Author Archives: Gustav Holmberg
VStar
My work – “work”, this is supposed to be amateur astronomy! – in variable star astronomy is mainly observational. I love being out under the sky, estimating variables using the time-tested tools of variabilists that’s been around since, well, Argelander’s … Continue reading
Comet 168P/Hergenrother
I observed comet 168P/Hergenrother yesterday, at October 6.88 (UT). Instrument: 20 cm Newton, 120 x. Location: Lund, Sweden. Sky: moderate quality, city lights. The coma was estimated to be 0.5′ and the magnitude 9.8 (Tycho catalogue comparison stars). The comet … Continue reading
Printing
I’m printing a new batch of charts for variable star observing; in this electronic age, I still prefer to have paper charts with sequences of compstars with me out at the telescope. For one thing, they can handle the damp … Continue reading
SS Cyg in outburst
Yesterday I observed SS Cygni at 11.2 and 11.1, the early stages of an outburst.
Time for a nova?
Since I got back to amateur astronomy in November 2011, after a hiatus since around 1990, I’ve had the opportunity to observe several types of objects and celestial phenomena: a total lunar eclipse; U Geminorum in outburst; a fading of … Continue reading
4C 32.55
When reducing CCD images in Vphot, I often get several variables in the field, other than the star intended, especially with wide field instruments such as the iTelescope 10 cm refractor. The other day, as I was analysing observations of … Continue reading
Miras in the Kepler field
We run a programme of studying 50 neglected miras in the Swedish variable star community. After having found out, by chance, that one of the stars was in the Kepler field, I decided to check out if more of our … Continue reading
Neglected miras
Here is a status report (in Swedish) for the project on 50 neglected miras observed by SAAF/SVO observers. Update: Thomas Karlsson has made a page that gives an overview of the observations in SAAF V/SVO programme of neglected Miras.
Variable star observers meet in Gothenburg
Just came back from the very inspiring spring meeting of SVO/SAAF Swedish variable star observers. Here are some pictures:
KK Aurigae
I’ve been observing KK Aurigae for some six weeks or so. It is situated close to YY Aurigae, a star I am observing for a programme on neglected Miras together with some fellow Swedish amateurs, and sometimes it ends up … Continue reading
