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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251201
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260101
DTSTAMP:20260423T050344
CREATED:20250815T202438Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250815T202438Z
UID:3522-1764547200-1767225599@wp-live.aavso.org
SUMMARY:CHOICE Course: Spectroscopy
DESCRIPTION:Instructors: Steven Shore and Brian Kloppenborg \nDescription to follow\, dates to be confirmed.
URL:https://wp-live.aavso.org/event/choice-course-spectroscopy/
LOCATION:Forums
CATEGORIES:CHOICE Course
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251006
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251101
DTSTAMP:20260423T050344
CREATED:20250924T100139Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250924T100806Z
UID:4260-1759708800-1761955199@wp-live.aavso.org
SUMMARY:CHOICE Course: Observing and Counting Sunspots
DESCRIPTION:Instructor: Raffaello Braga. \nObserving and counting sunspots is one of the most important and simple methods for monitoring the activity of our nearest star. This four weeks course will provide the fundamentals of visually and photographically observing\, monitoring\, and recording sunspots with the aim of involving participants in the determination of the American Relative Sunspot Number (RA). This is an effective index of the solar photospheric activity used by amateurs and professionals worldwide. It has been recorded by AAVSO since 1944 with the purpose of maintaining a long-running and consistent database for the use of solar researchers worldwide. \nThe course will focus on several topics: equipment\, safety issues\, basic concepts about sunspot activity\, morphology\, classification and evolution\, recording and reporting sunspot observations both visually and photographically\, using software for measuring sunspot positions\, basic concepts on solar white light digital imaging and how it can usefully complement visual observations and sunspot counts. We’ll also see how solar probe images can be helpful for the amateur observer’s work. \nThe course will consider only white light observations of the Sun. They can be carried out with a very modest telescope and a commercial solar filter and do not require any expensive equipment. Narrowband (e.g. H-alpha) observing and imaging are outside the scope of the course\, however these topics can be discussed informally for those interested in this kind of activity. \nThere are no prerequisites for participating. The course is open to everybody\, even to absolute beginners in solar observing. However more experienced observers may be interested to join for discussing in detail some of the topics and for contributing to the course with their own experience.
URL:https://wp-live.aavso.org/event/choice-course-observing-and-counting-sunspots/
LOCATION:Forums
CATEGORIES:CHOICE Course
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250929
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251103
DTSTAMP:20260423T050344
CREATED:20250815T202011Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250924T094233Z
UID:3516-1759104000-1762127999@wp-live.aavso.org
SUMMARY:CHOICE Course: Photometry Using VPhot
DESCRIPTION:Instructor: Ken Menzies. \nThis course is designed to teach observers how to conduct photometry using VPhot\, the AAVSO’s cloud-based photometry reduction software. The main objective is to understand “best photometric practices” by independently conducting exercises which utilize VPhot as the photometry tool. You will learn (1) how to upload and manage your image files\, (2) how to create suitable sequences\, (3) how to perform differential aperture photometry on single images and time series\, (4) how to generate transformation coefficients using TG\, (5) how to transform your magnitudes to the standard system\, (6) how to save your analyses\, and (7) how to submit your results to the AAVSO. You do not have to own a CCD or have your own images since sample images will be provided. \nYou should complete rigorous daily exercises\, and must complete weekly quizzes as well as a final examination to pass the course. \nThis course is only available to AAVSO members. Click here if you would like to join the AAVSO.
URL:https://wp-live.aavso.org/event/choice-course-photometry-using-vphot/
LOCATION:Forums
CATEGORIES:CHOICE Course
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250804
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250901
DTSTAMP:20260423T050344
CREATED:20250924T095504Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250924T101129Z
UID:4250-1754265600-1756684799@wp-live.aavso.org
SUMMARY:CHOICE Course: Developing a Visual Observing Program
DESCRIPTION:Instructor: Mike Poxon \nThis four week course is designed to help visual observers get the most enjoyment and scientific return from the observing programs they develop\, based on each individuals’ equipment\, observing conditions and interests. To successfully complete this course you must provide in writing\, two documents. \n\nA complete observer profile (a sample will be provided)\nA list of stars appropriate for your primary observing equipment\, observing site and conditions\, frequency of observing sessions\, scientific merit and fun factor (a sample will be provided).
URL:https://wp-live.aavso.org/event/choice-course-developing-a-visual-observing-program/
LOCATION:Forums
CATEGORIES:CHOICE Course
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250804
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250901
DTSTAMP:20260423T050344
CREATED:20250815T201806Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250815T201806Z
UID:3514-1754265600-1756684799@wp-live.aavso.org
SUMMARY:CHOICE Course: Observational Best Practices
DESCRIPTION:Instructor: Arne Henden \nIn 2023\, a dedicated group of 10 AAVSO members spent months in reviewing the AAVSO International Database and interviewed many observers\, with the goals of both finding quality deficiencies in submitted observations\, as well as suggesting many ways in which that quality could be improved. Some of the suggestions fall directly on the AAVSO headquarters staff\, such as enhancing the automatic data checking in programs like WebObs. However\, a large number of other suggestions fall under the category of best observational practices. \nThis course will consider a few of these practices\, with the hopes that improving your observational techniques will enable you to make better measurements\, and enhance your confidence in the quality of your submitted photometry. Over the course of about 6 weeks\, we will discuss one or more topics per week\, showing examples of possible problems\, give some suggestions as to how these problems could be solved\, and provide daily homework to help you learn the techniques. \nThe initial course will be carried out on a forum\, and will be geared towards CCD/CMOS observers using photometric UBVRI filters. If you don’t have your own equipment\, or have inclement weather during the instructional period\, images taken with AAVSOnet telescopes will be made available. VPHOT will be used to share images. The class will be limited to 30 participants.
URL:https://wp-live.aavso.org/event/choice-course-observational-best-practices/
LOCATION:Forums
CATEGORIES:CHOICE Course
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250707
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250804
DTSTAMP:20260423T050344
CREATED:20250815T201505Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250815T201505Z
UID:3511-1751846400-1754265599@wp-live.aavso.org
SUMMARY:CHOICE Course: Variable Star Classification and Light Curves
DESCRIPTION:Instructor: Blake Crosby. \nThis course is an overview of the types of variable stars most often observed by AAVSO observers. We explain the construction of light curves and phase diagrams. We discuss the physical processes behind what makes each type of variable and how this is demonstrated in their light curves. We link these salient features of the light curve to common observing practices for each type. Variable star names and nomenclature are placed in a historical context to aid in understanding today’s classification scheme. \nYou must successfully complete weekly quizzes and a final examination to pass the course.
URL:https://wp-live.aavso.org/event/choice-course-variable-star-classification-and-light-curves/
LOCATION:Forums
CATEGORIES:CHOICE Course
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250526
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250723
DTSTAMP:20260423T050344
CREATED:20250815T200741Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250815T201210Z
UID:3501-1748217600-1753228799@wp-live.aavso.org
SUMMARY:CHOICE Course: How to Use VStar
DESCRIPTION:Instructor: Aritra Das \nThis course is intended to provide participants with a systematic coverage of VStar’s current functionality\, an appreciation of the ways in which it can be extended\, and how it can be used for variable star data visualization and analysis. \nYou’ll learn how to create mean plots\, phase plots\, and perform simple period analysis. This is not a course on statistics but relevant statistical concepts as they apply to the use of VStar will be introduced through reading and discussion. \nYou must successfully complete exercises and weekly quizzes as well as a final examination to pass the course. \nVStar is written in the Java programming language\, requiring at least version 1.6 to run on Windows\, Mac OS X\, Linux\, and OpenSolaris.
URL:https://wp-live.aavso.org/event/choice-how-to-use-vstar/
LOCATION:Forums
CATEGORIES:CHOICE Course
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250324
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250503
DTSTAMP:20260423T050344
CREATED:20250815T195539Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250924T101345Z
UID:3494-1742774400-1746230399@wp-live.aavso.org
SUMMARY:CHOICE Course: CCD Photometry
DESCRIPTION:Instructor: Ed Wiley. \nCCD1 and CCD2 have been combined into a single six-week course. We will use the AAVSO Guide to CCD/CMOS Photometry as our basic reference. \nThis course will use the AAVSO platform VPhot as the basic software for performing tasks such as measuring variables. A brief introduction to VPhot is provided but is not a substitute for taking the CHOICE VPhot course. Students who are not members of AAVSO will be provided temporary access to VPhot for purposes of the course. \nThis course does not require students to have any equipment\, not even a telescope. It does require students to have software for calibrating images and software for graphing data (example\, a spreadsheet program). All images used in the first two weeks can be downloaded and processed by the student’s software. All images for the last four weeks will be available to all students as fully calibrated images uploaded to a common VPhot telescope account. When you log onto VPhot those images will appear in your list of images. \nTopics covered in the first three weeks are found in Chapters 1-4 of the Guide and include system testing and basic image calibrations from bias and dark frame subtraction to flat fielding. Of interest to experienced astrophotographers are topics such as camera linearity\, field-of-view as it relates to differential photometry\, signal and noise as they relate to calibration and science images\, the nature of photometric filters\, and differences between CCD and CMOS cameras. \nTopics covered in the last three weeks cover Chapters 5-7 of the Guide include the basics of differential photometry\, picking comparison and check stars\, ensemble techniques\, and measuring variable magnitudes using differential photometry. We will discuss the statistical nature of measurement uncertainty and strategies of accessing the results of measuring a variable. The last two weeks concentrate on using standard star fields to determine transformation coefficients and how to apply those coefficients to transform data into the Standard System for color. We will then finish the course by using variable stars for comparing transformed and non-transformed magnitude estimates and explore ways to evaluate your results. \nSuccess in completing CCD Photometry requires active participation in the Forum discussions and completion of exercises. Participants should plan on devoting sufficient time to the course. \nStudents are assumed to have suitable software and know how to use it for such activities as taking\, manipulating\, and analyzing images. If not\, please inform the instructor. For photometric analysis the courses actively support the use of AAVSO’s VPhot tool. Before enrolling\, please consult the AAVSO Guide to CCD/CMOS Photometry for comments on software. If you are buying photometric filters pay close attention to the spectral characteristics to ensure that they match the Johnson-Cousins color profile.
URL:https://wp-live.aavso.org/event/choice-ccd-photometry/
LOCATION:Forums
CATEGORIES:CHOICE Course
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250210
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250311
DTSTAMP:20260423T050344
CREATED:20250815T194358Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250815T201322Z
UID:3485-1739145600-1741651199@wp-live.aavso.org
SUMMARY:CHOICE Course: Introduction to Exoplanet Observing
DESCRIPTION:Instructor: Dennis Conti \nThe purpose of this course is to provide newcomers to exoplanet observing with the background and skills necessary to conduct high quality exoplanet observations. The course will be conducted via a series of 1.5-hour interactive Zoom sessions held once a week at 7:30pm ET for 5 consecutive weeks. \nThe course will begin with an overview of the various types of exoplanets\, the techniques used to detect them\, and why ground-based observations are necessary to supplement space-based telescopes. Emphasis will be placed on the “transit” detection method. The course will then review the best practices in conducting exoplanet observations\, including the minimal set of instrumentation and the steps needed to conduct an exoplanet observation. Participants will also be taught the use of AstroImageJ—an all-in-one (freeware) software package that is used by both professional and amateur astronomers when conducting exoplanet observations. \n“A Practical Guide to Exoplanet Observing\,’ the latest version of which can be found at http://astrodennis.com\, will be used as the basis for the course. Also\, during the first week of the course\, participants will be asked to install the latest version of AIJ (instructions on how to do so will be provided to course registrants). \nAlthough not required\, familiarity with the use of CCD or CMOS cameras for deep sky imaging would be beneficial. \nSuccessful completion of the course will be based on attendance and participation during the live sessions. In addition\, participants will be expected to complete a weekly assignment after each session.
URL:https://wp-live.aavso.org/event/choice-introduction-to-exoplanet-observing/
CATEGORIES:CHOICE Course
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