SPP Newsletter Number 5 has been posted. As I am finishing my stint as SPP science advisor, it seemed appropriate in the newsletter to look back on the history of SPP observing in the AAVSO. Among the antecedents of the SPP section are the AAVSO Classical Cepheid and RR Lyrae committees, both established in the 1960s. Presentations in the 1960s and 1970s by Dorrit Hoffleit’s summer students (including future director Janet Akyuz Mattei) also encouraged interest in short period pulsating stars. Some examples of recent SPP studies and a discussion of the RR Lyrae star XZ Dra are also included. – Horace Smith
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Horace,
You might be interested to know I have a paper in works with BVRcIc LCs for around 65 long-period cepheids that I have observed the last 5 years or so. Paper is maybe 70% done. Most are P longer than 10d with a few less than that. When done it will be a nice jumping off point for the SPP to continue in the long-term. Who will be replacing you? Any way to contact you in the next months to take a look at the paper and give feed-back?
Jim (DEY)
Jim (DEY),
That sounds as though it will be a great paper. It will continue and expand the Cepheid program championed by Tom Cragg six decades ago. I don’t know who will join the SPP program as my replacement, but Eric Hintz and Gerry Samolyk will continue as SPP leaders. And I won’t be disappearing from the group. You can email me using the address on the SPP newsletters. I look forward to learning more about your observing program. – Horace
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