The 17th Annual GEOS Symposium was held from September 16 to 18, 1994, at the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Members of the GEOS from several European countries attended the meeting for scientific presentations, methodological discussions and group organization matters.
The meeting opened on Friday afternoon with an overview of the history and current activities of the GEOS by the president, Michel Dumont. Founded in 1973, the group works mainly in visual photometry, photoelectric photometry and asteroid occultations. A recent decrease in observational activity was noted, and members were encouraged to increase observations and to involve new participants. The importance of basic observational training before moving to more advanced techniques was underlined, as well as the need to revive longer observational camps.
Scientific contributions on Friday included a presentation by Jacqueline Vanderbroere on stars observed within the prospection program, with particular attention given to NSV 13862 Peg and BI CVn. The day ended with a talk by Bernard Nicollet (Geneva Observatory) on the use of CCDs for variable star observations.
On Saturday, most of the meeting was devoted to a roundtable discussion on the treatment of visual observations. Different approaches were discussed with the aim of improving data reduction while keeping methods accessible to observers. It was agreed that traditional and more advanced techniques can coexist, and that methodological work should continue to be documented through GEOS Technical Files. The program then continued with presentations on visual observations of the Delta Scuti star NSV 14566 Cep, the potential interest of polarimetry for variable star studies, recent developments in photoelectric photometry using photodiodes, and a 40cm WrightNewton telescope recently built in Switzerland and offered for GEOS observing campaigns. Results on the variable star DI And were also presented, confirming its Cepheidtype nature and the need for further observations.
At the end of the Saturday session, the GEOS research and prospection program for 1995 was defined. Several organizational decisions were taken, including the election of Juan Fabregatas the new president of the GEOS, replacing Michel Dumont. Vicepresidents, national representatives and sector coordinators were also appointed.
On Sunday, a presentation was given on the comparison star HIC 83921 for AK Her, based on photoelectric observations suggesting Delta Scutitype variability. Thanks, were also conveyed to the GEOS for its support of the journal Stelle Variabili. The meeting concluded with decisions concerning future symposia: the 1995 meeting was scheduled to take place in Colmar (France), and the 1996 symposium was planned to be held in Italy.
The symposium took place in a friendly and constructive atmosphere and was considered useful both for scientific exchange and for the organization of future GEOS activities.