Observing Dwarf Cepheids for Fun and Profit

Volume 7 number 1 (1978)

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John R. Percy

Department of Astronomy,

Robert Dick

Rolf Meier

Douglas Welch

Abstract

Dwarf Cepheids are pulsating variable stars with periods of 1 to 6 hours and amplitudes of 0.3m to 1.0m. Visual observers can therefore follow them through one or more cycles on a single night, and see the results of their observations almost immediately. Such observations are useful in studies of the period changes in these stars, which in turn can shed some light on the evolutionary status of the stars. As an example, some recent observations of CY Aqr are analyzed and discussed. NOTE: an erratum is published in JAAVSO (1978) Vol. 7, 110