Nominations are Open for Two Awards Offered by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (2016)
Do you know of qualified candidates? Please step forward, as they
cannot nominate themselves!
1. Astronomical Society of the Pacific Amateur Achievement Award
Purpose
The Amateur Achievement Award of the ASP, given yearly since 1979, is designed to
recognize significant contributions to astronomy or amateur astronomy by those not
employed in the field of astronomy in a professional capacity.
Eligibility
Nominees must have made significant contributions to astronomy, but are not employed
as professional astronomers. Letters of nomination should highlight how the nominee or
nominees have distinguished themselves in this endeavor or cite exceptional
achievement or both.
Nominations
Nominations are welcome from members of the astronomical community. Self
nominations or nomination by a family member will not be accepted. All nominations will
remain active for three years of competition; additional support letters or nomination
updates will be accepted at any time.
For all the pertinent details, please log on to: http://www.astrosociety.org/membership/
awards/amateur.html
2. Astronomical Society of the Pacific Las Cumbres Award for Outreach
Purpose
The Las Cumbres Amateur Outreach Award, established by Wayne Rosing and Dorothy
Largay, seeks to honor outstanding educational outreach by an amateur astronomer to
K-12 children and the interested lay public.
Eligibility
“Amateur” is understood to mean someone who does not receive compensation (other
than expenses) for their activity and does not receive the majority of their income from a
profession in astronomy.
Nominations
Nominations are made by members of the astronomical community. Self nominations or
nomination by a family member will not be accepted.
For all the pertinent details, please log on to: http://www.astrosociety.org/membership/
awards/cumbres.html
The Astronomical League depends heavily on its team of volunteers, and is grateful for all their efforts. This past fall, Mike Benson, administrator of the Double Star Program, the Arp Peculiar Galaxy Program, and the Master Observer Program, decided to step down after many years of valuable service. His input and assistance were indispensable in developing, launching, and administering these and other programs. Mike was presented a special service plaque from the Astronomical League by Theo Wellington, president of the Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society in Nashville, TN. Thank you, Mike! 
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 
