1996 RESULTS

Reports received from Melvyn Taylor and Dave McAdam reveal that 43,800 observations were reported to the VSS during 1996. This includes (for the first time) those observations reported to Dave McAdam for inclusion in TA, and observations reported by the SPA VSS and RASNZ. Observations were reported on 522 stars, 377 telescopic and 145 binocular.

The TA observations are flagged as provisional in the database if they are sent without the full estimate. This now also applies to observations received from VSS members. It has been noted that some observers are sending their reports and are not including the full estimate. The VSS database is unique in that it includes complete details of the estimate made at the telescope, which is invaluable when it comes to checking reduced magnitudes, sequence entries and updating sequences automatically within the archive. It is our intention to keep the VSS database as accurate and as complete as possible, and this can only be achieved by archiving observations that are reported in full! Please be sure to include the estimate when submitting your reports to either secretary, otherwise your hard work during the year will only be regarded as provisional until full details of the observation are forthcoming.

The following table lists the main contributors and approximate totals during 1996. Thanks to everyone for a fine effort.

OBSERVER TOTAL G. Poyner 12,800+ ----- M. Gainsford 2,000+ W. Worraker ----- T. Markham 1,500+ M. Taylor J. Toone J. Day S. Albrighton ----- R. Patterson 1,000+ L. Brundle I. Middlemist ----- R. Bouma 750+ M. Nicholls ----- M. Gill 500+ G. Hurst R. Dryden D. Storey C. Munden -----	OBSERVER TOTAL M. Westlund 250+ L. Jensen D. Gill A. Baransky L. Monard J. Stubbings (RASNZ) G. Salmon W. Albrecht (RASNZ) J. Greaves N. Bone J. Meacham M. Clarke (SPA) ----- S. Godwin (SPA) 100+ K. Barnewll (SPA) C. Henshaw J. Coates (SPA) E. Horsley (SPA) K. Andersson D. Overbeek M. Barrett R. Fraser J. Andujar J. Thorpe R. Livesey
A further 29 observers each reported less than 100 estimates.

Not surprisingly, the best observed star was R CrB, with 1,181 estimates. Other stars with over 500 estimates each were... V723 Cas (N Cas 1995), T CrB, SS Cyg, RX And, Z Cam, CH Cyg and RU Peg. More importantly, the following 24 stars were not observed during 1996. Would observers please make a special effort to include some of these stars in their observing programmes.

CG CMa	V686 Mon	V2110 Oph	V1172 Sgr	V745 Sco	AS 289 (Ser)
TV Crv	V2204 Oph	T Pyx	V3645 Sgr	FR Sct	RW Vir
EX Hya	Hen 1341	V1017 Sgr	AS 245 (Sgr)	V443 Sct	RX Vir
PW Vul	QU Vul	QV Vul	NSV 2537	RW Hya	EX Hya

The following stars were grossly under-observed, with less than 20 estimates each during 1996.

SU And	AQ And	BZ And	R Aqr	Mark 509	UW Aql
SU Cnc	RT CVn	W CMa	DM Cep	WX Cet	R Com
TT Crt	IS Gem	SX Her	R Hya	U Hya	BL Lac
RS Leo	W UMi	SS Lep	W Lyn	X Lyn	V651 Mon
TX Psc	XY Psc	SS Vir	SW Vir	BK Vir

The response to the addition of a selection of Mike Collin's new and recovered variables to the programme has been somewhat disappointing, despite several observers frequently asking for more stars to be included within the 8-12 magnitude range. Well most of these are within that range! And what's more, close monitoring of these objects is vital in order to determine a range and period. No other observing group is monitoring these stars, so it's down to us to produce the observations. Please add some or all of these stars to your programme. Charts are available from John Toone.

Mike Collin's Stars:

TAV Stars which are named in GCVS