How to Improve Reliability of Visual Data of Eclipsing Binaries (Abstract)

Volume 35 number 1 (2007)

J. Silhan

Abstract

(Abstract only) Most amateur data on eclipsing binaries are still obtained by visual methods. The results of these observations have usually been published as lists of minima timings. A portion (several percent) of these timings have proven to be false—i.e., they do not correspond to any eclipse that would really take place in the binary system in question. These false minima considerably damage the reputation of all data on eclipsing binaries provided by amateur astronomers. In order to limit the number of such errors, a new way of organizing visual observations is recommended.