JESO : A Small Telescope Observatory: Photoelectric Photometry of Variable Stars

Compact and affordable small telescopes have boosted the enthusiasm of amateur astronomers to the level of professionalism. The nature of Variable Stars can be well understood through Photometry and Spectroscopy using compact back end instruments. Small telescope observations are complementary to the astronomers using large telescopes for their research. Such observations made from locations with low level atmospheric and light pollution are of great value from astronomical point of view. With Variable Stars as observing targets in general, photoelectric photometry of about a dozen RS CVn stars was undertaken by JES Observatory with a small optical telescope of 30 cm diameter, as a part of doctoral work submitted to Dr.B.A.M. University, Aurangabad. The JESO has also participated in the International Campaign of an eclipsing binary system, Epsilon Aurigae, during 2009-11. It has conducted several Outreach Activities and organized workshops through interaction with IUCAA, Pune. The book covers basic concepts of Photoelectric Photometry and should be useful to small telescope users in universities and colleges as well as amateur astronomers.

Prof.Mukund Kurtadikar,is founder of the tiny JES Observatory of small telescope at JES College Jalna. He worked on Photoelectric Photometry of Variable Stars leading a small group.The team is actively involved in scientific astronomical observations and outreach activities and has academic linkage with IUCAA,Pune.He has about 30 publications.