Advancing Variable Star Astronomy
The Centennial History of the American Association of Variable Star Observers

As the definitive history of the AAVSO, this text will interest amateur and professional astronomers, historians and sociologists alike.

Thomas R. Williams (Author), Michael Saladyga (Author)

9780521519120, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 May 2011

448 pages, 128 b/w illus.
25.4 x 19.7 x 2.6 cm, 1.1 kg

'I highly recommend this book to those interested in the changing partnership between amateur and professional astronomy from the late nineteenth through the early twenty-first centuries.' Journal for the History of Astronomy

Founded in 1911, the AAVSO boasts over 1200 members and observers and is the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to variable star observation. This timely book marks the AAVSO's centennial year, presenting an authoritative and accurate history of this important association. Writing in an engaging and accessible style, the authors move chronologically through five eras of the AAVSO, discussing the evolution of its structure and purpose. Throughout the text, the main focus is on the thousands of individuals whose contributions have made the AAVSO's progress possible. Describing a century of interaction between amateur and professional astronomers, the authors celebrate the collaborative relationships that have existed over the years. As the definitive history of the first hundred years of the AAVSO, this text has broad appeal and will be of interest to amateur and professional astronomers, as well as historians and sociologists of science in general.

Preface
Part I. Pioneers in Variable Star Astronomy Prior to 1909: 1. The emergence of variable star astronomy – a need for observations
2. A need for observers
Part II. The Founding of the AAVSO – The William Tyler Olcott Era: 3. The amateur's amateur
4. Amateurs in the service of science
Part III. The Leon Campbell Era: 5. Leon Campbell to the rescue
6. Formalizing relationships
7. The Pickering Memorial Endowment
8. Fading of the Old Guard
9. Growing pains and distractions
Part IV. The Service Bureau – The Margaret Mayall Era: 10. Learning about independence
11. Eviction from Harvard College Observatory
12. Actions and reactions
13. In search of a home
14. Survival on Brattle Street
15. AAVSO achievements
16. Breathing room on Concord Avenue
Part V. Analysis and Science: The Janet Mattei Era: 17. The growth of a director
18. Learning the ropes the hard way
19. Managing with renewed confidence
20. Expanding the scientific charter
Part VI. Accelerating Observational Science – The Arne Henden Era: 21. Bridging the gap
22. Accelerating the science – the Henden era begins
Epilogue
Appendices
Index.

Subject Areas: Astronomy, space & time [PG], Mathematics & science [P]