Want more information about all manner of things related to space?  There is a weekly webcast from Space Oddities Live that covers current events (NASA and ESA missions, the Sun, The Moon, The planets, Comets, etc.) as well as intersting topics (recently: the Big Band and Moons of the Solar System).  They also share images sent in my their viewers.  Aaron Clevenson, of the Astornomical League,  has joined their panel (with one other American and a bunch of British folks).  It is broadcast at 3 PM Eastern Time.  If you can’t make a mid-day broadcast, then they are all recorded and available on YouTube.

To check out their channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceOdditiesLive

The Astronomical League working with the Star Library Network is bringing you a webinar about the Solar Maximum.  The one-hour webinar will be in the afternoon on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.  The focus of this webinar is the Astronomical League’s Solar Maximum Observing Challenge and how to build a homemade magnetometer.  For more information and to register for the webinar go to the Star Librabry Network’s website:  https://www.starnetlibraries.org/event/experience-solar-maximum-with-the-astronomical-leagues-observing-challenge/

A high school student, a member of the Astronomical League, working with the University of Washington has developed an astronomy chatbot that aims to make learning about our universe accessible for various age groups. Cosmo allows users to explore the wonders of our universe and learn about complex astronomical concepts through a conversational interface that is available in multiple languages!  In line with their shared mission of making our universe universally accessible, this tool is available free on-line.  After “kicking the tires” the chatbot did amazingly well at answering my questions.  It provided accurate information and at  an age-appropriate level.  But like all advanced computer applications it can make mistakes, but the ones I have seen were minor.

More information can be found at these links:

• Information about the project at the University of Washington:  Facebook page
• A Demo video of Cosmo:  Demo video
• And Cosmo itself:  Cosmo

Thank you Claire for sharing this amazing resource with the astronomical community and the world.

We, the Astronomical League, need to help promote this NASA Event.  Please pass this information along to your local school districts and private schools.  There is a short deadline for registration.

• Who:  Your local school districts and private schools.
• What:  NASA STEM Back-to-School Career Day 2024.
• When:  September 26, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM EDT
• How and Where:  Virtual Event
• Why:  Today’s Students are the future of STEM in the US – even if they don’t know it yet.

From Lynn Dotson of the NASA Office of STEM Engagement, FYI.  Please share this opportunity announcement with any interested formal and informal STEM educators…

WE NEED YOU!!!!

Attached you will find a map of the schools from 31 states that have signed up for our NASA STEM Back to School Career Day 2024 on September 26th, 2024! The states that are black have no schools registered. So we are asking for your help….WE NEED YOU! Please help us spread the word about Career Day 2024 to your great State and anyone else you may know around the USA!  Registration closes on September 5.

Let’s get ALL 50 States represented!

• To see the map of current states covered, click here:  https://www.astroleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/NASA-Career-Day-2024.jpg
• The flyer for this event:  https://www.astroleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/NGS-Career-Day-Flyer-2024.pdf
• The promotional slide for this event:  https://www.astroleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Career-Day-Promo-Slide_D2_LB_11April24508.pdf

The next AL Live Broadcast is coming to us on August 23, 2024.

Featured guest is Lou Mayo, Planetary Scientist.  The topic will be Titan and Exoplanets: Search for Life.

www.Explorescientific.com/live or www.facebook.com/Astronomical.League

Not to be missed!

For more information, see the annouoncement:  https://www.astroleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AL-LIVE-8-23-24.pdf

The astronomical League is excited to announce the release of our newest Observing Program: The Space Weather Observing Program.  Now is the time to get after this Program since we are near the Solar Maximum.  For more information, go to the web page:  https://www.astroleague.org/space-weather-observing-program/

Mark your calendars for AstroCon 2025, the Astronomical League’s 2025 national convention. It will be in Bryce Canyon, UT.

Read the flyer and plan to attend.

https://www.astroleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ASTROCON-2025-general-information-flyer.pdf

On-Line Registration will be available soon.

You may also use the paper form for registration.

https://www.astroleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ASTROCON-2025-Registration-20240806.pdf

AL-Con 2024 was an exciting event from the perspective of the Observing Program Disivion, and for all of you observers out there.  In fact, there is too much for one announcement, so watch for another one shortly.

1. The Astronomy before the Telescope Observing Certificate is now the Astronomy Before the Telescope Observing Program.  This means that although the requirements have not changed, in addition to the certificate, we also have pins.  For more information on this, check out the Program’s web page:  https://www.astroleague.org/astronomy-before-the-telescope-observing-certificate/
2. A new AL Observing Challenge:  Solar Max Observing Challenge.  Telescope and Binoculars – not required.  AL Membership – not required.  Observations may be done between now and March 31,2025.  We are at Solar Maximum, so this is a great opportunity.  For more information, chec out the Program’s web page:  https://www.astroleague.org/al-observing-challenge-special-observing-award/.  These observations may also be used for an upcoming new Space Weather Observing Program.
3. Aaron Clevenson is the new Coordinator for the Caldwell Observing Program and the Imaging – Caldwell Observing Program.  Thanks to Sue Rose for her many years of dedicated service as Coordinator.  The web page is: https://www.astroleague.org/caldwell-observing-program-introduction/.

If you are currently working on your Meteor Observing Program observations – this pertains to you!  The certifications for this Observing Program have changed to Silver Level for 12 hours total observing, and Gold Level for 36 total hours of observing (formerly called Honorary).  There are no other changes to the Observing Program.

For more information of if you are concerned about how this might affect you, please contact the Coordinator.  Meteor Oberving Program web page:  https://www.astroleague.org/meteor-observing-program/

If you have already earned your 36 hour certification, this has no affect on you.

The Observing Program Division is excited to announce new options for Naked-Eye observers.  No equipment?  No Problem!

We already have Observing Programs that require no equipment:

• Analemma: https://www.astroleague.org/analemma-observing-program/
• Alternate Constellations: https://www.astroleague.org/alternate-constellation-observing-program/
• Astronomy Before the Telescope: https://www.astroleague.org/astronomy-before-the-telescope-observing-certificate/
• Constellation Hunter – Northern and Southern Skies: https://www.astroleague.org/constellation-hunter-observing-program/
• Earth Orbiting Satellites: https://www.astroleague.org/earth-orbiting-satellite-observing-program/
• Meteor Observing: https://www.astroleague.org/meteor-observing-program/
• and the Eyes Only Certification for the Solar Neighborhood: https://www.astroleague.org/solar-neighborhood-observing-program/

Three additional Eyes Only levels have been added to existing Observing Programs:

• Galileo – Eyes Only Certification: https://www.astroleague.org/galileo-observing-program/
• Lunar – Eyes Only Certificate: https://www.astroleague.org/lunar-observing-program/
• Solar System – Eyes Only certification: https://www.astroleague.org/solar-system-observing-program/

And to crown this new effort, the Master Observer Progression has also created a For Your Eyes Only Certification: https://www.astroleague.org/for-your-eyes-only-observing-award/.

For more details and information, click on the links above.

No equipment?  No problem!