AAVSO EUROPEAN CONFERENCE 1997

The AAVSO held a conference on the theme ‘New Frontiers’ in Sion, Switzerland on 1997 May 26 - 31. This was the second such venture into Europe following the meeting held in Belgium in 1990 which was reported in the publication ‘Variable Star Research: An International Perspective’ by Percy, Mattei and Sterkin, 1992, CUP.

This second meeting attracted 160 people from all over the world, divided evenly between professionals and amateurs.

The local organising committee under the chairmanship of Michel Grenon (Geneva Observatory) did a superb job of arranging all the diverse functions of such a meeting including outside trips to observatories and a conference dinner. Their reward was a highly successful event during a week of beautiful sunny weather which showed Switzerland at its best.

I attended as an individual (although not a member of the AAVSO). There being no official representation from the BAA VSS, we did not feature among groups from Argentina, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and, of course, the USA in presenting in the opening session a summary of activities and achievements.

The conference extended over five days and covered the following areas:-

• Mapping the Sky
  A review of the various surveys including those arising from satellite observations in spectral regions outside the visible. Particular emphasis was placed on the vast increase in data arising from the Hipparchos mission where, of the 118,200 stars surveyed to millimagnitude precision, 2712 were found to be periodic, 5540 non-periodic and 3300 were new discoveries. When these results become generally available a fundamental reappraisal of current programmes will surely follow.

• Astronomy Education.
  I did not attend this session but it is clear that a lot of delegates were concerned with this aspect which included the use of remotely controlled telescopes in the classroom.

• The Status of Stellar Variability.
  A major series of papers spread over three sessions on the observation and interpretation of pulsating variables, cataclysmics and symbiotics. Most of these were presented by professionals, but one fascinating paper by Grant Foster (AAVSO) showed how visual observations of Cepheids over long time spans (up to 30 years) gave periods of startling precision. This enabled the long term stability of these stars to be studied in considerable detail.

During the workshop there was much discussion on comparison star sequences. The BAA archives were recognised as being of worth not only for the long period of observations and for the fact that over one million had been computerised but, also, because they included the actual observation and not just the derived magnitudes. Thus they were capable of being adjusted at a later date.

There was a great deal of comment about the lack of agreement of comparison star sequences from different organisations and different catalogues. This presented a considerable problem to professionals and militated against the use of amateur data. This was the only time I contributed when I suggested that the procedures adopted by the International Standards Organisation might be adapted for the purpose. I hope I am right as I have promised to put together a scheme to promote international comparison star sequences!

Included in the proceedings were a large number of poster papers which each contributor was given one minute to describe to the conference. I submitted two on behalf of Crayford:- the discovery of SN 1996 bo and observations of a delta Scuti star using the Jack Ells APT.

Of the other poster papers - just to take two of contrasting styles:- Ron Royer (USA) showed how there were still problems of red leakage in filters for CCDs. Even stacking IR filters does not seem to solve the problem.

The other, by Tonny Vanmuster (Belgium), dealt with the magnificent efforts by the Centre for Backyard Astrophysics (CBA), which is a multi-longitude network of small photometric telescopes. Brian Warner described the CBA as undertaking ‘amazing science’ and well he might. So far there are 14 observing sites spread over 9 countries. It was understood that the UK will make the 10th in 1997.

On top of the scientific proceedings there were other events arranged by the organising committee. These included a visit to St. Luc to see the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Observatory (60 cm reflector, 20 cm refractor and coelostat at 7,000 feet), followed by a wine party and the conference dinner and awards presentation. A tour of the city of Sion was undertaken and a concert at the church on the world’s oldest playable organ was arranged. Immediately following the conference an optional trip to Zermatt was organised to visit the Gornergrat observatory (1.5 metre reflector and 3 metre radio telescope at 10,000 feet) close by the Matterhorn.

One final local matter. The AAVSO takes note of the individual observations which mark a milestone in the total number of measurements received. Thus, as each millionth observation comes in the individual is designated an AAVSO millionaire. The eighth millionaire is Gary Poyner.

I am sure that many members of the BAA VSS would have thoroughly enjoyed this conference which was by no means overwhelmingly American in flavour but, instead, was truly international in character. The proceedings are to be published in the Conference Series of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. These volumes are available at very attractive prices and I urge all members of the section to purchase their own copy. Perhaps we should arrange a shipping order? The next European conference could well be after a shorter interval of time than hitherto - possibly in four years. Make sure you are available to attend - you will not be disappointed.