The observation of variable stars (often called "variables") can be undertaken by amateurs for simple pleasure, as an educational exercise, as a contribution to serious scientific research, or all of these.

However, be warned. Many people over time and across the world have found the observation of variable stars to be addictive. Of course, the careful study of individual stars is not for everyone, but one of the great things about astronomy is the breadth of activities that an amateur can choose from. If you find that using you eyes to study variables is not attractive, you may consider the measurement of these stars using photoelectric instruments. These may be CCD cameras, or photoelectric photometers with photodiode or photomultiplier tube detectors such as those manufactured by Optec Inc. in the United States of America.

This document is intended to be a brief instruction manual for the visual observation of variables using binoculars and telescopes. A printable PDF version of the document is available (56KB). Observations can also be made with the unaided eye, but these would be limited to the brightest stars, and the change in brightness of these objects is not great. Therefore, most observers use optical instruments.

• Choice of an Optical Instrument
• Finding Variable Stars with "GoTo" Computerised Telescopes
• Finder and Comparison Star Charts
• Making Estimates of the Brightness (Magnitudes) of Variable Stars
• Optimizing the Accuracy of Your Estimates
• Organizations that Foster the Study of Variable Stars

I have found considerable pleasure in making estimates of the magnitudes of variable stars, and plotting light curves of my own observations. I think it is amazing that we can see, with our own eyes, using small optical instruments, the effects in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum of complex astrophysical phenomena in immense bodies of gas enormous distances from this planet.

Clear skies!

by Roy Axelsen
Director, Variable Star Section