NASA Observing Challenges and Special Awards

NASA Observing Challenge and Special Award Coordinator:

Richard Benson
3105 Lykes Dr. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Telephone: 505-340-6691
E-mail: rlbenson6691@comcast.net

Introduction

The Astronomical League has been working with NASA to bring you Observing Challenges.  These are opportunities to participate in events associated with space missions to objects within the Solar System or related to celestial events.  New opportunities will be added as new milestones for various missions or noteworthy celestial events occur.

 

SPECIAL NOTE: If you are looking for information regarding the Observe the Moon Night Observing Challenges, they are listed as AL Observing Challenges since they are celestial events rather than related to NASA Missions.  Click here to go to that web page.  They are done in conjunction with NASA though.

Requirements and Rules

To earn the certification, you need to meet these requirements:

  • Image or sketch the required object(s)
  • Submit that image or sketch as indicated by that challenge.  These should show as much detail as possible.
  • Do an outreach activity associated with the event in the challenge, as defined in the challenge.
  • The deadline varies for each challenge and is typically one month after the event.  Late submissions will not be accepted.

You do not need to be a member of the Astronomical League to receive this certification.   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 click here.

The certificates, which are suitable for framing will be emailed to you within a month after the deadline and may be printed by you.

Current NASA Observing Challenges:

11. – Parker Solar Probe 2.0 Special Observing Award (Perihelion #22 – December 24, 2024)

This is a second go-around for the Parker Solar Probe Special Oberving Award.

The purpose of this Special Observing Award is to commemorate the first closest approach of the probe to the Sun.  This will be Perihelion #22 and will be on December 24, 2024.

*** WARNING ***

Before you start any solar observing program, make absolutely certain that you have safe filters and a safe set-up.  Only use filters from reputable sources, and never use a “solar filter” that screws into an eyepiece. As Richard Hill states in Observe and Understand the Sun:  “Observing the sun is the only inherently dangerous observing an amateur astronomer can do. Be aware of this at all times and take all necessary precautions. If you do not know a filter or procedure is safe then do not use it! Always err on the side of safety. An eye once damaged is forever damaged. Filters that let too much INFRARED light through can burn an eye if used visually. There is NO PAIN when this happens. Burned retinas can not be repaired. Excessive ULTRAVIOLET light has been shown to cause cataracts. So be very careful.”

For more information on ways to safely observe the sun, click here.

Details for this award:

  • The outreach activity must be done during November or December 2024.
  • The observation must be done between December 17 and December 31, 2004.  Observations may be done using any of these techniques:
    • Pin-hole Projection.
    • Binoculars with proper solar filters.
    • Telescopes with proper solar filters.
    • H-Alpha Solar Telescopes.
  • Compare your observation with what the Parker Solar Probe is seeing.
    • Go to this NASA web page:  https://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/The-Mission/index.php
    • Scroll down to the section : Where is Parker Solar Probe.
    • The small green dot is the location of the probe.  It should be in close to the Sun.
    • Using this diagram, the Earth’s location. and the Probe’s location,   Identify what part of your observation is also visible to the probe.  For example, using 10/31/2024 as the date of an observation:

  • Submission Deadline is:  January 31, 2025.  Late submissions will not be accepted.

We have a new certificate for this award, but pins will be provided to only those who did not receive the original award (in August 2024).    Certificates will be emailed.  If you earned a pin this time, then the pin and certificate will be mailed to you.

NASA Observing Challenges and Special Awards Coordinator:

Richard Benson
3105 Lykes Dr. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Telephone: 505-340-6691
E-mail: rlbenson6691@comcast.net

Previous Challenges that have been included in the program are:

  1. New Horizons rendezvous with Pluto on July 14, 2015 (deadline: August 14, 2015).
  2. Comet Siding Spring rendezvous with Mars on October 19, 2014 (deadline:  November 19, 2015).
  3. Rosetta Spacecraft rendezvous with Comet Comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko on November 11, 2014 (deadline: January 12, 2015).
  4. TESS – Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (deadline: July 31, 2018)
  5. Mars InSight Mission – landing is scheduled for 11/26/2018 (deadline: December 31, 2018)
  6. Apollo – 50th Anniversary (deadline: August 31, 2019)
  7. Mercury Transit of the Sun (deadline: December 11, 2019)
  8. Landing of the Perseverance Rover on Mars (deadline: March 18, 2021)
  9. James Webb Telescope (deadline: July 20, 2022)
  10. Parker Solar Probe – Perihelion #20 Special Observing Award. (deadline: 8/3/2024)

For details on the requirements for prior awards, click here.

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