Please join me in welcoming our newest Observing Program Coordinators.  These four are among the many members who stepped up and volunteered to help coordinate the programs:

Analemma – Douglas Smith

Double Star – Steve Bell

Galileo – Mark Croom

Sky Puppies – Maynard Pittendreigh

We owe much gratitude to those who have come before us in their laying the foundation upon which we build.  ​To misuse a quote by Sir Isaac Newton: “We are standing on the shoulders of giants.”  Thank you all.

Our on-line database of Observing Program awardees is missing 13 entries for the Sky Puppy Observing Program.  We would like to get this fixed.  If you, your children, your grandchildren, or a member of your club has earned this certificate and they are not in the on-line database, please send an email to aaron@clevenson.org with the information so that we can add them in and give them the recognition that they deserve.  Thanks.  Aaron

Long time Longmont Astronomical Society (CO) member, Tim Brown, is to receive an award, the “James Craig Watson Medal for Astronomy, from the National Academy of Sciences on May 1st in Washington DC. The award recognizes Tim for “his visionary scientific and technical advancements that have been critical to the fields of helioseismology, asteroseismology, and the emerging field of spectroscopy of transiting exoplanets, and for his critical role in helping a new generation of scientists and facilities to succeed”.  For more info see the press release at the Las Cumbres Observatory website, http://lcogt.net/blog/dr-tim-brown-to-receive-distinguished-watson-medal/

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You may now register for the Astrocon 2017 conference in Casper, Wyoming onAugust 16 through August 19, 2017. Visit the Astrocon 2017 webpage at https://astrocon2017.astroleague.org and click on the “Registration” tab at the top right of the page.

If you are interested in helping the AL as an Observing Program Coordinator, we need to hear from you by Friday 1/15/2016.  We are beginning to contact those we have already heard from.  These programs are in need of a leader:  Analemma, Double Star, Galileo, and Sky Puppy Observing Programs.  Please send an email to Aaron Clevenson, Observing Program Director, at aaron@clevenson.org

The Astronomical League is excited to announce the new Master Observer Progression.  No change to the current Master Observer Observing Award, but new levels with new requirements.  There will be something for novices all the way through the most advanced observers.

New to astronomy?  Unsure where to start?  Start with the Observer Award!

Completed your Master Observer?  Wondering What to do next?  There are now new levels to which to aspire:  Advanced Observer Award, Master Observer – Silver Award, Master Observer – Gold Award, and Master Observer – Platinum Award.

The website explaining all the new levels and their requirements is coming soon…

We have a new Coordinator for the Open Cluster Observing Program.  Cliff Mygatt, one of the National Observing Program Directors, is temporarily coordinating the program.  If you are working on the program and have questions or are ready to submit it, please be sure to check out the webpage for the current information.  (Of course it is a good idea in all observing programs to check the webpages to be sure you know the most current information…)

A big thank you to Benjamin Jones for many years of coordinating the program.