β Lyrae: Worksheet #1

Use this worksheet to record your estimates of the magnitude of the variable star β Lyrae.

Notes

• Remember that magnitudes are backwards; fainter stars have larger magnitudes!
• β Lyrae varies between about magnitude 3.3 at its brightest to magnitude 4.4 at its faintest.
• Convenient comparison stars are γ Lyrae, magnitude 3.2, and ζ Lyrae, magnitude 4.1; see the chart on the other side of this handout.
• Use the right line for each date you observe, and record the time of each observation — without them, you won't be able to plot your data!
• Make three independent estimates of beta Lyrae's magnitude, and write them down in the table.
• Later, take the average of the three estimates you made, and write that in the final column.

Joshua E. Barnes      (barnes at ifa.hawaii.edu) Updated: 21 August 2011 http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~barnes/ast110l_f11/beta_lyrae_ws1.html