VSO Planning

Abstract

“What variable stars are observable by me at my particular geographical location, during each season, and with my particular equipment?” are also concerns for variable-star observers. A well-developed plan will assist you in answering these questions, and many more, while at the same time directing your activities so that you can begin to prepare to observe variable stars with confidence and little wasted time. Without a plan, you’ll struggle while making preparations. And without a plan it’s easy to get sidetracked, distracted or waste time looking for stars that are just not in a good position for you to observe. If you believe that you’re not the type to become distracted, imagine exploring the sky between Scorpius and Sagittarius, perhaps on a clear night letting your eye wander over near ρ Ophiuchus, or depending upon the season, looping through Orion “the Hunter”, across the line of belt stars and on to the Great nebula. If you don’t believe that you can’t be seduced, at least delayed, when viewing the double cluster in Perseus, the Cygnus loop, the Tarantula nebula in Dorado, or the Great Andromeda galaxy, then you really haven’t been behind a telescope’s eyepiece in awhile. These are all magnificent sights, typical of what you’ll come across while observing, and much like the Siren’s song, they can tempt you into altering your course so that you never reach your original destination.

Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work …

Daniel H. Burnham