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Journal of the Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers ISSN-0039-2502 Journal of the Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers The Strolling Astronomer Volume 50, Number 1, Winter 2008 Now in Portable Document Format (PDF) for Macintosh and PC-compatible computers Online and in COLOR at http://www.alpo-astronomy.org Inside. • Mars takes a hit! (Maybe) Observing Alert for ALL ALPO members! • Show your ALPO pride with the new ALPO Lapel Pin! • Book review on webcam imaging by Robert Reeves • Report on the lunar eclipse of last August • Comets Holmes and Tuttle – What a show! • Report on solar Carrington Rotations 2040 thru 2050 • Report on the 2004-2005 Saturn apparition . plus reports about your ALPO section activities and much, much more Color image of Comet 17P/ Holmes by ALPO Comets Section coordinator Gary Kronk taken 2007 November 6 (23:41 UT). The image is a 50-second expo- sure using a Canon Digital Rebel XTi (10.1 MP) camera connected at the prime focus of Gary's 8- inch Meade LX-200. Image taken at Gary's observatory in St. Jacob, Illinois, USA. 10% off All TeleVue Telescopes Anacortes Telescopes Astronomy Free Shipping! TeleVue® Anacortes carries the entire line! TeleVue started over 20 years ago with the goal of thrilling sky watchers with unparalleled views of the heavens. The company continually strives to meet TeleVue 60is Imaging System this goal by building high-performance quality into every piece, even beginner ones. Use with your Innovative design goes into each instrument to produce cutting-edge equipment that digital camera captures images perfectly. In each product, TeleVue offers high contrast images and wide, full- fi eld sharpness. The purpose is to allow viewers the same, limitless panorama astronauts experience in space. 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(+=(5*,+;,3,:*67,:@:;,4:(76.,,05:;9<4,5;:(:;967/@:0*: (:;96+65 )6.,5 )69. )<:/5,33 *(565 *,3,:;965 *6965(+6 *<:;64 :*0,5;0-0* *@(56.,5-30-<105651402,5+90*23,0*(36:4(5+@3<40*654,(+,5026567;,*7(9(33(?7,5;(?8<,:;(99*67;0*(3:@:;,4::)0. :6-;>(9, )0:8<, :;(930./; 05:;9<4,5;: :;,33(9=<, :>(96=:20 ;(2(/(:/0 ;,* ;,3,.0A46: ;,3, =<, <50=,9:(3 (:;965640*: =0?,5 >0330(4 67;0*: A,0:: (800) 850-2001 Secure online ordering 24 hours a day at BuyTelescopes.com (\J[PVUZÇ*SHZZPÄLKZÇ-VY\TZH[Astromart.com The Strolling Astronomer Journal of the In This Issue: Association of Lunar & Inside the ALPO Point of View: Notes From the Director! .....................5 Planetary Observers News of General Interest ALPO Observer Alert! Possible Mars Impact by The Strolling Astronomer Asteroid on January 30 ...........................................6 Reminder: Address changes ..................................6 Volume 50, No. 1, Winter 2008 Strolling Astronomer Online Indexes Now Available This issue published in December 2007 for distribution in both porta- .................................................................................7 ble document format (pdf) and also hardcopy format. ALPO Online Membership Payments are Back .....7 ALPO Interest Section Reports ..................................7 This publication is the official journal of the Association of Lunar & ALPO Observing Section Reports ..............................9 Planetary Observers (ALPO). Feature Stories The purpose of this journal is to share observation reports, opinions, and other news from ALPO members with other members and the Book Review: Introduction to Webcam Photography professional astronomical community. ................................................................................ 20 Reeves on webcams ................................................21 © 2007, Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO). The Notes on Comets 17P/Holmes and 8P/Tuttle ..........22 ALPO hereby grants permission to educators, academic libraries and Carrington Rotations 2040-2050 (2006-01-2.05 to the professional astronomical community to photocopy material for 2006-06-14.7) .........................................................24 educational or research purposes as required. There is no charge for A Report on the August 28, 2007 Total Lunar Eclipse these uses provided that credit is given to The Strolling Astronomer, .................................................................................26 the “JALPO” or the ALPO itself, as appropriate. All others must ALPO Observations of Saturn During the 2004 - 2005 request permission from the ALPO. Apparition ................................................................30 An Eclipse of Nereid by Neptune on For membership or general information about the ALPO, contact: 2008 April 21 ...........................................................55 Matthew Will ALPO Resources ALPO Membership Secretary/Treasurer P.O. Box 13456 Board of Directors .................................................... 56 Springfield, Illinois 62791-3456 Publications Staff .....................................................56 Interest Sections ......................................................56 E-mail to: [email protected] Observing Sections ..................................................56 ALPO Publications ...................................................58 The Monograph Series .........................................58 Visit the ALPO online at: ALPO Observing Section Publications ..................59 http://www.alpo-astronomy.org Other ALPO Publications ......................................60 Our Advertisers Anacortes Telescope & Wild Bird ... Inside Front Cover Orion Telescopes & Binoculars ...................................2 Galileo Telescopes....................................................62 Scope City........................................Inside Back Cover Sky & Telescope ..........................Outside Back Cover Volume 50, No. 1 Winter 2008 Page 1 The Strolling Astronomer ­nää®Ê{{Ç£ää£ "À/iiÃV«iðV %VERYTHINGFORTHE !MATEUR!STRONOMER -ViÊ£Çx]Ê"ÀÊ >ÃÊLiiÊ«ÀÛ`}ʵÕ>ÌÞÊ ÌiiÃV«iÃ]ÊLVÕ>ÀÃÊ>`Ê>VViÃÃÀiÃÊvÀÊ ,iÃÕÝÒÊ7*Ê£xÝÇä ÃÌÀV>Ê VÕ>Àà >>ÌiÕÀÊ>ÃÌÀiÀð 8/È 8/n 8/£ä 8/£Ó -Ì>À- ÌÒÊ->ÀÊ-ÞÃÌi ÀÊ>}iÀÊ -Þ+ÕiÃÌÒÊÌi-V«iÃÁ UÊ Õ}iÊÃiiVÌÊvÊÌiiÃV«iÃ]Ê -Ì>À}>âiÀ½ÃÊÌiÀÊ-iÌÃ Ê LVÕ>ÀÃÊ>`Ê>VViÃÃÀiÃÊÌÊÃÕÌÊ Ê LLÞÃÌÃÊvÊ>ÊiÛiÃ]ÊvÀÊLi}iÀÃÊ Ê ÌÊiÝ«iÀiVi`Ê>>ÌiÕÀð UÊ ÜÊ`ÃVÕÌÊ«ÀViÃÊ UÊ £ää¯Ê->ÌÃv>VÌÊÕ>À>Ìii -Þ6iÜÊ*ÀÒÊ£xä UÊ Ài`Þ]Ê i«vÕÊÃiÀÛVi >ÃÕÌÛ >ÃÃi}À> 1ÌÀ>ÃV«VÒÊ Þi«iVià , Ê ÀÊ >Ì>}t 7iÊ/Ài>ÌÊ"ÕÀÊ ÕÃÌiÀÃÊiÊ-Ì>ÀÃt vÀ>ÌÉ`ÛVi\Ê ­nää®ÊÈÇÈ£Î{Î >ÊÌvÀiiÊ­nää®Ê{{Ç£ää£Ê Ó{ÊÕÀÊ/ÀiiÊ"À`iÀÃ\Ê­nää®Ê{{Ç£ää£ ÀÊÀiµÕiÃÌÊÌÊi° Page*ÀViÃÊÃÕLiVÌÊÌÊV >}i 2"À/iiÃV«iðV Volume 49, No. 4 Autumn 2007 The Strolling Astronomer Inside the ALPO Member, section and activity news Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers (ALPO) Point of View Notes From the Director! Board of Directors By Mike D. Reynolds, Ph.D., executive director, Executive Director (Chair); Mike D. Reynolds Assn of Lunar & Planetary Observers Associate Director; Richard W. Schmude, Jr. Member of the Board; Julius L. Benton, Jr. Greetings, Fellow ALPOers! As noted in the last issue of the Member of the Board; Sanjay Limaye JALPO, we are pleased to announce ALPO’s new website. If Member of the Board; Donald C. Parker you have not been Member of the Board; Ken Poshedly there to check it Member of the Board; John E. Westfall out, please go to Member of the Board & Secretary/Treasurer; http://www.alpo- Matthew Will astronomy.org. Founder/Director Emeritus; Walter H. Haas You will note sev- eral new features Publications on the site, most Editor & Publisher, Ken Poshedly noticeably recent images and obser- Primary Observing Section & vations. Since the Interest Section Staff Association of Lunar & Planetary (See full listing in ALPO Resources) Observers was Lunar& Planetary Training Program: Timothy J. Robert- built on regular, son systematic observ- Solar Section: Kim Hay ing and data, it Mercury Section: Frank Melillo seems appropri- Venus Section: Julius L. Benton, Jr. ate that we high- Mercury/Venus Transit Section: John E. Westfall light recent Lunar Section: observations! Lunar Transient Phenomena; Anthony Cook Lunar Meteoritic Impact Search; Brian Cudnik Imaging has become such a major part of collecting data, and Lunar Topographical Studies & many ALPO observers have gotten really good at imaging. I have received several e-mails in regard to the new website. I Selected Areas Program; William Dembowski want to offer our sincere thanks to ALPO webmaster Larry Lunar Dome Survey; Marvin W. Huddleston Owens for making a smooth transition from the old site and host Mars Section: Daniel M. Troiani to the new site. Minor Planets Section: Frederick Pilcher Jupiter Section: Richard W. Schmude, Jr. Thanks to all of our observers for submitting their reports to the Saturn Section: Julius L. Benton, Jr. various ALPO section coordinators. Your observations are Remote Planets Section: Richard W. Schmude, Jr. invaluable in contributing not only to ALPO, but to a better Comets Section: Gary Kronk understanding of our solar system. And our community is one Meteors Section: Robert
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