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Observing Program Division Announcement – 3-D Printer Tools (2025)

May 14, 20250 commentsstory

The Oberving Program Division is pleased to announce a new feature on the Astronomical League website:  A repository of helpful 3-D Printer Files (STL Files).  If you have a 3-D printer available some of these aids might be hepful to you in your observations as well as soutreach activities.  They are located on this web page:  https://www.astroleague.org/navigating-the-night-sky-guides/

If you have printed additional tools on your 3-D printer, please send them to Aaron Clevenson at aaron@clevenson.org for inclusion.  Criteria are simple:

  1. You have to have printed the for your use.
  2. They have to be useful to other observers (not “one-ofs”).
  3. Ideally, they should not require supports to print.  A brim is not an issue.

Thanks.  We look forward to seeing your tools.

 

*** The Sun – An Observing Manual (2025)

May 8, 20250 commentsstory

This new manual is now available in the AL Store:  (https://store.astroleague.org/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=206).

It was developed by two of the Observing Program Directors and replaces the prior, and out of print, AL Solar Manual.  This completely revised and updated manual is a collection of information about the Sun. Everything you want to know about our nearest star and an excellent resource for the Astronomical League’s Observing Programs that contain solar requirements:

Observing Program Division – Notice to Award Submitters (2025)

May 2, 20250 commentsstory

We have noticed that some award submissions are being placed in the Junk Mail Folder of some of our Coordinators.  We want to make sure that we are not losing any of these submissions.  We are taking steps to minimize this issue, but we need your help too.  Please put the words “Award Submission” in the Subject line.  This way if they do end up in Junk Mail, they should be easy to recognize and recover.  Also, we try to respond immediately with a “Received” email.  Sometimes this may take a few days (life and all that), but if you do not get this email from the Coordinator, please send a follow-up email to ask if your submission was received.  Thanks for your help.

Exoplanet Transits (2025)

April 6, 20250 commentsstory

The Observing Program Division is considering creating a new Observing Program for Exoplanet Transits.  We need to do a “proof of concept”.  If you are willing and able to help as a tester, then we need you!  If you have done Novae (and Supoernovae) or Variable Stars, then the process is the same.  All we are looking for is a few successful runs from a few different astronomers.  Observations will count towards earning the future Observing Program.  For more information and to join the testing team, please contact Aaron Clevenson, Observing Program Director, at aaron@clevenson.org

AL Observing Program Division Announcement – Asterism Observing Program 2025

March 17, 20250 commentsstory

Lots of changes.  If you recently worked on this Program, are working on it now, or are thinking about working on it, this is for you.

  • Cliff Mygatt is the new Coordinator for the Asterism Observing Program.
  • If you received a certificate since October 2024, please contact the Coordinator, Ciff Mygatt at cliffandchris@wavecable.com.
  • If you submitted for certification but did not receive your certificate, please contact the Coordinator, Ciff Mygatt at cliffandchris@wavecable.com.
  • Changes include:
    • Modifications to make the awards available to southern observers.
    • Addition of Eyes Only certificate (13 objects).
    • Addition of Binocular certificate (15 objects).
    • AReduction in required number of objects for full certification (and pin) (91 objects).

Please check out the AL web page:  https://www.astroleague.org/asterism-observing-program/

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