Steve Conard4 December 2010

Astronomical League (AL)www.astroleague.org An association of ~240 astronomical societies

from across the USABasic goal is to encourage interest in

astronomy throughout AmericaHave a yearly convention, quarterly

newsletter

AL Observing ClubsThe AL sponsors ~34 observing clubsMembership in these clubs is earned by

achieving required observing goalsMembership requirements listed on AL website

and/or a pamphlet Each club has a chair who determines if

membership requirements have been metTypically, documentation of observing requirements

is required to be sent to either the member’s local society’s observing chair or the club chair for verification

Members receive a certificate and a pin when they meet all requirements

Current ClubsAs the available have increased over the

years, many of the newer clubs have become more specialized

Examples includeDark nebulaDark sky advocateFlat galaxiesEarth orbiting satellite

Possible AL Occultation Club?Aaron Clevenson is one of the two National

Observing Programs CoordinatorsHe is also occasionally on the IOTA yahoo

groupI contacted him, with David’s OK, to inquire if

they would be open to receiving a proposal for an occultation clubAaron said they would be interested in seeing a

proposal for such a club

Why Pursue an AL Club for Occultations?Increase visibility of our science to other

amateursGenerate new IOTA members as AL members

work toward the requirements of this observing club

Note that AAVSO has done this with their involvement in the AL Variable Star Club

Steps to Start ClubDevelop list of requirementsFill out Observing Club Proposal formDevelop a manual if necessary

Current IOTA manual?Work with AL Observing Program CoordinatorCreate content for AL websiteSubmit complete proposal at least one month

before annual conventionNeed to have a proposed chair for the club

Strawman Observing RequirementsHave both a visual and an instrumented variation in

requirements Do own predictions with Occult or other software?

Total lunar occultation timing Include some double stars? Mix of D’s and R’s

Grazing lunar occultations Must file reports to IOTA Have several with multiple D/R’s Compare to known lunar profile?

Asteroid occultations Don’t require any positives, but must submit a number of

“meaningful miss” reports to IOTA? Require that if video is used, at least some observation

attempt be via prepoint?

Should We Proceed With This?Do we want to pursue this?If yes, who should lead the effort

I am willing to, but there are more senior IOTA members who are more qualified

Proposal, as it is being developed, should be made available to interested IOTA members for their input, and IOTA officers should approve the final submission

Timing?Do we want to shoot for submission this

year?ALCon 2011 starts in late June (Bryce Canyon

NP)Submission would need to be complete in

mid/late MayAL encourages those submitting proposals to

attend to present their proposal in person