Constellation Hunter Observing Program

Constellation Hunter Observing Program Coordinator:

Cliff Mygatt
P.O. Box 8607
Port Orchard, WA 98366
(360) 265-5418
E-mail: cliffandchris@wavecable.com

Introduction

Welcome to the Astronomical League’s Constellation Hunter Observing Program. The Constellation Hunter Observing Program has two certifications and pins: The Northern Skies and the Southern Skies. The purpose of these programs is to provide an orientation to the sky for novice astronomers. They require no special equipment (other than a planisphere and a reference for the brighter star names), and no prior knowledge. The objective is to provide a forum for the novice observer to become more familiar with the constellations and brighter stars, to begin to learn to navigate among the stars and to provide a solid foundation for moving on to other observation programs such as the Messier Observing Program.

Requirements and Rules

This certification is available to members of the Astronomical League, either through their local astronomical society or as members at large. If you are not a member and would like to become one, check with your local astronomical society, search for a local society on the Astronomical League Website, or join as a Member-at-Large.

To qualify for the Astronomical League’s Constellation Hunter certificates and pins, observe and sketch all of the constellations that are included on the checklist that you are pursuing. No equipment is required other than a planisphere and reference information on the names of major stars and constellation boundaries. Binoculars, while not required, will give you a deeper look into the star fields that you sketch. You should not include these additional stars and objects in your sketches, but the view will give you an appreciation for all of the things that await you in the other Astronomical League Observing Programs. You should proceed constellation by constellation. For each constellation, you need to provide this data:

Date and time (either local or UT)
Latitude and Longitude of observation.
Constellation name.
Sky conditions: transparency and seeing.
A sketch of all stars that were visible to the unaided eye, out to the limits of the constellation’s boundary. Named stars should be identified on the sketch.

The sketch should include other objects that are visible within the boundaries of the constellation to your unaided eyes, including but not limited to: galaxies, open clusters, globular clusters, and nebulae.

Submitting for Certification

To receive your Constellation Hunter Certificate and either a Northern Constellation Pin or a Southern Constellation Pin, simply send a copy of your sketches along with your name, mailing address, email address, phone number, and society affiliation, either to your society’s Awards Coordinator for review and approval, or to the Constellation Hunter Observing Program Coordinator. Do not send original materials. They will not be returned to you.

For information on which constellations to study and sketch, read the Constellation Hunter Northern Skies Observing Checklist (Excel format, PDF format) or the Constellation Hunter Southern Skies Observing Checklist (Excel format, PDF format).

Upon verification of your submission and of your active membership in the Astronomical League, your recognition (certificate, pin, etc.) will be sent to you or to the awards coordinator for your society, as you specified. Your name will also appear in an upcoming issue of the Reflector magazine and in the Astronomical League’s online database. Congratulations. Good luck with your next observing challenge.