing lists. There's also some excellent advice for novice supernova hunters.
  
  E-mail: villi@supernovae.net
  WWW: http://www.supernovae.net
  
  
• International TOAD Watch (ITW)
  This is the home of the Tremendous Outburst Amplitude Dwarf nova (TOAD) observers. Lots of stuff about the many dwarf novae and cataclysmic variables that really go off with a bang! And they have a few links to warty amphibians too ;-)
  
  E-mail: toad@kaya.uwyo.edu
  WWW: http://wapiti.uwyo.edu/toad/
  
  
• Liga Ibero-Americana de Astronomia (LIADA - Argentina)
  (Loosely translated: League of Iberian-American Astronomers)
  
  WWW: http://www.cnba.uba.ar/acad/astro/liada/liada.html
  
  
• LONEOS Photometry Catalogue (Lowell Observatory)
  Brian Skiff's whole-sky photometric catalogue of fainter stars - available as ASCII (loneos.stds) or for quicker download as a gzipped file (loneos.stds.gz).
  
  This catalogue contains over 22,000 V magnitudes (and colour indices) for stars between magnitudes 11 and 17, compiled from reliable professional sources.
  
  Some star atlas programs (e.g. GUIDE) can use the LONEOS Photometry Catalogue as an add-in; and already include the Tycho Catalogue. With these two catalogues you should be able to derive magnitudes for almost any photo or CCD image.
  
  E-mail: bas@lowell.edu
  FTP: ftp://ftp.lowell.edu/pub/bas/starcats/
  
  
• MACHO Home Page
  Discover how the resurrected Great Melbourne Telescope - with a very big CCD camera - is searching for Massive Astrophysically Compact Halo Objects (MACHOs) in intergalactic space. And discovering thousands of variables in the Magellanic Clouds in the process.
  
  Postal address: Mt Stromlo Observatory, PMB Weston Creek Post Office, ACT 2611, AUSTRALIA.
  WWW: http://wwwmacho.anu.edu.au
  
  
• Nederlandse Vereniging Voor Weeren Sterrenkunde, Werkgroep Veranderlijk Sterren (NVVWS,WVS - Netherlands)
  (Loosely translated: Netherlands Astronomical Association, Variable Stars Group).
  
  WWW: http://utopia.knoware.nl/users/dekoepel/Verenig.html
  
  
• The Amateur Sky Survey (TASS)
  Amateur astronomers equipped with CCD cameras, systematically examining the sky; and discovering many new variable stars (and other objects).
  
  WWW: http://www.tass-survey.org
  
  
• SAAF Variabelsektionen (Sweden)
  
  WWW: http://www.astro.uu.se/popast/SAAF/variabler.html
  
  
• "StarFox" Variable Star Chapter (Russia)
  A new association of variable star observers, also contributing to international observing programmes. The site is currently in Russian only, but an English version should be online soon. Several links to other Russian astronomy resources.
  
  E-mail: jawdet@adel.telecom.nov.ru
  WWW: http://starfox.telecom.nov.ru/var/index.html
  
  
• Sternberg Astronomical Institute, GCVS Research Group
  The compilers of the General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS) and its supplements. This is the definitive source of catalogued variable star data - and it's all available for download. The Sternberg Institute also maintains many other astronomical databases.
  
  WWW: http://www.sai.msu.su/groups/cluster/gcvs/
  
  
• Unione Astrofili Italiani (UAI - Italy)
  Observers of variable stars (and other objects). This site is in Italian only.
  
  E-mail: Mc7684@mclink.it
  WWW: http://www.mclink.it/mclink/astro/uai.htm
  
  
• X-ray Binaries Home Page (UK)
  Dying stars with extreme physics!
  
  WWW: http://sousun1.phys.soton.ac.uk:80/~ind/xbp.html