CVnet

[Mike Simonsen <mikesimonsen@mindspring.com>]

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce that on 0h UT, January 1, 2005 a brand new
Internet resource came online; CVnet.

http://cvnet.aavso.org

CVnet's mission is to promote a sense of community among everyone involved
in the study of cataclysmic variables. Here, ideas and information are
freely exchanged between professional and amateur astronomers, educators and
students, variable star organizations and individuals from around the world.

The CVnet website is devoted solely to cataclysmic variables. It will
provide up to date articles and interviews from professional astronomers and
highly regarded amateurs in the field, as well as up to the minute reports
of CV activity from around the globe.

Among the astronomers that will be featured in 2005 are:
Ronald Downes, Don Hoard, Steve Howell, Guy Hurst, Christopher Mauche, Koji
Mukai, Gary Poyner, Paula Szkody, Joe Patterson, John Thorstensen and Tonny
Vanmunster.

CVnet is not the face of any one organization. Instead, it is a place where
members of different organizations from around the world can share ideas,
information and resources. The name says it all. CV stands for cataclysmic
variables, and 'net' stands for network. Professionals can tap the
enthusiasm and talent of amateurs to assist in monitoring for CV activity
and follow up studies of new discoveries. Amateurs can tap into the
expertise and insight of professional astronomers to make better use of
their observing time. Educators and students can find information and ideas
for science projects or papers.

To keep our community informed we have set up three email lists. You may
subscribe or unsubscribe at any time to the list(s) you choose. You will
never be automatically subscribed to any list you have not personally
subscribed to, and there are no plans for additional lists in the future.

CVnet-discussion:
CVnet-discussion is the free exchange of ideas and information, regarding
cataclysmic variables between professional and amateur astronomers,
educators and students, variable star organizations and individuals from
around the world.

Once a month, CVnet-discussion subscribers will receive the CVnet Digest, a
summary of noteworthy cataclysmic variable activity, observing campaigns
from other organizations or groups, and upcoming events on the CVnet
website.

CVnet-outburst:
CVnet-outburst is real-time email notification of cataclysmic variable
activity.

Among its purposes are to:
-Notify professional astronomers on activity of targets of opportunity
-Notify members of organizations or teams when the subject of an observing
campaign becomes active
-Notify educators, students or individual observers when an object of
particular interest to them is active
-To keep CVnet observers aware of current CV activity

CVnet-circular:
Subscribers to CVnet-circular will receive a bi-weekly CV Circular
summarizing the previous month's CV activity and the observers who are
supplying the coverage. The CV Circular is generated using the most up to
the minute data from the AAVSO International Database.

We are extremely grateful for the support and cooperation of the AAVSO in
this new endeavor, and hope to enjoy the same relationship with variable
star organizations, groups and observers from around the globe.

Please visit our website and email list home pages. If you are interested in
cataclysmic variables, we have a new place on the web just for you; CVnet.

Website:
http://cvnet.aavso.org

Email lists:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cvnet-discussion/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cvnet-outburst/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cvnet-circular/


CVnet Team
Mike Simonsen: Administrator
Gary Poyner: List Moderator
Aaron Price: AAVSO Liaison, Technical Assistance
Rod Stubbings: List moderator
Erwin van Ballegoij: List Moderator
Christopher Watson: CV Circular, Technical Assistance