If you are one of the lucky people who were able to capture stars near the sun during the total eclipse, and you would be willing to share your image with those AL members less fortunate, please send me an email: aaron@clevenson.org
Or, if you know of pictures on the internet that will work, let mw know.
This is necessary for those trying to earn the Eclipses 2017 Special Observing Award.
Thanks.
Aaron
The AL Council met at the AstroCon in Casper, and adopted additional Observing Awards and Programs. Details will be announced as the web pages are developed and released. These are those that were adopted:
Beyond Polaris Observing Program – This is a program for the novice observer; those new to astronomy. It is similar to the Sky Puppies Observing Program for youth. Although the Observing Program was already adopted, the Council approved pins for this program.
Binocular Master Observer Award – This new Award was adopted. The requirement is that the member complete 8 of 9 Binocular Observing Programs.
New Binocular levels and Binocular versions of existing Observing Programs were also adopted:
Celestial Sphere Observing Program – This new Observing Program is designed to encourage members to observe in both hemispheres. In addition to accomplishing existing Observing Programs, the observer is required to accomplish additional requirements. There are three levels. “If you have not seen the Northern as well as Southern Hemisphere Skies, then you have not seen it all!”
Mars Observing Program – This Observing Program was adopted pending the completion of the list of requirements. It should be available for the next apparition of Mars.
The clock is running. The deadline for submission of the 2017 Solar Eclipse Special Observing Award is September 21, 2017; one month after the eclipse. I hope that you all had a wonderful eclipse and success in taking pictures. Go to the Award’s web page to see the detailed requirements: https://www.astroleague.org/solar-eclipse-2017-special-observing-award
Remember that there are three options to include those who were not able to photograph the eclipse personally.
The submission must be in my hands by the end of the day on September 21, 2017.
– Aaron Clevenson, Coordinator
We use the database to determine when people have earned various levels in the Master Observer Progression; from Observer to Platinum. We have noticed that some of you have more than one form of your name in the on-line database. Please help us by checking your awards and send me an email (aaron@clevenson.org) if you have more than one form. If they all have the same form of your name, then no need to email.
For example: Aaron Clevenson, Aaron B. Clevenson, Dr. Aaron Clevenson, Aaron Clevenson Jr., or Erin Clevenson.
Please let me know the correct form to use and we will get all of your awards in the same form.
Be careful not to claim an award that belongs to someone else (son or daughter, same name, etc.). 🙂
Thanks for your help.
Aaron
Aaron Clevenson
​Master Observer Progression – Coordinator
​Keep the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse memories alive with this beautiful “fridge” magnet from the Astronomical League.!
Pre-orders accepted now, orders shipped at the end of August.
https://store.astroleague.org/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14&products_id=120
You are super-knowledgeable about astronomy and have always wanted to work at Sky and Telescope. Now just might be your chance!
http://chk.tbe.taleo.net/chk06/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=FW&cws=38&rid=1190
The Sky Puppies Observing Program has been modified to allow any AL member to sponsor any young astronomer (whether their child or not). They need to be under 11 years old. This program is specifically designed to help children new to astronomy to dip their feet into astronomy without being overwhelmed by the technical aspects. For more information and details of the observing program check out the web page: https://www.astroleague.org//al/obsclubs/skypuppy/skypuppy2.htm
Are you working on an Observing Program or Observing Award with the Astronomical League? Do you often wonder what some of the requirements mean? These are now defined for you on the AL Website. To get information, suggestions, and definitions, please click on the Observe Dropdown. This will bring you to the Main Observing Programs Web Page. As you scroll down the page, you will see a section about Terms in Common Usage. This will provide you with the definitions used by the AL’s Observing Programs for “Highest Level”, Go-To Telescopes, Remote Telescopes, Seeing, and Transparency. There is also a section to go to suggested simple scales for observers to use when they are making observations for Seeing and Transparency. Enjoy. Aaron Clevenson, Observing Program Director
Dear Astronomy Colleagues:
Librarians across the country need your assistance to prepare the public for the August 21st solar eclipse!
Thanks to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (with additional help from Google,) over two million pairs of eclipse glasses will be distributed free through public libraries in anticipation of the solar eclipse. More than 2,000 public libraries will receive a package of hundreds of free glasses, plus an information booklet on how to do public outreach about the eclipse (http://www.starnetlibraries.org/EclipseGuide/).
To all those with rooms reserved at the Parkway Plaza Hotel for the AstroCon 2017 conference:
Your hotel room(s) is still reserved, or in other words, none of you have lost your room(s).
Because of a reservation system change, some of the hotel’s reservation information is incomplete and the hotel needs everyone to contact them by May 1st to pay for the entire reservation. For most attendees staying 6-7 nights, this will be $600-$700 plus taxes. The minimum stay is 4 nights for $400 plus taxes.
Please call the hotel at 1-307-235-1777, Option 0 for reservations, and give them your credit/debit card number to pay for your room(s). Please identify that you are in the ASTROCON block of rooms.
We were aware of the May 1stdeadline as part of a contract with a new owner/manager of the Parkway a few months ago. Our mistake was not informing all of you about this sooner and we are very sorry for any inconvenience this causes.
We also want to make sure that we have a correct telephone number for everyone, as a representative of the hotel owner wants to reach out in an effort to confirm everyone’s reservation.
If you have concerns after contacting the Parkway Plaza Hotel, please contact ASTROCON ASAP. We look forward to meeting all registered guests at ASTROCON!
