Report of the Committee on Variable Stars in Cluster

Extract

Because of space restrictions, this report on the variable stars in clusters differs in form from those in earlier IAU reports, and is more condensed. Not all of the papers which have appeared since the last IAU General Assembly can be mentioned.

A definite trend is apparent in this field. A few years ago the aim of many programs was to detect new variables or to determine the periods of those known. While this is still being carried on, especially for the clusters in the far south, the emphasis has subtly changed to an avid pursuit of information about individual variables. For many variables, much more is known now than just the periodicity of their magnitude variations in photographic light. The number of observers studying these stars and the number of telescopes used in the program have greatly increased.