Blog
Fall 2021 DoubleSTARS Seminar Starts 9/22/21
Our Fall DoubleSTARS seminar will start on September 22 for all graduates of IntroSTARS who have passed the...
Exoplorer Seminar Begins August 4
Register now for our Exoplorer introduction to exoplanets and photometry seminar. In 6 weeks you will be making...
DoubleSTARS seminar – Starts February 17
Do astronomical research and write your first scientific paper for publication. Each Wednesday night at 8:00 we...
DoubleSTARS starting soon – sign up now
Experience science and be published. The Fall DoubleSTARS Seminar will start on September 22. Passing the FREE...
Using GIMP For Color Images
This lesson explains how to use the free image manipulation software GIMP to transform and colorize astronomy images.
Exoplanets
This lesson provides an overview of understanding, imaging, and analyzing exoplanets.
Bad Image Examples
This lesson provides multiple examples of poor-quality images and explains both the reasoning behind the results and some of the specific cases in which they may still be of use.
Seeing
Seeing is an important concept that describes how clear an image's subject is when viewed through the Earth's atmosphere.
Earth’s Atmosphere
A severely limiting obstacle, the Earth's atmosphere must be well understood and carefully considered when working in the field of astronomical imaging and science.
Planning Your Image – Non-Moving Object
This lesson guides the viewer through the process of preparing for an imaging run for an unmoving object in the night sky.
AAVSO Areas of Interest
The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) serves as a dedicated research and outreach organization that allows both professionals and amateurs contribute to the vast and dynamic field of variable star research in countless unique ways.
Understanding the 6th Orbital Catalog
The 6th orbital catalog serves as a hub for proposed orbital solutions, while the published Sixth Catalog contains only orbits of the highest grade.
Flow of A Photometry Project
This lesson discusses the basic outline and design of a photometry project from identification of an object to the final stages of measurement and analysis.
Calculating Magnitude
This lesson explains how to utilize aperture photometry to calculate the magnitude of a given object.
APASS
The AAVSO Photometric All-Sky Survey (APASS) is a key all-sky survey that helps various research programs measure, adjust, and standardize their photometric systems.
Point Spread Function (PSF)
Point Spread Function (PSF) uses known optical behaviors of both stellar light and the imaging system to decrease the complexity of images and create visual separation between objects for more accurate study.
Aperture Photometry
Aperture Photometry, key to all studies in photometry, is one of the two most common methods of measuring the flux output of a star and is the most accurate when used with non-crowded images.
Photometry an Overview
The science of photometry is the measurement of the changes in flux of objects, and it's a crucial component of researching variable stars.
Group Extrinsic
The extrinsic classification refers to eclipsing, rotating, and microlensing variable stars, all of which have flux variations as a result of external stellar factors.
Variable Stars and Collaboration with the AAVSO
An international non-profit encompassing both amateur and professional astronomers, the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) provides assistance with stellar activity monitoring, statistical analysis, and many more key components of astronomical research.