April, 2015 - TEST Astronomical League

What’s Up Doc? Distribution List

adminApril 13, 20150 commentsUncategorized

If you would like to be added to automatically receive the monthly What’s Up Doc?, please send an email to Aaron Clevenson at aaron@clevenson.org

This is a monthly newsletter created by Aaron Clevenson, one of the National Observing Program Directors and the Insperity Observatory in Humble, TX. It is a listing of many objects that will be visible in the evening sky each month based on the Astronomical League’s Observing Programs. It is primarily oriented towards the introductory level programs.

The next issue will be sent on April 30.

Recognize Youth Accomplishments: The Astronomical League’s Horkheimer Youth Service Awards deadline extended to April 30, 2015!

adminApril 8, 20150 commentsUncategorized

The deadline for submitting nominations for the three Horkheimer Youth Service Awards – Horkheimer/Smith, Horkheimer/Parker, and Horkheimer/D’Auria – has been extended to April 30, 2015.

If you know an Astronomical League member, 18 years or younger, who has brought amateur astronomy to your club or to the public through outreach, presentations, writing, or observing, please consider nominating that person for the three Horkheimer Service Awards.

If you are a club officer, nominate them. If you don’t, no one else will! Complete information about Horkheimer Youth Service awards can be found at https://test.astroleague.org//al/awards/horkhmr/horkhmrs.html

Walter Haas 1917-2015

adminApril 6, 20150 commentsUncategorized

Walter Haas, Founder of the ASLC and ALPO, passed away Monday morning, April 6 at 6:10 am.

A viewing will be available on Monday, April 13 at Lapaz-Graham Funeral Home, 555 West Amador, Las Cruces from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Services will be held on Tuesday, April 14, at the First Presbyterian Church, 200 East Boutz, at 10:00 am.

At the request of the family, donations may be made to either your local hospice, or to the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, ALPO, attention Matthew Will, PO Box 13456, Springfield, IL 62791.

The Astronomical League is giving away up to ten Library Telescopes!

adminApril 2, 20150 commentsUncategorized

Through the vision of the Horkheimer Charitable Fund, the Astronomical League is offering a free Library Telescope to a lucky Astronomical League club in each of the ten AL regions. The Library Telescope consists of an Orion 4.5 inch StarBlast Dobsonian (or equivalent) and a Celestron 8-24 mm zoom eyepiece (or equivalent), and a name plate commemorating the late Jack Horkheimer. The value of this opportunity is approximately $300; the potential of the program is enormous.

The Library Telescope Program was initiated by the New Hampshire Astronomical Society. Clubs donate an easy-to-use, portable telescope with quality optics and a sturdy mount to their local library. Patrons can then check it out as they do books. Full details of this wonderful program can be found at https://test.astroleague.org/library-telescope-program

The winning entry for each region will be drawn at the annual Astronomical League Business meeting held at ALCon in Las Cruces on about July 11. Only one club per region will win for a total of ten telescope–eyepiece combinations being presented. The telescope, eyepiece, and accompanying commemorative plate will be mailed to the winning clubs in the two weeks following ALCon.

By entering the drawing for the telescope, the club agrees to modify the telescope and zoom eyepiece, and have the telescope library-ready within three months of receipt. The Astronomical League would like a photograph of the modiﬁed telescope being presented to the library. It may be used in the Reﬂector and may be used at some point as promotional material.

Submit the completed entry form to HorkheimerLiTel@astroleague.org so that the Astronomical League national office receives it by July 1, 2015. If mailed, the entry should be postmarked no later than July 1, 2015.

The Skies are Yours at ALCON 2015