Welcome to the AAVSO Education and Public Outreach (EPO) webpage!

Here you can find out about our projects, programs, and activities. We also provide access to resources to help you in your own EPO activities.

Education and Public Outreach is important for the AAVSO ...

Tio attract, train, and retain new variable star observers and members of all ages

Tio increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation of variable star astronomy, and variable star observing among amateur and professional astronomers, educators, students, and the general public.

Tio improve science education and literacy through the unique power of variable stars, and variable star observing to motivate students, young and old.

Current Projects, Programs, and Activities

• AAVSO Writers Bureau
  The AAVSO Writers Bureau offers variable star and topical astronomy content on a monthly basis to editors of astronomy club and society newsletters. This gives us the chance to inform the public about the fascinating objects we study, as well as the science and research being done, while providing reliable, accurate information to newsletter editors who may lack the time or expertise to write or vet articles for publication. Because we provide access to professionally written, copyrighted material, this site is password protected and available only by subscription. If you or your astronomy organization would like to obtain access to the site please email us for log in information at aavso@aavso.org
• AAVSO Speakers Bureau
  The Speakers Bureau is a service established for people and groups looking for enthusiastic, knowledgeable speakers to provide informative presentations for astronomy clubs, star parties, banquets, Scout Troops, Astronomy Day activities and other public and private astronomy functions.
• Presentation Library
  Our Presentation Library contains PowerPoint presentations on variable stars, observing techniques and other astronomical topics. These are available free to the public to use in making your own presentations.
• Online Activities and Resources
  This page contains links to various online activities and resources, such as Hands-On Astrophysics learning activities, time series analysis software, and remote control of ground based and space based telescopes.
• AAVSO Mentor Program
  AAVSO connects experienced observers with new observers to assist them in observing, recording and reporting observations of variable stars to the AAVSO International Database.

Programs Under Development

• Variable Star Astronomy
  Variable Star Astronomy (VSA) is an AAVSO educational project, originally developed as Hands-On Astrophysics (HOA) with funds from the National Science Foundation. It is a flexible set of hands-on educational materials, activities, and investigations, based on the AAVSO's unique electronic database of variable star measurements. Students will be able to experience the excitement of doing real science with real data! By carrying out all aspects of the research process, they can develop and integrate skills in science, math, computing, and other areas. VSA is being converted to a web-based format and is expected to be available again in the new format sometime in 2008.
• VSTAR
  VSTAR is the software that accompanies the activities for VSA. We are currently seeking funding to port the original DOS based programs to a Java platform.

The committee consists of amateur and professional astronomers with a wide range of interests in informal and formal education at all levels.

• Dr. Pamela Gay (Chair), Southern Illinois University, Physics Department, Edwardsville, Illinois
• Barry Beaman, Rockford, Illinois
• Jaime García, Instituto Copernico, Mensoza, Argentina
• Mary Kadooka, University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy
• Dr. Roger S. Kolman, Harper College, Palatine, Illinois
• Douglas Lombardi, Las Vegas, Nevada
• Paul Mortfield, Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
• Mario Motta, M.D., Gloucester, Massachusetts
• Dr. Pebble Richwine, University of Arizona, Institute for Astronomy
• Dr. Christine Anne Royce, Shippensburg University, Department of Teacher Education, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
• Mike Simonsen, Imlay City, Michigan
• Donn Starkey, Auburn, Indiana
• David B. Williams, Whitestown, Indiana
• Donna Young, Tufts University, Wright Center for Science Education, Medford, Massachusetts

Contact us at: aavso@aavso.org