Citizen Science project: "Citizen Sky" (no BOINC included)

Bikeman (Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein)
Bikeman (Heinz-...
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Topic 194462

Hi all!

This looks like a nice project to generate interest for astronomy:

http://www.citizensky.org

The project is sponsored by the American Association of Variable Star Observers and aims at collecting data of the eclipse of a specific variable star, Epsilon Aurigae by a yet unknown dark object for the next two years or so, reducing the brightness of the star roughly by 50%. This happens every 27.1 years and it's not yet fully understood.

I think it's a nice introduction to variable star astronomy and a great opportunity to involve the public in a science project, just like BOINC, but aiming to harvest visual observation time rather than computation time. I'm not sure just how "necessary" the public participation is, but it seems to be fun and you'll learn a lot about photometry if you do it seriously, e.g, with a DSLR.

A video presentation by the project manager can be found here YouTube video (outtakes included :-) ).

BTW I'm afraid the star in question, Epsilon Aurigae, can not be observed from the southern hemisphere, sorry for the guys down under.

Bikeman

Rod
Rod
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Citizen Science project: "Citizen Sky" (no BOINC included)

Thanks for Posting Bikeman...

All signed up... as I plan to contribute...
With just a little bit of commitment you can learn so much..

There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot. - Aldo Leopold

Bikeman (Heinz-Bernd Eggenstein)
Bikeman (Heinz-...
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Joined: 28 Aug 06
Posts: 3522
Credit: 686139002
RAC: 550619

Asd a little follow up:

Asd a little follow up:

The eclipse of Epsilon Aurigae has definitely begun now, and Eps Aur is now fainter than the closest comparison star of comparable magnitite, eta Aur.

It is amazing what you can do in photometry with just a DSLR, interested hobby and amateur astronomers are still invited to help gather data.

CU
Bikeman

Rod
Rod
Joined: 3 Jan 06
Posts: 4396
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Just getting dark enough

Just getting dark enough skies to observe around 6:00 AM local time...

There are some who can live without wild things and some who cannot. - Aldo Leopold

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