Top Argelander Stars: Pedagogy & Prize

TL;DR

This paper discusses the resurgence of stellar astronomy driven by new data and technology, proposing educational and visibility strategies to enhance engagement with variable star research amid a changing scientific landscape.

Contribution

It introduces a pedagogical approach and a scheme to promote and make research on variable stars more attractive and accessible.

Findings

Increased data from optical surveys enhances variable star research.

Proposed educational schemes can boost engagement in stellar astronomy.

Strategies can make variable star research more visible and appealing.

Abstract

Stellar astronomy, fueled by massive capital investments, advances in numerical modeling and theory, is resurgent and arguably is on the verge of a magnificent renaissance. Powerful time domain optical surveys, both on ground and in space, are producing data on variable stars on an unprecedented industrial scale. Those with deep knowledge of variable stars will stand to benefit from this resurgence. Notwithstanding these developments, in some astronomical communities, classical stellar astronomy has been in the doldrums. I offer a modest proposal to establish a basic level of familiarity with variable stellar phenomenology and an attractive scheme to make research in variable star astronomy visible, alluring and fashionable.