Lack of global cover

Hello Bill,

We do have a number of Japanese (and now Chinese) observers that contribute data to the AAVSO, and we have a small number of observers in south Asia as well.  Historically, the Japanese community have maintained their own archives (VSOLJ) just as the BAA, RASNZ, AFOEV, and others have done; the VSOLJ archives through at least mid-2005 are served through their own website.  Current observations are also often posted to the VSNET mailing lists (including many observers outside of Japan, too).  So some data are available, they're just not necessarily in the AAVSO archives.  That doesn't solve the issue you mention of important events not being reported in a timely manner, but VSNET does a reasonable job of that if you are on their email list.

That said, I do think having AAVSO-affiliated observers in those countries is a good idea.  Outreach to communities with their own language can be challenging, but not impossible given that English is a common second language.  We created versions of the Visual Observing Manual in both Japanese and Chinese with cooperation with native speakers in those countries, and they've been well-received.  I'm very pleased to see observers (young observers at that) from China joining and contributing on a fairly regular basis.

Matthew

While researching an observation today, I noticed that there are 492,778 observations in the International Database for SS Cyg!  Perhaps there are small gaps in coverage for a specific outburst, but overall, the coverage for the past century has been consistently good.  As Matt says, there are observers in the Asian longitudes, so for many stars, there is complete 360 degree coverage, just not always available from a single website.

Arne

I cover the UT xx.3 to xx.6 from Hawaii, but it appears I am really the only regularly contributing AAVSO observer out here :(

Solving this problem is a general problem of recruiting observers to a degree, but it does seem odd why there are relatively so few observers here, given the population over a million on these islands and the wonderful observing conditions year-round. I do understand the general issue of low interest in, and poor quality of science education in the public school systems, at least, though.

You also must realize that this longitude interval covers the largest ocean on the planet!

Mike LMK

Thank you, Mathhew.
Your information about Japanease Variable star observation data is perfect.
But, I add some additional information.

The latest  observation data from VSOLJ members are available at http://www.cetus-net.org/cgi-bin/obs_search.cgi
They are automatically stored via our mailing list (of course ML in Japanease language).
#So, they are not validated well, yet.

But we (Japanese variable star observers) have  some problem.
Most young Japanese variable star observers lived in urban area and they don't have a telescope.
They do not monitor SS Cyg even though SS Cyg can be observed with binoculars.
And most old Japanease visual observers are not active in recent year.
Many active observers do CCD time-series photometry and do not monitor SS Cyg frequently.
 

                                           Seiichiro Kiyota, Japan

KWS (Kiso/Kyoto Wide-field Survey) detected recent outburst of SS Cyg.
http://kws.cetus-net.org/~maehara/VSdata.py?object=SS+Cyg&plot=1&submit…

KWS is camera lens+ CCD monitor in V and Ic operated by Dr. Hiroyuki Maehara at Kiso Observatory, University of Tokyo.

I also operate similar camera lens + CCD monitor in only Ic at my home and detected the latest outburst of SS Cyg.
http://meineko.sakura.ne.jp/ccd/SSCyg-130807.jpg

My survey data are available at http://meineko.dyndns.org/~meineko/
But I did not analyzed recent images and stored data yet.
#I will do it in a few days.

                                                Seiichiro Kiyota, Japan

Hi there Mike,

Naturally you came to mind when I initiated the “Lack of Global Cover” contribution in “Forum”. I'd intuited that there was this curious lack of interest in Hawaii, and I know you're something of a specialist with that big Dob!

Never-the-less, generating more interest in Hawaii would largely solve the problem. If I wasn't rather advanced in years I'd be over there myself – I can assure you!

You've seen the comments from Japan: they're either mewed up in cities or up to their knees in cables and copious hardware...pity!

I wonder, therefore, if you might use your clout, and considerable reputation to promote matters in The Pacific?

Bill. (billwilson@bluebottle.com)

The Global Time Zone Gap.

Without wishing to labour the point; this lacuna is very well highlighted by sourcing the light curve of SS Cygni in the past ten day period; (enclosed). Not only is the latter phase of the rise excluded but we see the regular punctuation of data in the immediately proceeding period.

PS. The more we look the more we see! This interruption, of course, runs through the entire sequence.

The recent appearance of N Del 2013 answers some of our questions. There are observers out there in Japan and China, but it takes a bright nova to sufficiently motivate them to contribute. How can we sell these observers dwarf novae, and the like?

Hi, all,

During disscussions in this topics, I noticed some sad fact.
There are only few observations of SS Cyg in Winter and Spring in Japan.
Also, there are no young Japanease amateur observers who are interested in monitering of outburst of dwarf novae, recemtly.

For old observers including me, monitoering of DNs are one of most attractive fileds of variable star observing for amateuer.
We need to encourage young Japanease observers and explain how monitering of DNs are fun.

Seiichiro Kiyota, Japan