 |
American Astronomical Society
|
Working Group for
Professional-Amateur Collaboration
|
Links
The AAVSO is a community of variable star enthusiasts who share ideas and
experiences. What makes the AAVSO stand out is the people, the community, and
the warmth of sharing your interests with other people who will understand
them. Meetings, newsletters, and discussion groups provide a forum for people
to exchange ideas and help each other make a difference in the field. There is
no doubt that the observations and contributions of AAVSO members and
observers advance research in variable star astronomy. Researchers frequently
request data from the AAVSO that they use to: correlate with data obtained
from different wavelengths (x-ray, radio, gamma-ray); predict when a nova-like
star will go into outburst in time to observe it with a satellite observatory;
conduct a time-series analyses of a Long Period Variable; do so much more.
Since the founding in 1911, the people of the AAVSO have propelled the field
of variable stars forward. From the backyard telescope of an amateur
astronomer to the powerful lens of the Hubble Space Telescope, each
observation is critical in understanding the role of variable stars in
our universe.
We invite you to participate in the exciting endeavor of measuring the
brightness of variable stars and to make a real contribution to astronomy.
Thank you for your interest in our organization. The Association of Lunar and
Planetary Observers (A.L.P.O.) was founded by Walter H. Haas in 1947, and
incorporated in 1990, as a medium for advancing and conducting astronomical
work by both professional and amateur astronomers who share an interest in
Solar-System observations. We welcome and provide services for all levels of
astronomers: For the novice the A.L.P.O. is a place to learn and to enhance
and practice techniques. For the advanced amateur it is a place where one's
work will count. For the professional it is a resource where group studies
or systematic observing patrols are necessary.
Our Association is an international group of students of the Sun, Moon,
planets, asteroids, meteors, and comets. Our goals are to stimulate,
coordinate, and generally promote the study of these bodies using methods and
instruments that are available within the communities of both amateur and
professional astronomers. We hold a conference each summer, usually in
conjunction with other astronomical groups. Our work is coordinated by means
of our quarterly Journal ("The Strolling Astronomer") which is available in
both hard copy and electronic formats. In addition, we have an award-winning
web site hosted by the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory of the University of
Arizona which you are encouraged to visit at
http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/alpo/.
The Astronomical League is composed of over two hundred and forty local
amateur astronomical societies from all across the United States. These
organizations, along with our Members-at-Large, Patrons, and Supporting
members form one of the largest amateur astronomical organizations in the
world.
Our basic goal is to encourage an interest in astronomy (and especially
amateur astronomy) throughout America. Many people have seen pictures of the
other planets in our Solar System from spacecraft, but have no idea that they
too can see these objects with a telescope. We want people to get access to
telescopes, whether it is through their local astronomical society, school,
or their own instruments, and use them to view the beauty in the heavens.
GNAT is a non-profit organization dedicated to being a catalyst and
information source for all those interested in research and education using
relatively small astronomical telescopes.
The International Dark-Sky Association was incorporated in 1988 as a
tax-exempt non-profit organization, exclusively for educational and scientific
purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal
Revenue Code of 1987 (IDA's Federal Identification Number is 74-2493011).
IDA operates under formal bylaws, established at the time of incorporation
and revised at the annual meeting on 4 February 1989, and again in September
1990.
IDA's goals are to be effective in stopping the adverse environmental impact
on dark skies by building awareness of the problem of light pollution and of
the solutions, and to educate everyone about the value and effectiveness of
quality nighttime lighting. IDA believes in a united approach that is very
supportive of the many local and individual efforts. Much has been
accomplished in some locations, but much more needs to be done everywhere.
We believe that we can succeed in preserving dark skies and in improving the
nighttime environment for everyone. Quality outdoor lighting is the key.
IDA can and will be supportive of members' problems concerning these issues
by sharing knowledge at the local, national, and international level. We are
making a difference!
IDA is also active in building awareness of the adverse problems affecting
astronomy from radio frequency interference (RFI), space debris, and any other
environmental impacts that have the potential to destroy our view of the
universe in which we live. We are also active in efforts to preserve the
beauty of the night around us.
Specific areas where IDA is involved include: education on all aspects of the
issues; a regular newsletter; information sheets, brochures, leaflets,
economic information, examples of good lighting design, and other such
resources and references; Speaker's Bureau; documentation of good and bad
lighting via photos and video; Good Lighting Awards; media contacts; press
releases; marketing the issues; developing viable and effective Sections and
Affiliates as resources in many communities, regions, and countries.
Founded in 1988, the International Meteor Organization (IMO) is an
international scientific non-profit making organization with members all
over the world. The IMO was created in response to an ever growing need for
international cooperation of amateur meteor work. As such, the IMO's main
objectives are to encourage, support and coordinate meteor observing, to
improve the quality of amateur observations, to disseminate observations and
results to other amateurs and professionals and to make global analyses of
observations received world-wide.
Unlike other branches of astronomy, such as variable star observing,
international coordination of amateur meteor work has never really existed,
which is a pity, since meteor work is an area of astronomy to which amateurs
with little more than a good practical knowledge of the constellations in
the sky can make a valuable contribution. Astronomical enthusiasts who wish
to participate in significant scientific programs concerning meteor
phenomena will therefore find IMO membership very rewarding. Starting
regular meteor observations requires neither long training nor special
skills. Providing you follow the IMO guidelines carefully, only a few weeks
of practice should be sufficient to allow you to produce valuable
observations. Just a few hours of sky-watching every month will soon
contribute to the study of the dust complex in our Solar System!
IOTA was established to encourage and facilitate the observation of
occultations and eclipses. It provides predictions for grazing occultations
of stars by the Moon and predictions for occultations of stars by asteroids
and planets, information on observing equipment and techniques, and reports
to the members of observations made.
The purpose of ISTeC is to bring to the attention of the general astronomical
community the distribution and availability of small-to-intermediate size
research telescopes and associated equipment through a voluntary information
listing. ISTeC is now taking part in a worldwide exchange of small telescope
information, observations, and in efforts to foster global research
collaboration, via the Internet. ISTeC provides a listing of small telescope
observatories, instruments available, and contact points for the member
institutions.
The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is a non-profit public
foundation. PARI's primary purpose is to provide an astronomical
observatory and study site for education and research by colleges,
universities and grades K-12, and for the promotion and teaching of the
sciences that support these activities. Current programs include the
School of Galactic Radio Astronomy, an Internet classroom using the PARI
4.6-m radio telescope remotely, high school, undergraduate, and graduate
student research, professional astronomers visiting and using the PARI
Observatories, and teacher workshops.
PARI is located on a 200-acre site northwest of Brevard, North Carolina in
the Pisgah National Forest and is relatively free of light and radio
interference. The PARI Observatories include two fully operational 26-m
radio telescopes, a 12-m precision surface antenna, a 4.6-m antenna used as
an Internet high school classroom, an antenna dedicated to the study of
Jupiter-Io magnetic field interaction, a University of North
Carolina-Chapel Hill graduate student's all-sky survey 0.20-m robotic
optical telescope, a 0.3-m (UNC-Chapel Hill) dedicated to optical
observations of gamma-ray bursts, a 0.4-m telescope for general research,
and a 0.3-m telescope dedicated to photometry of Polaris. Housing and a
cafeteria for students and visitors are available at the facility.
The Society for Astronomical Sciences (SAS) is a newly formed group,
consisting of amateurs and professionals, to facilitate collaborative
astronomical research between amateur, student, and professional
astronomers by providing a medium for the exchange of practical
information not normally discussed at symposia or published in other
journals. We were formerly the Western Wing of the IAPPP. We hold a
Symposium on Telescope Sciences each year right before Memorial Day at
Big Bear, California. The interests of the group mainly revolve around
photometry of stars and asteroids, astrometry and spectroscopy. Our web
site is
http://socastrosci.org/Default.htm
or contact Dale Mais at dmais-AT-ligand.com.
Last updated: 2004 Jan 06
http://www.aas.org/wgpac/links/index.html
Contact WGPAC
Copyright © 2000-2004 by the American Astronomical Society.
Other logos and trademarks belong to their copyright and trademark owners.