The Study of Variable Stars
Welcome to Tetoora Road Observatory, the home of my long-term visual observations of variable stars, cataclysmic variables (CVs), dwarf novae, and other transient phenomena. I am a dedicated visual observer, and this website documents my work and contributions to variable star astronomy over more than three decades.
I submit my visual observations to international organisations, including the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO), the Variable Star Network (VSNET), and the Variable Star Section of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ). These pages present current activity, light curves, significant events, and links to related research and reports.
Tetoora Road Observatory
Tetoora Road Observatory is a designated private optical observatory (Registry Number D03-35) maintained under Australian Standards and recognised by the Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA). I carry out nightly visual monitoring of variable stars.
AR Pav: A Long-Term Favourite
I have monitored the eclipsing symbiotic star AR Pav continuously since 2010. With a period of 604.5 days, this is one of my longest-monitored targets and remains the groundwork of my observing program. Detailed light curves and ongoing updates are available on the dedicated AR Pav page.
450,000 Visual Variable Star Observations
On 20 November 2025, I recorded my 450,000th variable-star observation, marking more than 32 years of sustained visual observing. That night, I made 229 observations and reached this milestone while monitoring EF Eridani, a magnetic cataclysmic variable that returned to a high-brightness state after years of quiescence.
This milestone builds on decades of observations and reports that have directly informed professional follow-ups and satellite observations. Further details are available on the About Me page.
Current Outburst Detections
(Latest update: October 14, 2026)
The table below lists recent outbursts detected visually and reported to networks such as CVNET and VSNET. This uses my standard observer reporting format, allowing rapid copying and submission. These alerts support time-critical follow-up observations by CCD observers and professional facilities.
object YYMMDD(UT) mag code remarks
CMAHL 261014.647 117 Stu.RASNZ outburst
DELEZ 261014.433 150 Stu.RASNZ outburst
ERICK 261014.491 142 Stu.RASNZ outburst
ERILT 261014.635 154 Stu.RASNZ outburst
HYIWX 261014.493 126 Stu.RASNZ outburst
HYIVW 261014.460 100 Stu.RASNZ outburst
INDTU 261014.621 156 Stu.RASNZ outburst
LUPBR 261014.440 145 Stu.RASNZ outburst
ORICZ 261014.683 127 Stu.RASNZ outburst
PUPBV 261014.653 133 Stu.RASNZ outburst
PUPBX 261014.653 153 Stu.RASNZ outburst
PUPCL 261014.655 143 Stu.RASNZ outburst
PUPHO 261014.658 139 Stu.RASNZ outburst
PYXVZ 261014.680 130 Stu.RASNZ outburst
SCOV598 261014.424 150 Stu.RASNZ outburst
SGRV729 261014.484 145 Stu.RASNZ outburst
TRADV 261014.455 139 Stu.RASNZ outburst
VOLSY 261014.658 142 Stu.RASNZ outburst
ASASSN-16DC 261014.654 146 Stu.RASNZ outburst
NSV 11274 261014.489 145 Stu.RASNZ outburst
1E 1516.6-6827 261014.495 152 Stu.RASNZ outburst
(Section updated regularly.)
Page Medal: Astronomical Society of Australia (2024)
In 2024, I was honoured to receive the Berenice and Arthur Page Medal from the Astronomical Society of Australia, recognising excellence in amateur astronomy and long-term scientific contribution. The National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers in Parkes, New South Wales, presented the award.
Annual Observational Analysis (1993–2026)
A summary table that details my annual Visual Observations of variable stars since 1993.
- Annual observations, significant milestones, and discoveries.
- 2025 Year in Review: EF Eri Detection and Highlights
- Archive: Full Annual Reports (2016-2024)
AAVSO Merit Award (2021)
I received the AAVSO Merit Award at the American Association of Variable Star Observers’ 110th Anniversary Meeting in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This award recognised the consistent delivery of time-critical visual observations and alerts since 1997.
Recently Published Research
My visual observations provide the groundwork for multi-wavelength studies. To date, this data has contributed to 114 (peer-reviewed and non-refereed) papers in journals such as The Astrophysical Journal (ApJ) and Astronomy & Astrophysics (A&A), as well as non-refereed publications.
- Discovery of the First-Ever Recorded Fading Event of the Wolf‑Rayet Star WR 59 (2026)
- Visual Discovery of Fading Events in the Wolf-Rayet Star WR 80 (2026
- In Search of Pulsations in the X-Ray Binary A0538-66 (2026)
- Observational study of double superoutbursts in long-orbital-period AM CVn stars (2026)
- New Eclipsing Dwarf Nova V598 Sco (2025)
- Betelgeuse Eclipses
- SU UMa-type dwarf nova and precursor events
- Symbiotic star photometry studies
- Deep visual eclipses in Wolf-Rayet stars
- New anomalous Z Cam and southern Z Cam-type dwarf novae
A complete list is available on the Published Papers page.
Navigation & Next Steps
Use the menu above to explore:
- Annual Observational Analysis (1993–2026): Detailed annual summaries, notable stars, and outburst highlights.
- Discovery Archive: A complete record of cataclysmic variable discoveries, reclassifications and rare detections.
- Individual Discovery Pages: Detailed pages for rare and significant objects, including V4641 Sgr, GW Lib, V745 Sco, SV Ari, GR Ori, T Pyx, N Sco 1437 A.D., WR 59.
- Observational Data & Light Curves: Visual data plots of ongoing CV monitoring
- Published Research: Refereed papers and scientific contributions
- Telescope & Observatory: Technical details of the telescope and observatory
Footer Note
Thank you for visiting. Observations and updates are submitted in real time as weather and observing conditions permit. For current alerts or specific data, please refer to the relevant section or contact me through the site.
