Source: AAVSO Alert Notice 427
The American Association of Variable Stars Observers (AAVSO) requests ground-based observations of the Trapezium region of the Orion Nebula (M42), along with surrounding regions in Orion, in conjunction with upcoming observations with the MOST Satellite. All AAVSO observers are encouraged to participate in this project, and we are requesting observations for a number of different targets from both instrumental and visual observers.
The Orion Nebula(M42). The white region slightly left and up of the centre of the image is the Trapezium region.
This observing program headed by Dr. Matthew Templeton is exploring low-amplitude variability in bright stars of the Trapezium using the Canadian satellite MOST (Microvariability and Oscillations of Stars). This is an exploratory proposal to search for low-amplitude variability in these young stars due to any number of potential causes: pulsations, magnetic activity and rotation, or accretion processes are all possible. MOST will be capable of measuring the light curves of many stars in the Trapezium with precision better than 1 mmag.
The observations will be conducted at some point during the December 2010 - January 2011 time-frame, and will span approximately one month. We are requesting observations before, during, and after the observing window, and several of the targets are worthwhile long-term monitoring objects as well. Observers from multiple longitudes are especially encouraged. Since this is an equatorial source, both northern and southern hemisphere observers are encouraged to participate. (read more)
