[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VARIABLE STAR OBSERVERS

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                       HON. GEORGE E. BROWN, JR.

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 1998

  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
outstanding contributions that amateur astronomers from around the 
world have made to our understanding of some of the most profound 
questions that have confronted mankind--the evolution of the universe. 
In the very brief period in which humans have had the ability to look 
up and ponder our place in the universe, we have transcended a time in 
which religious dictate required a belief that the heavens were 
unchanging, to one in which we accept change as the status quo.
  We now know that stars change. Sometimes the change is dramatic and 
visible to all such as the supernova explosion in 1987. More often, the 
changes are subtle to the casual observer. Yet these subtle changes in 
star brightness due to pulsations and eruptions and eclipses behind 
intervening objects are crucial in understanding the nature of the 
universe and its ultimate fate.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1911 the American Association of Variable Star 
Observers (AAVSO) was founded at the Harvard College Observatory. This 
independent research organization is dedicated to coordinating the 
observations of variable stars by amateur astronomers in 46 
participating countries.
  AAVSO receives, digitizes, and archives over 300,000 observations 
yearly from 300 to 350 observers. Since its founding, AAVSO has 
catalogued over 8.5 million observations from 4000 observers. AAVSO 
boasts the largest and longest running computer readable accessible 
variable star catalogue in existence.
  This valuable data base is used to help schedule precious observing 
time by the large public and privately operated observatories, to carry 
out collaborative research in analyzing the long term behavior of 
variable stars, and finally by educators and students.
  In 1995, NASA conducted a major study of cataclysmic variable stars 
by the ASTRO-2 telescope during the Space Shuttle mission STS-67. 
During the course of this mission, NASA depended on AAVSO for critical 
guidance in identifying the best variable star targets. This 
coordinated research program resulted in a superb data base on ten 
cataclysmic variable stars that has provided a wealth of scientific 
understanding. Since then, AAVSO has worked with NASA to coordinate 
observations on the Hubble Space Telescope, the Extreme Ultraviolet 
Explorer, the X-Ray Timing Explorer, the International Ultraviolet 
Explorer, and many other international space borne telescopes.
  Mr. Speaker, the astronomy community has had a long tradition of 
active participation by amateurs since the time of Galileo. The 
vitality of this discipline is evident in magazine shelves worldwide 
that carry astronomy related publications. AAVSO itself publishes its 
own highly respected journal to disseminate latest results and 
scientific concepts.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend AAVSO for its outstanding work and 
over eighty years of productive contributions to the field of 
astronomy.

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