A number of papers have been written discussing visual magnitude estimates in comparison to photometry. Multiple studies have shown that visual magnitude estimates compare very favorably with instrumental photometry in terms of sensitivity and consistency. As with all data, care must be taken to understand what visual magnitude estimates represent, what their bandpass is, and when their use is appropriate.
The following papers, published in the Journal of the AAVSO and elsewhere, provide information for researchers interested in using visual magnitude estimates in their studies of variable stars.
- Moon, T.T., Otero, S.A., and Kiss, L.L., 2008, Combining Visual and Photoelectric Observations of Semiregular Red Variables, JAAVSO 36, 77
- Zissell, R.E., 2003, Transformation of AAVSO Archive Visual Data to the Johnson V System, JAAVSO 31, 128
- Stanton, R.H., 1999, Visual Magnitudes and the "Average Observer": The SS Cygni Field Experiment, JAAVSO 27, 97
- Collins, P.L., 1999, Modeling Visual Photometry I: Preliminary Determination of Visual Bandpass, JAAVSO 27, 65
- Zissell, R.E., 1998, Evolution of the "Real" Visual Magnitude System, JAAVSO 26, 151
- Lawson, W.A., Cotrell, P.L., and Bateson, F.M., 1990, The Light Curve of the R Coronae Borealis Star NSV 6708 (V854 Centauri) and the Accuracy of Visual Estimates, JAAVSO 19, 33
- Williams, D.B., 1987, An Observational Demonstration of Angle Error in Visual Magnitude Estimates, JAAVSO 16, 118
- Howarth, I.A., 1979, Photoelectric and Visual Magnitudes, JAAVSO 8,26
- Steffey, P.C., 1978, Visual Versus Photoelectric Stellar Magnitudes: Theory and Comparison With Observations, JAAVSO 7, 10
- Landis, H.J., 1977, Observational Differences Between Human Eye and Photoelectric Visual Photometry, JAAVSO 6, 4