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AL Asteroid Coordinator
Larry Robinson,
14680 W. 144th St.
Olathe, KS 66062-9765
Telephone: (913) 780-4239
E-mail: lrobinsn@ix.netcom.com
The Asteroid Club is one of the Astronomical League's observing award programs. Its purpose is to encourage
amateurs to learn to identify and observe asteroids. While the deep sky objects observable by amateurs remain the
same year after year, the asteroids (like the other planets) are constantly moving against the background of the
constellations. By learning to identify asteroids you will greatly enhance your observing skills.
Since asteroids appear as points of light rather than extended objects, they do not suffer from light pollution as much as deep sky objects. Hence an asteroid observing program can be carried out quite successfully from urban or suburban locations.
Some amateurs who have mastered the asteroid observing techniques have gone on to make serious scientific contributions. These include:
The Asteroid Club offers two levels of awards as shown below. Next to each level there is listed the minimum size telescope that may be needed to observe the specified number of asteroids.
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Regular member |
25 asteroids |
Certificate |
4-inch |
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Gold member |
100 asteroids |
Certificate & Pin |
6-inch |
To qualify for an AL Asteroid Club Certificate, you must be a member of the Astronomical League, either through an affiliated club or as a Member-at-Large, and you must observe and confirm the required number of asteroids. The American Association of Amateur Astronomers is a member society of the Astronomical League.
Your observations should be recorded in a notebook and should include:
Each observation should include a sketch showing the position of the asteroid in relation to the nearby stars.
Each asteroid must be observed at least twice in different positions, and at the time of the second observation you must verify that the object is no longer in the position where it was observed the first time. If using CCD imaging, it is sufficient either to print the two positions or measure them and simply report the positions of the asteroid according to standard astrometric procedures.
To receive your certificate, you should send a copy of your observations to the AL Asteroid Coordinator:
Larry Robinson, AL Asteroid Coordinator
14680 W. 144th St.
Olathe, KS 66062-9765
Telephone: (913) 780-4239
e-mail: lrobinsn@ix.netcom.com
For the regular certificate (25 asteroids), copies of your sketches should also be submitted. Please send copies and retain the originals. If measuring astrometry of objects you may simply e-mail your report. If you wish to have the copies returned to you, include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Upon verification of your observations, your certificate (and pin) will be forwarded to you or your society's "Awards Coordinator", whomever you choose. Be sure to specify which you prefer and provide the necessary address.
You may wish to obtain the publication for this program, "Asteroid Club Observing Guide". It contains general information about asteroids, techniques and hints on how to find them, further information on how to sketch an asteroid's position in a star field, and how to record observations. A printed copy is available from:
Astronomical League Sales
P.O. Box 572
West Burlington, IA 52655
http://www.astronomicalleague.com
There are many resources available for observing asteroids. The Minor Planet Center maintains a web page at cfa-www.harvard.edu/cfa/ps/mpc.html which contains many resources to assist you in finding asteroid positions and help you develop a list of targets to observe. Another resource is Lowell Observatory's Asteroid Resource Page at http://asteroid.lowell.edu/
There are numerous computerized planetarium programs that have asteroid features. Some of those are:
You can even go to the Minor Planet Center's Minor Planet Ephemeris Service (cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/MPEph/MPEph.html) and download a file for any asteroid you may may wish to display on any of these programs and get a file back that allows to you to track the asteroid real time and print your own finder charts.
Asteroid observing can be great fun and if you have access to a CCD camera, it can be exciting to set up your own Observing Station and participate in the excitement of discovery and real science!
For more information on the Astronomical League's Asteroid Club, you may visit their web site: http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/asteroid/astrclub.html
Larry Robinson, AL Asteroid Coordinator
14680 W. 144th Street
Olathe, KS 66062-9765
(913) 780-4239
E-mail: lrobinsn@ix.netcom.com
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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 the Asteroid Club.
As a member of the AAAA, not only are you eligible to earn this observing award, 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.
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