A Series of Methodological Guides for the Scientific Project “Star Hunters”

“Star Hunters” is a scientific research project dedicated to searching for new variable stars in images obtained by the TESS space telescope (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite).

The project includes exclusive educational materials developed specifically for its participants: the “Variable Stars Lectures” (“VSL”) course and a series of methodological guides for the scientific project “Star Hunters”.

The aim of the project is to engage amateur astronomers in science and involve them in simple research activities, ultimately increasing the number of variable stars discovered by Ukrainian astronomers. As of December 2025, five scientific research projects, as well as a preliminary “zero” test iteration, had been completed within the framework of “Star Hunters”.

The information presented in the lectures and guides is clear, visual, and combines theory with practice. It is also useful for conducting astronomical research. We have tested and demonstrated this by improving the educational content based on feedback from our students and through the collaborative work of specialists from CSF (Clear Skies Foundation). Reading all the guides and completing the “VSL” course provides enough knowledge for any beginner to carry out a simple study of variable stars using data from the TESS space telescope.

What the collection includes

The collection consists of five methodological guides in a convenient PDF format. It was developed by the CSF Scientific Unit specifically for participants in the “Star Hunters” project over a three-month period. On average, each guide took several weeks to prepare.

The idea of creating the series emerged during the third wave of the “Star Hunters” project.

“We noticed that lectures alone were not sufficient for a deeper understanding of the material and for working with the software. Participants also needed more examples based on TESS telescope data in order to classify variable stars. Since there are not many materials available in Ukrainian, we decided to create our own :),” explains Mariia Yatsiuk, Head of the Scientific Unit at Clear Skies Foundation.

“The creation of this series of guides has significantly improved the quality of the results achieved by participants in the fourth and fifth waves of the project.”

What will you learn from this collection of guides?

1. The first guide explains the fundamentals of photometry, the signal-to-noise ratio, and light curves. It also introduces the concept of variable stars, explains how astronomers identify them, and discusses the various artifacts that may appear in light curves and how to distinguish them from genuine stellar variability.
2. The second guide combines theoretical information with practical instructions on how to use the main astronomical databases and catalogues: SIMBAD, AAVSO VSX, TESS EB, and ExoFOP.
3. The third guide provides theoretical background and real examples based on TESS observations of periodic, quasi-periodic, and non-periodic variable stars. It also offers a detailed step-by-step explanation of how to use the variable-star period analysis software developed by the CSF team.
4. The fourth guide presents theoretical information and examples of TESS light curves for the three main types of eclipsing binary stars, the major classes of pulsating stars, and exoplanet transits. It also provides detailed instructions on how to use our website and the software developed by the CSF team for classifying pulsating stars.
5. The fifth guide is divided into two parts. The first teaches you how to calculate the amplitude of an object’s brightness variations, while the second explains the concept of the initial epoch and demonstrates how to determine it using the software developed by the CSF team.

Thus, with the help of our guides, you will not only master the underlying theory but also learn how to conduct your own research, including:

• analyse astronomical data from the TESS space telescope;
• classify variable stars by understanding which stars are considered variable and learning about their different types;
• calculate the period and initial epoch of periodic variable stars;
• use the specialized software developed by our team;
• organise and manage your scientific results in a clear and convenient format using structured data tables;
• verify the reliability and validity of your results.

This series of methodological guides is available to participants in the “Star Hunters” project. By taking part in the project, you can discover new variable stars and ultimately become a co-author of a scientific paper published in a peer-reviewed astronomy journal — just like professional astronomers.

Research on variable stars is one of the key tools for discovering new physical phenomena and advancing our understanding of the laws of nature.

The “Star Hunters” guide series will help you gain a deeper understanding of the phenomena that surround us.

Above all, it will bring you one step closer to understanding how the Universe works and what it truly is.