Observers Notebook Tim Robertson

Episode 188

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the ALPO Executive Director, Ken Poshedly on the upcoming Virtual ALPO Conference.

The dates will be Friday and Saturday, July 26/27, 2024. The conference will also be Live Streamed on the ALPO YouTube channel.

The conference times for both days will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacific Time (1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time) and allow for seven paper presentation sessions each day with short breaks on both days. All presentations be limited to approximately 25 minutes each with a few minutes left for audience questions.

The schedule of presentations will be posted about one week prior to the event.

The ALPO board of directors meeting will be held on Friday, July 26 at 4 p.m. PT (7 p.m. ET).

The ALPO Conference is free and open to anyone to attend; however, all presenters must be current members of the ALPO.

Following a break after the last paper presentation on Saturday afternoon, July 27, will be presentation of the annual Walter Haas Observer Award.

This will be followed by our keynote speaker at 4 pm. PT (7 p.m. ET). With the award presentation and keynote speech usually occurring at the traditional Saturday evening
dinner, we suggest that you enjoy your own meal during these last two conference events.
Door prizes will be awarded following the Keynote address. No purchase necessary.

An online chat feature will allow type-in text comments for questions once the conference gets underway.
All presenters must already have ZOOM installed on their computer prior to the conference dates.

ZOOM is free and available at https://zoom.us/

The ZOOM links will be e-mailed out on Thursday, July 25.

There will be a separate ZOOM meeting set up for each day.
The ZOOM virtual (online) meeting room will open 15 minutes prior to the beginning of each day’s activities.

Upon logging into ZOOM you will be placed into a ‘waiting room’ until the meeting begins, and your microphone will be muted automatically.

Participants are encouraged to submit research papers, presentations and experience reports concerning various aspects of Earth-based observational solar system astronomy. Suggested topics for papers and presentations include the following:
• New or ongoing observing programs and studies, specifically, how those programs were designed, implemented, and continue to function.
• Results of personal or group studies of solar system or extra-solar system bodies.
• New or ongoing activities involving astronomical instrumentation, construction or improvement.

Those individuals wishing to present a paper should submit their request to Tim Robertson at cometman@cometman.net no later than July 1st, along with a brief bio about themselves and a summary of their presentation. Microsoft PowerPoint is the preferred method of visual presentation along with an audio explanation.

Contact Information:
ALPO Website: http://www.alpo-astronomy.org/
Tim Robertson: cometman@cometman.net
ZOOM: https://zoom.us/
ALPO YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers
ALPO Podcast- The Observers Notebook: https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:
www.alpo-astronomy.org/

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producer of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Matt Will
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Frank Schenck
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Julian Parks
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Rik Hill
Stan Sienkiewicz

Episode 187

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to a number of observers of the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse to get their first hand experience.

Special thanks to Ken Poshedly, John Oneal, Keith Drake, Daniel Herron, Lisa Tate-Holmes and Scott Harris for sharing their experiences.

As the Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 becomes a memorable astronomical event witnessed by many, it will be preserved and shared by observers through documented visual observations and vivid personal recollections. The ALPO wishes to share all the depth and nuance of this experience as well as its scientific and measured magnitude in an upcoming issue of Journal of the ALPO.

Please send in your observations and reports, whether they be images, drawings, diagrams, or written documentation and descriptions to:

eclipse@alpo-astronomy.org

PLEASE NOTE ECLIPSE OBSERVATIONS PREVIOUSLY SENT TO star.man13@hotmail.com SHOULD BE RESENT TO THE ABOVE EMAIL ADDRESS.

Reports should include the following information and data:

Observer’s name and exact location of the observation. Include an actual address, the city, state, and country or if in a rural location, an approximation, as well as latitude and longitude from where you observed the eclipse.

Date and time (Universal Time preferred) include “eclipse contacts” would be helpful.
• First contact occurs when the partial phase of the eclipse begins
• Second contact is when a total phase begins
• Third contact is when the total phase ends
• Fourth contact occurs when the partial phase ends.

Include an exact time for any specific events or observations observed with the naked eye or with instrumentation.

Instrumentation details including type of optical aid (telescope, binoculars, naked-eye, etc.), focal length, aperture (inches or mm), filter details (if used).

Sky conditions should include seeing (steadiness) and transparency as well as general sky conditions. Report weather descriptions, especially from any weather instruments brought to your site.

Written descriptions and impressions are welcome too, about what was observed at various stages of the eclipse. This can include observations during the partial phases concerning wildlife, sky darkening, shadow bands just before and after totality, and any other environmental effects. Be sure to note the time for these events. For totality, size, shape, and extent of the corona, prominences, chromosphere, etc. are of interest as well as sky colors, visibility of landscape, visual identification of planets, stars, etc., including weather conditions at the time. Visual impressions of the diamond ring are welcome too.

We hope it was a wonderful eclipse wherever you were and that you will share your observations with us. The ALPO will analyze and report these observations collectively, in an upcoming issue of the Journal.

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:
www.alpo-astronomy.org/

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Matt Will
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Frank Schenck
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Julian Parks
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Rik Hill
Stan Sienkiewicz

Episode 186

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Jim Lackner, the resident Astronomer at Butterfield RV Resort and Observatory.

Jim gives us a brief history of the RV Resort, the telescope and the night time programs he conducts there..

You can find out more about the RV Resort at:
https://www.rv-resort.com/

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:
www.alpo-astronomy.org/

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Matt Will
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Frank Schenck
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Julian Parks
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Rik Hill
Stan Sienkiewicz

Episode 185

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Meteor Section Coordinator, Bob Lunsford about the upcoming Spring time Meteor Showers.

You can contact Bob at:
lunro.imo.usa@cox.net

International Meteor Organization
https://www.imo.net/

For the latest information from the ALPO Meteor Section you can visit:
http://www.amsmeteors.org/

Meteors From Space Website:
https://www.meteorshowers.org/view/Eta-Aquariids

All Sky Camera
https://www.alcor-system.com/new/AllSky/Alphea_camera.html

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:
www.alpo-astronomy.org/

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Matt Will
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Frank Schenck
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Julian Parks
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Rik Hill
Stan Sienkiewicz

Episode 184

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Rica French, Professor Astronomy and Program Director at Mira Costa College in Oceanside California.

You can contact Rica at:
rfrench@miracosta.edu

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:
www.alpo-astronomy.org/

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Matt Will
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Frank Schenck
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Julian Parks
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Rik Hill
Stan Sienkiewicz

Episode 183

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the ALPO member Greg Shanos about the new smart telescope, the SeeStar S50.

You can contact Greg at:
gshanos@aol.com

The SeeStar website
https://www.seestar.com/

Measuring asteroid rotation with the Seestar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5nqQgb3bB8

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:
www.alpo-astronomy.org/

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Matt Will
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Frank Schenck
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Julian Parks
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Rik Hill
Stan Sienkiewicz