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The American Association of Amateur Astronomers |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AAAA President John Wagoner is one of the best known binocular observers in the country. Not only is he familiar with the skies of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, but he has created some of the most popular binocular observing programs available. And he is also the observing coordinator for the internationally known Texas Star Party, the premier dark-sky observing event for amateur astronomers in North America.
If you are going to the 2001 Texas Star Party, and want a head start on the binocular and telescope observing programs, here is your chance. Just download John's programs from the AAAA website in PDF format. You will still need to observe all of the objects at this year's Texas Star Party, but downloading the files now will allow you to plan your observing sessions ahead of time.
http://www.astromax.org/tsp-2001.htm
This year John has planned a special program for this special year (2001). The rules are simple. Just observe all 26 objects on the list in the order they are on the list, and log those observations in the spaces oin the form. That's it. Any size telescope can be used. All observations must be made at the Texas Star Party to qualify.
All objects are within range of small to medium sized telescopes, and are available for observing between 10:00PM and 3:00AM any time during the TSP.
There is a small mystery surrounding the list, so see if you can figure it out during your observations and let him know. However, if you complete the list and are consequently abducted by aliens, please do not hold the Texas Star Party responsible.
Each person completing this list will receive an official Texas Star Party Telescope Observing Club lapel pin. These pins are not sold at the TSP and can only be acquired by completing the program, so wear them proudly.
Even if you cannot attend the Texas Star Party, John’s observing programs are a lot of fun. In case you missed the ones in previous years, we have an archive of the TSP Observing Programs from 2000 and 1999.
http://www.astromax.org/tsp-2000.htm
http://www.astromax.org/tsp-1999.htm
This year, National Astronomy Day in the US was observed on Saturday, April 28, 2001. AAAA attended the National Astronomy Day Star Party held for the general public at Lake Whitney State Park, near Waco, TX. Event Organizer Thomas Williamson invited AAAA Vice President Ed Flaspoehler to make a presentation as part of the scheduled activities.
We have expanded our report, and you can now read it on the AAAA Web Site:
http://www.astromax.org/astroday2001.htm
We are interested in hearing of Astronomy Day activities and what the AAAA membership did in their local area. If you are an AAAA Member and have a report to submit, please let us know, and we will post it as part of our coverage on the AAAA web page.
International Astronomy Day is dedicated to taking astronomy to the people. It is celebrated on the Saturday near the first quarter moon between mid-April and mid-May. Check out the night sky tonight!
Sincerely,
Ed Flaspoehler, Vice President
American Association of Amateur Astronomers
http://www.astromax.org
The American Association of Amateur Astronomers has had an active presence in the amateur astronomy community since 1996. As the AAAA continues to grow and expand, it is having a wider and wider influence among amateur astronomers, and continues to refine the use of the internet as a tool to promote amateur astronomy to the widest possible audience. Through the medium of its own web page, an online store devoted to carefully chosen astronomy merchandise, our own quarterly newsletter, reciprocal links with other astronomy web sites, the creative use of online resources such as eGroups, Listbot and banner advertising, affiliate programs such as Amazon.com, and partnerships with well recognized astronomy organizations such as Sky Publishing, Kalmbach Publishing, Bushnell Sports Optics and the Astronomical League, the American Association of Amateur Astronomers has become an important source of astronomy information on the World Wide Web.
For More Information Contact:
American Association of Amateur Astronomers
P.O. Box 7981
Dallas, TX 75209-0981
Web Address:
http://www.astromax.com
E-Mail:
aaaa@astromax.com
WebMaster:
aaaa@astromax.com
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