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Johannesburg Centre,
Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
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Variable of the Month Readers,
Chart for Variable of the Month
Regarding the Variable of the Month Articles. I, for one, was disappointed not to have Danie's usual informative article on the Variable of the Month in the January issue of Canopus. Not that I have ever put his suggestions into practice, being more of an armchair astronomer. Yet his articles have always been entertaining and encouraging in the sense of knowing that there is at least someone out there doing really useful work.This brings me to the main point of my letter. I still remember the monthly meeting, many years ago now, when Danie gave us all a practical lesson in variable star observing. There were several telescopes set up and we all had a go at trying to estimate the brightness of a particular variable using the charts and instructions given to us by Danie. I don't think I even found any of the variables he wanted us to see, but I do recall his infectious enthusiasm for the subject. I remember he got us all excited over Eta Carinae in case it should suddenly brighten dramatically - perhaps we might even be the one to see it happen if we were to become regular observers. Keep up the good work Danie, some of us do read your articles and perhaps one night we might even observe something for ourselves! Graham Tremeer. PS How about repeating the practical lessons at some future meeting? |
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