Registration Now Open for Fall CHOICE Courses!

The Fall Schedule of CHOICE courses has been set. Most courses are available to AAVSO members AND the general public.  Class size is limited to 15 people, so sign up as soon as you can to save a seat.​ Registrations are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and are handled through our online store. The fee for AAVSO members is $30.00. Non-members pay $50.00.

How To Use VPhot (August 11-September 5) Registration Now Open

This course is designed to teach observers how to use VPhot, the AAVSO’s cloud based photometry reduction software. You will learn how to upload and manage your image files, how to perform photometry on single images and time series, how to save your analyses and how to submit your results to the AAVSO. You do not have to own a CCD or have your own images. Sample images will be provided.

You must successfully complete exercises and weekly quizzes as well as a final examination to pass the course.

This course is only available to AAVSO members. If you would like to join the AAVSO click here.

Variable Star Classification and Light Curves (September 15-October 10) 
Registration Now Open

This course is an overview of the types of variable stars most commonly observed by AAVSO observers. We discuss the physical processes behind what makes each type variable and how this is demonstrated in their light curves. Variable star names and nomenclature are placed in a historical context to aid in understanding today’s classification scheme.

You must successfully complete weekly quizzes, a journal paper review and a final examination to pass the course.

NEW! DSLR Photometry (October 13-November 7) Registration Now Open

This course will utilize the new DSLR photometry manual as its guide. This manual is a basic introduction and guide to using a DSLR camera to make variable star observations. The target audience is first-time beginner to intermediate level DSLR observers, although advanced observers may find the content useful as well. 

This course is under development. More information will become available September - October, 2014.
 

How to use VStar (November 17-December 12) Registration Now Open

VStar is a free, open source, multi-platform application for visualizing and analyzing time-series data. VStar allows data to be viewed and filtered via plots or tables. The details of each observation can be viewed individually or in tabular form. You’ll learn how to create mean plots, phase plots, period analysis, models and perform time-frequency analyses.

You must successfully complete exercises and weekly quizzes as well as a final examination to pass the course.

VStar is written in the Java programming language, requiring at least version 1.6 to run on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and OpenSolaris.

Click here to register for classes.

For more information on CHOICE click here.