<p>You should read the AAVSO tutorials, especially the tutorial on light curve data processing, but you should also read the observing tutorials, so you get a better idea of where the data comes from (and hence understand its significance and limitations better)</p>
<p><a href="https://www.aavso.org/5-star-analysis-tutorial" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The 5-Star Tutorial for Data Analysis</a> covers the basics of how to look at a light curve and what it can tell you.  There are other other <a href="https://www.aavso.org/online-resources" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Online Resources for Beginning Observers</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-04-08T17:04:29.727Z
2024-04-08T17:04:29.727Z
James K
<p>If I want to research binary stars (to find out about their properties from their light curves) and I need to know how to interpret light curves for the same, what would be a good resource to refer to? I am looking for a short-read.</p>
<p>Assume I have a first-year college-level understanding of mathematics and a basic idea of the related field of spectroscopy.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-04-08T10:34:41.670Z
You mean eclipsing binaries? There is not much information on binary systems from their light curves otherwise.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-04-08T16:28:16.403Z
aavso has tutorials on data analysis of light curves https://www.aavso.org/tutorials
James K
<binary-star><resource-request><light-curve>
Resource suggestions?
Golden_Hawk
# Resource suggestions?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-04-08)

If I want to research binary stars (to find out about their properties from their light curves) and I need to know how to interpret light curves for the same, what would be a good resource to refer to? I am looking for a short-read.

Assume I have a first-year college-level understanding of mathematics and a basic idea of the related field of spectroscopy.

**Tags:** binary-star, resource-request, light-curve
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You mean eclipsing binaries? There is not much information on binary systems from their light curves otherwise.  
> **username_2**: aavso has tutorials on data analysis of light curves https://www.aavso.org/tutorials  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2024-04-08. Score: 3

You should read the AAVSO tutorials, especially the tutorial on light curve data processing, but you should also read the observing tutorials, so you get a better idea of where the data comes from (and hence understand its significance and limitations better)

[The 5-Star Tutorial for Data Analysis](https://www.aavso.org/5-star-analysis-tutorial) covers the basics of how to look at a light curve and what it can tell you. There are other other [Online Resources for Beginning Observers](https://www.aavso.org/online-resources).


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