ASTROCON 2017 (ALCon 2017) registrations are coming in daily. League club members who want to attend should register soon, so as to not miss this opportunity. Hotel and motel accommodations are booking quickly for this event!

Please go to the event website at http://astrocon2017.astroleague.org, then go to the “Registration” tab to complete your online registration.

The MARS region of the Astronomical League is helping to plan ASTROCON 2017 in the days leading up to the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017.  Volunteers from various clubs in the Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado are actively involved helping to plan and coordinate this event. This will be a major outreach opportunity for amateur astronomy……a total solar eclipse!

ASTROCON 2017 is collaborating with and supporting the Wyoming Eclipse Fest to help educate and support the many eclipse chasers that will descend upon Casper for AMERICA’s GREAT ECLIPSE!  Casper lies directly on the centerline of the moon’s shadow and has excellent weather prospects for a clear, dry eclipse day.

Astronomical League Website:  test.astroleague.org

Event Website:  astrocon2017.astroleague.org (Please go to the “Registration” tab)

Eclipse Information:  www.eclipse2017.org (Look under “Community Links” and then “What some places are doing”)

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The Astronomical League’s Observing Program Team is excited to announce that an option has been added to the Globular Cluster Observing Program to accept submissions done by imagers.  There is now a certificate for Imaging as well as Visual Observing.  Both certificates can be earned, but only one pin will be issued.

Wouldn’t it be great to be young again and to be entering amateur astronomy! Now is 
the time to start considering the Astronomical League’s Horkheimer Youth awards for 
2016: the two Jack Horkheimer Youth Service Awards, the Horkheimer/Parker Youth 
Imaging Award, and the Horkheimer/O’Meara Journalism Award.
• If you know a 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 one of the two Horkheimer 
Service Awards. (Horkheimer/Smith Award – $1750 plus an expense paid trip to ALCon 
2016, Horkheimer/D’Auria Award – $1000.)  
• If you know a League member, 18 years or younger, who has captured a great 
celestial image since last April, please consider nominating that person for the 
Horkheimer/Parker Youth Imaging Award. (1st place – $1000, 2nd place – $500, and 3rd 
place – $250)
• One of these awards is more specialized than the others — the Horheimer/O’Meara 
Journalism Award. It requires a person who is 8 to 14 years of age to compose a 300 to 
500 word essay on any science related topic. (1st place – $1000, 2nd place – $500, 3rd 
place – $250.)
Since the deadline for the Horkheimer Awards is March 31, 2016, now is the time for 
potential candidates to work on their projects and to participate in various astronomy 
activities.
If you are a club officer, nominate them. If you don’t, no one else will! Complete 
information about each award can be found at test.astroleague.org/al/awards/awards.html

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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

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.

The MARS Region is opening nominations for Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and Regional Representative. During the annual convention each regional Chair and Representative (or their proxies) vote on matters before the Astronomical League Council. They also may participate in other meetings, usually teleconferences, to help guide the League in its activities.

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