The Astronomical League is an umbrella organization of amateur astronomy societies. [1] Currently their membership consists of over 330 [2] organizations across the United States, along with a number of Members-at-Large, Patrons, and Supporting members. [3]
The mission of the Astronomical League is to promote the science of astronomy by (1) fostering astronomical education; (2) providing incentives for astronomical observation and research; and (3) assisting communication among amateur astronomical societies. [4]
The Astronomical League provides a number of observing awards to members locating and describing certain specified astronomical objects or events, and produces a periodical publication, The Reflector.
The beginning of the Astronomical League dates back to 1939 when members of eleven amateur astronomical societies met at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Similar meetings followed in Pittsburgh, 1940, Washington D.C., 1941, and Detroit, 1946. During this process of formation, the naming of the organization evolved from the Amateur Astronomers League of America to the short-lived Amateur Astronomer's League. World War II delayed much of this early progress, but at the 1946 meeting, final plans laid the foundation for a permanent organization constituting a nationwide federation of societies. [5]
The next convention took place in Philadelphia, July 4, 1947, where the federation came into being with the adoption of bylaws was adopted, the election of officers, and the name "Astronomical League" was selected. Shortly thereafter, the organization was incorporated as a non-profit organization. [6]
In 2003, The Astronomical League achieved the long-sought goal of a permanent, National Office. This provided a central location for communications, file storage, and general operations. At the same time, the Astronomical League hired its first employee, an office manager. The National Office is located at 9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64114. [7]
Awards given by the league include the Leslie C. Peltier Award, the Jack Horkheimer Award, and the National Young Astronomer's Award.
The Leslie C. Peltier Award is an annual award given by the Astronomical League to an amateur astronomer who has contributed observations of lasting significance. It was created in 1980 and was first awarded in 1981. [8]
The award is named in honor of Leslie Peltier, an amateur astronomer from Delphos, Ohio, who was described by Harlow Shapley as "the world's greatest nonprofessional astronomer". [9]
The National Young Astronomer Award is an award given by the Astronomical League to students of high-school age who have excelled in astronomical research. [10]
One of the most important programs of the Astronomical League is its Observing Programs, in which an individual follows a prescribed program and upon completion earns a certificate and often a lapel pin. The Astronomical League approved its first observing program called “Messier Club,” in 1966. The program challenged observers to locate and observe the deep sky objects listed in Charles Messier's catalog of objects. Observers of 70 Messier objects receive a certificate, while those observing the complete list of 110 receive a certificate and pin. [11]
Fourteen years later, a second observing program was added for observing 400 of the objects in the Herschell list. By the year 2000, there were 15 observing programs, some of which had more than one level. In 2014, Mike Benson and Aaron Clevenson, were appointed as National Observing Program Directors supervising the work of each observing program's coordinators. In 2015 Cliff Mygatt was appointed as a Director. Mike Benson retired in 2016. By 2018, with 63 observing programs and almost as many program coordinators, others joined the team of National Observing Program Directors: iAl Lamperti and Maynard Pittendreigh. Marie Lott joined this team in 2020. [12]
The Master Observer Progression Awards began in 2001, with the creation of the Master Observer Award, requiring the completion of five specific observing programs: Messier Observing Program, Binocular Messier Observing Program, Lunar Observing Program, Double Star Observing Program, and the Herschel 400 Observing Program, plus 5 observer-selected Observing Programs. Additional Master level programs were added in 2016. The Master Progression added an Observer Award, which was simpler than the original Master Observer Award, and added more complex and demanding levels of Advanced Observer, Silver, Gold, and Platinum Master Observer levels. [13] [14]
Amateur astronomy is a hobby where participants enjoy observing or imaging celestial objects in the sky using the unaided eye, binoculars, or telescopes. Even though scientific research may not be their primary goal, some amateur astronomers make contributions in doing citizen science, such as by monitoring variable stars, double stars, sunspots, or occultations of stars by the Moon or asteroids, or by discovering transient astronomical events, such as comets, galactic novae or supernovae in other galaxies.
A Messier marathon is an attempt, usually organized by amateur astronomers, to find as many Messier objects as possible during one night. The Messier catalogue was compiled by French astronomer Charles Messier during the late 18th century and consists of 110 relatively bright deep-sky objects.
Harlow Shapley was an American scientist, head of the Harvard College Observatory (1921–1952), and political activist during the latter New Deal and Fair Deal.
The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) is an international nonprofit organization. Founded in 1911, the organization focuses on coordinating, analyzing, publishing, and archiving variable star observations made largely by amateur astronomers. The AAVSO creates records that establish light curves depicting the variation in brightness of a star over time. The AAVSO makes these records available to professional astronomers, researchers, and educators.
Leslie Copus Peltier was an American amateur astronomer and discoverer of several comets and novae, including Nova Herculis 1963. He was once described as "the world's greatest non-professional astronomer" by Harlow Shapley.
Janet Hanula Mattei was a Turkish-American astronomer who was the director of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) from 1973 to 2004.
Paul G. Comba was an Italian-American computer scientist, an amateur astronomer and a prolific discoverer of minor planets.
A deep-sky object (DSO) is any astronomical object that is not an individual star or Solar System object. The classification is used for the most part by amateur astronomers to denote visually observed faint naked eye and telescopic objects such as star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. This distinction is practical and technical, implying a variety of instruments and techniques appropriate to observation, and does not distinguish the nature of the object itself.
Messier 72 is a globular cluster in the south west of the very mildly southern constellation of Aquarius.
Messier 9 or M9 is a globular cluster in the constellation of Ophiuchus. It is positioned in the southern part of the constellation to the southwest of Eta Ophiuchi, and lies atop a dark cloud of dust designated Barnard 64. The cluster was discovered by French astronomer Charles Messier on June 3, 1764, who described it as a "nebula without stars". In 1783, English astronomer William Herschel was able to use his reflector to resolve individual stars within the cluster. He estimated the cluster to be 7–8′ in diameter with stars densely packed near the center.
Messier 12 or M 12 is a globular cluster in the constellation of Ophiuchus. It was discovered by the French astronomer Charles Messier on May 30, 1764, who described it as a "nebula without stars". In dark conditions this cluster can be faintly seen with a pair of binoculars. Resolving the stellar components requires a telescope with an aperture of 8 in (20 cm) or greater. In a 10 in (25 cm) scope, the granular core shows a diameter of 3′ (arcminutes) surrounded by a 10′ halo of stars.
Donald Edward Machholz was an American amateur astronomer who was credited with the discovery of 12 comets that bear his name.
Carolyn Hurless was an American astronomer and an American Association of Variable Star Observers merit award winner. She made an estimated 78,876 astronomical observations in her lifetime.
Edward A. Halbach was an American amateur astronomer and prolific variable star observer.
Khagol Vishwa (KV) is an organization for amateur astronomers working in Maharashtra, India. It was established on 17 November 1999. The main activity of KV is to conduct observations of astronomical events, like meteor showers, eclipses, occultation, variable stars and generate scientific data for amateur research. Along with scientific studies, KV is also active in science popularization. Some of the major activities conducted by KV are public star gazing programs, sky at your doorstep, certificate course in amateur astronomy, and science exhibition.
An astronomical catalog or catalogue is a list or tabulation of astronomical objects, typically grouped together because they share a common type, morphology, origin, means of detection, or method of discovery. The oldest and largest are star catalogues. Hundreds have been published, including general ones and special ones for such items as infrared stars, variable stars, giant stars, multiple star systems, star clusters, and so forth.
John E. Bortle is an American amateur astronomer. He is best known for creating the Bortle scale to quantify the darkness of the night sky.
Howard J. Brewington is an American comet discoverer and former professional telescope operator of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.
The Milwaukee Astronomical Society (MAS) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization serving amateur astronomers in the greater Milwaukee area since 1932, making it one of the oldest continuously running astronomy clubs in the nation. The MAS operates an observatory, one of the largest amateur club observatories in the world. The current membership is 270.