The Impact of Large Optical Surveys on Stellar Astronomy and Variable Star Research (Abstract)

Volume 45 number 1 (2017)

Zeljko Ivezic

University of Washington, 2555 NE 85th Street, Seattle, WA 98115; ivezic@astro.washington.edu

Abstract

(Abstract only) The advent of large optical surveys, such as SDSS, ongoing Pan-STARRS and Gaia, and soon to start LSST, has delivered unprecedentedly large and precise datasets. These new data have already enabled major new research areas and the impact of surveys is expected to grow further over the next few decades. I discuss how to use public data, such as from SDSS SkyServer, to select most interesting stars for followup, and show a few specific examples of my collaboration with amateur variable star observers.