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AAAA News and Activities
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 AAAAA
members are eligible to earn the Astronomical League's Messier
Observing Award for observing all objects on the Messier list, or to
participate in any of the AL's many other observing programs. Upon
completion of any of the AL programs and proper certification through
the AAAA, members will be awarded an official Certificate of
Participation, and receive a beautiful lapel pin for each program they
complete.
As a member of the AAAA, not only are you eligible to earn any of
these observing awards, but you will also get your own subscription to
the Astronomical League's newsletter, the REFLECTOR, as well as our own
quarterly newsletter, The American Astronomer.
AAAA Members: When you have completed your Astronomical League
observing projects, submit your observations to AAAA for
certification. Be sure to send copies of your records only. Do NOT
send originals of your observing logs.
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| These observing programs
are distributed FREE by the Astronomical League and are provided here in
PDF format at no charge as a service to members of the AAAA, the
Astronomical League, and the astronomical community at large. Observing
Programs listed without a PDF must be obtained from Astronomical
League Sales, PO Box 572, West Burlington, IA 52655.
You MUST be a member of the Astronomical League, either through
membership in an affiliated astronomical society or as a
Member-at-Large, to receive certification for AL Observing Programs.
The American Association of Amateur Astronomers is a member
society of the Astronomical League.
Join the AAAA, the Internet
Astronomy Club for All Amateur Astronomers. |
Doug Kniffen Earns Herschel II Certificate
December 1999 - Master observer Doug Kniffen from Warrenton, Mo. recently received his Herschel II certificate. This is a more advanced list of 400 deep sky objects after you observe the advanced list of 400 objects in the Herschel I program. Doug is only the seventh person in the country to receive this certificate, so this is quite an honor. We are proud to have Doug as an AAAA member.
Dick Adduci Earns Sunspotters Certificate
December 1999 - Dick Adduci of Eagle, Wi. just received his Sunspotters certificate. Dick had 25 of the most beautiful drawings of sunspot groupings that you have ever seen. The detail was exquisite, and this during solar maximum when activity is at its greatest. At times, I thought I was looking at a photograph. Dick is quite a talented artist.
John Wilder Completes Lunar Program
December 1999 - John Wilder of Mendocino, Ca. just completed his Lunar Certificate. John observed 100 features on the moon using his naked eye, 7x50 binoculars, and an eight-inch S/C telescope. John had to fight many nights of cloudy weather to get the certificate but his persistence paid off. Way to go, John.
Adduci Earns Arp Peculair Galaxy Certificate
September 1999 - A big congratulations to Dick Adduci of Eagle, WI,
for receiving the Arp Peculiar Galaxy Certificate. Dick CCD imaged over 100 Arp Peculiar Galaxies using a 12-inch
S/C telescope and an ST-7 CCD. Dick is only the seventh amateur in the country to image 100 Arp Peculiar Galaxies.
Nice job, Dick. We are proud of you.
Jack Foster Earns Binocular Messier Certificate
September 1999 - Jack Foster of Rockford, IL, earned the AL's Binocular Messier Club Certificate for
observing and logging over 50 Messier objects using 7x50 binoculars. Jack was very methodical as he planned out
a program and then followed through season after season. Way to go, Jack.
Doug Kniffen Earns Herschel II Certificate
August 1999 - Herschel II Certificate #7M was awarded to AAAA Member Doug Kniffen of Warrenton, MO. Doug
is also an Astronomical League Member-at-Large. The M designation means Doug found all objectes on the list manually,
that is, without using setting circles or computer controls. Congratulations to Doug for completing this advanced
observing program.
AAAA Members Earn Messier Certificates at TSP 99
Two AAAA members, Sonya Monier from McKinney, Texas, and Bruce Vitellaro from Arlington, Texas,
actually completed their Astronomical League Messier programs at the 1999 Texas Star Party. Both received the Honorary
Messier Certificate for observing all 110 Messier objects using a telescope. These are the first telescopic Messier
Certificates awarded to AAAA members. Messier Certificates were presented at TSP by Kathy
Machin, AL Observing
Coordinator (right), and Steven J. O’Meara (left), an editor from Sky & Telescope Magazine. Bruce Vitellaro
is standing next to Steven J. O'Meara, flanked by co-recipients Lucien Bolduc and Ray Knox. Unfortunately, Sonya
Monier had to go home a day early, and missed the photo. We sure are proud of these two veteran observers and are
glad they are AAAA members. You can also see this photo in the August 1999 issue of the Astronomical Leagues
Newsletter, the REFLECTOR.
Sonya Monier Earns Messier Certificate
June 1999 - A hearty congratulations goes to AAAA member Sonya Monier from McKinney, Texas, for earning
the AL Honorary Messier Club Certificate No. 1660 for observing all 110 objects on the Messier list using a telescope.
Sonya finished her observing program during the 1999 Texas Star Party, and received her certificate that same weekend.
Nice going, Sonya.
Bruce Vitellaro Earns Messier Certificate
June 1999 - A hearty congratulations goes to AAAA member Bruce Vitellaro from Arlington, Texas, for earning
the AL Honorary Messier Club Certificate No. 1659 for observing all 110 objects on the Messier list using a telescope.
Bruce finished his observing program during the 1999 Texas Star Party, and was presented his certificate during
the TSP Saturday evening program. Great job, Bruce.
Brenda Clubertson Earns Lunar and Sunspotter Certificates
June 1999 - Brenda Culbertson from Mayetta, Ks. used an 8-inch Schmidt Cassegrain and 8x40 binoculars
to earn the Astronomical League’s Lunar Club certificate. After she observed 100 features on the moon, she turned
right around and earned the AL’s Sunspotters Certificate by observing, following, sketching and even photographing
25 sunspot groupings. Very nice job, Brenda.
Stephen LaFlamme Earns Double Star Certificate
June 1999 - Stephen LaFlamme from Bridgewater, Ma. earned the Astronomical League’s Double Star certificate.
Stephen observed and split 100 double stars using an 11-inch Schmidt Cassegrain telescope. Way to go Stephen. We
are happy to have you as an AAAA member.
Larry E. Robinson Earns Asteroid Certificate
March 1999 - The Astronomical League’s Asteroid Observing Club Certificate Number One in the Gold Member
category goes to our own AAAA member, Larry Robinson, of Olathe, Kansas. Larry operates Sunflower Observatory,
and observed and recorded 100 asteroids using his ten-inch Meade S/C and an ST7 CCD camera. Needless to say, we
are very proud of Larry’s accomplishment and are glad he is a member of the AAAA. Well done, Larry.
An Asteroid Observation
From his own Sunflower Observatory near Kansas City, AAAA member Larry Robinson imaged Asteroid
4512, Sinuhe, near spiral galaxy NGC 2916 in Leo. It was images such as this one, recording the change in position
of the asteroid over a period of time, that earned Larry the AL’s Asteroid Certificate Number One.
AAAA Members: When you have completed your AL
observing projects, don’t forget to submit your observation logs
to the AAAA for official certification. Be sure to send copies of
your records only. Do NOT send originals of your observing logs.
If you are a newcomer to the hobby of astronomy, and have questions about equipment, eyepieces, telescopes,
or astronomy in general, let us know and we will try to answer your questions, or find someone who does know. Send
or e-mail your questions to Newbie News, AAAA, P.O. Box 7981, Dallas, TX 75209-0981, or send your e-mail
to aaaa@astromax.com.
If your sleep patterns, complexion, and aversion to white light
have your co-workers convinced that you're a vampire ...
You MIGHT be an Amateur Astronomer!
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