Looking for good variable star book

[JoeP]

After @Mr Spock's talk at SGL17, I'm looking for a good book/online chart with a list of variable stars, sky maps and a space to log my observations. I'm not too interested in terms of the science behind variable stars, just observing them. Any suggestions?

[des anderson]

If memory serves me well the Webb Society a book on variable stars or the web will come up with some gems. Des

[Mr Spock]

Here are a couple of places to get charts:

http://www.britastro.org/vss/    - All current BAA Variable Star Charts plus lots of other resources. Many are free but for some you have to be a member.

https://www.aavso.org/apps/vsp/    - AAVSO Variable Star Chart Plotter. The main site also has lots of other resources.

Also attached is an excel spreadsheet I use to record observations. I've left some data in so you can see how it works. Enter data in the blue areas and it will populate the rest. The area on the right is laid out in the same format as the BAA VSS submission spreadsheet so you can copy and paste observations straight into their spreadsheet (should you wish to join).

Observations Blank.xlsx

[Red meteor]

BAA shop has "observing guide to variable stars" at £2.75. Loads of charts for free download on the website. Have fun observing. 

Graham

[JoeP]

Thanks. I downloaded the spreadsheet from the britastro site and made a few extra calculations to find the best VSs. Just out of interest, how many variable stars are you logging at any one time?

Raw variable list[323].xlsx

[Mr Spock]

1 minute ago, JoeP said:

how many variable stars are you logging at any one time?

Currently about 20. In my prime, back in the '90s, it was 120+ per night - well over 3000 observations per year 

[JoeP]

3 minutes ago, Mr Spock said:

Currently about 20. In my prime, back in the '90s, it was 120+ per night - well over 3000 observations per year 

120 it is then. Thanks!

[Mr Spock]

That is a substantial commitment! If you hit that target you'll be in the top ten BAA VSS observers. 

[DHEB]

On 10/20/2017 at 20:57, JoeP said:

After @Mr Spock's talk at SGL17, I'm looking for a good book/online chart with a list of variable stars, sky maps and a space to log my observations. I'm not too interested in terms of the science behind variable stars, just observing them. Any suggestions?

I am bit late to this post. I would recommend any of these two, according to your wish of the book focusing only on the observational part:

• David Levy. Observing variable stars. A guide for the beginner.
• Gerry Good. Observing variable stars.

In particular, David Levy's book can be found cheap used, specially the old version from 1989.

The AAVSO's visual observing manual is also a good starting point.

There was a discussion a while ago about books on variable stars over at CN. You might want to have a look there.

Good luck!