One of the things we like to do in the ASE is monitor a set of varable stars. We’ve been doing this over the past couple of years, mostly – but not exclusively – with our telescope in Spain, ASERO.
Various members are responsible for processing the data for each star as it comes in. Here’s a snapshot of the light curves with our data highlighted in blue. All data are submitted to the BAA and AAVSO and we often take part in their campaigns. Data from AAVSO’s VStar.
T CrB, the so-called “blaze star”, which is definitely not blazing, has a chart with just ASE members’ data, showing just how much coverage we have given it.
SU UMa underwent a super-outburst as well as a couple of smaller ones, which we captured.
V730 Cep is coming to the end of its AAVSO campain at the end of August 2025. It has had a series of dips, including a deep one recently.
We recently were able to start capturing GK Per again after it became more accessible.
Z UMi proved tricky for a while, being so close to the pole but we were able to follow it through its most recent deep, sooty dip.
BL Lac is not a variable star as such but an active galactic nucleus, the protoype of the class of objects known as BL Lacertae objects. The variability is possibly due to the relativistic jet of material ejected from the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy. Based on past data it looks due for another outburst soon.
There are other objects we follow occasionally and will be adding more to our target set next soon.
Mark Phillips
Banner image: a stack of all data captured on V730 Cep
