Journal of the Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers
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ISSN-0039-2502 Journal of the Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers The Strolling Astronomer Volume 45, Number 1, Winter 2003 Now in Portable Document Format (PDF) for MacIntosh and PC-Compatible Computers Inside...Inside...Inside... More on lunar domes While not the subject of this month’s dome study, we present here a view of lunar dome Mons Gruithuisen Delta (named for Franz von Paul Gruithuisen, a German physician-turned- astronomer) taken from an orbiting Apollo spacecraft. See page 12 for details. • Also . * An ALPO project team to study Saturn’s rings * Isophotes of the Sun * Getting ready for the upcoming Mercury/Venus transits * Getting ready for the Mars apparition * Jupiter and Saturn apparition reports Cover Graphic: John Sanford . plus reports about your ALPO section activities and much, much more. THE ASSOCIATION OF LUNAR AND PLANETARY OBSERVERS (ALPO) P.O. Box 13456, Springfield, Illinois 62791-3456 U.S.A. Thank you for your interest in our organization. The Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO) was founded by Walter H. Haas in 1947, and incorporated in 1990, as a medium for advancing and conducting astronomical work by both profes- sional and amateur astronomers who share an interest in Solar System observations. We welcome and provide services for all indi- viduals interested in lunar and planetary astronomy. For the novice observer, the ALPO is a place to learn and to enhance observational techniques. For the advanced amateur astronomer, it is a place where one's work will count. For the professional astronomer, it is a resource where group studies or systematic observing patrols add to the advancement of astronomy. Our Association is an international group of students that study 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. We have "sections" for the observation of all the types of bodies found in our Solar System. Section Coordinators collect and study submitted observations, correspond with observers, encourage beginners, and contribute reports to our Journal at appropriate inter- vals. Each Coordinator can supply observing forms and other instructional material to assist in your telescopic work. You are encouraged to correspond with the Coordinators in whose projects you are interested. Coordinators can be contacted through our web site via email or at their postal mail addresses listed in back of our Journal. Out web site is 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/. Our activities are on a volunteer basis, and each member can do as much or as little as he or she wishes. Of course, the ALPO gains in stature and in importance in proportion to how much and also how well each member contributes through his or her participation. Our work is coordinated by means of our quarterly Journal (The Strolling Astronomer). Membership dues include a subscription to the Journal. The ALPO offers a printed version of the Journal that is sent by regular mail. An identical digital (pdf) version is avail- able over the internet at reduced cost. Subscription rates and terms are listed below. We heartily invite you to join the ALPO and look forward to hearing from you. For your convenience, the form below may be filled out, detached, and mailed. Again, thank you for your interest in the ALPO Membership dues include a subscription to this Journal and option to participate on the ALPO-Member-Discussion e-mail listserv. Membership dues are: $US100 – Sponsor member level, 4 issues of the digital and paper Journal, all countries $US50 – Sustaining Member level, 4 issues of the digital and paper Journal, all countries $US46 – 8 issues of the paper Journal only, USA, Mexico and Canada $US26 – 4 issues of the paper Journal only, USA, Mexico and Canada $US60 – 8 issues of the paper Journal only, all other countries $US33 – 4 issues of the paper Journal only, all other countries $US19 – 8 issues of the digital Journal only, all countries, e-mail address required $US11 – 4 issues of the digital Journal only, all countries, e-mail address required Please make payment by check or money order, payable (through a U.S. bank and encoded with U.S. standard banking numbers) to "ALPO" There is a 20-percent surcharge on all memberships obtained through subscription agencies or which require an invoice. Please Print: Name________________________________________________________________________________________ Streeet Address________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Cit, Statte, ZIP _______________________________________________________________________________ E-mail Address________________________________________________________________________________ Phone Number________________________________________________________________________________ Please share your observing interests with the ALPO by entering the appropriate codes on the blank line below. Interest_______________________________________________________________________________________ Interest Abbreviations 0 = Sun 5 = Jupiter A = Asteroids R = Radio Astronomy 1 = Mercury 6 = Saturn C = Comets S = Astronomical Software 2 = Venus 7 = Uranus H = History T = Tutoring 3 = Moon 8 = Neptune M = Meteors P = Photography 4 = Mars 9 = Pluto I = Instru- ments D = CCD Imaging The Strolling Astronomer Journal of the In This Issue: Association of Lunar & Inside the ALPO Point of View: A Road Well-Traveled .................. 1 Planetary Observers, Reminder: Address changes ...............................2 New Dues Structure ...........................................2 The Strolling Astronomer Our Advertisers ..................................................2 ALPO Conference News ....................................2 Volume 45, No. 1, Winter 2003 Observing Section Reports .................................2 This issue published in February 2003 for distribution in Solar Section .................................................2 both portable document format (pdf) and also hardcopy Mercury Section .............................................3 format. Meteors Section .............................................3 Venus Section .................................................3 This publication is the official journal of the Association Meteorites Section: 2002 Annual Report ........4 of Lunar & Planetary Observers (ALPO). Mars Section ..................................................5 Minor Planets Section ....................................5 The purpose of this journal is to share observation Jupiter Section ...............................................5 reports, opinions, and other news from ALPO members Saturn Section ...............................................6 with other members and the professional astronomical Remote Planets (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) 7 community. Interest Section Reports .....................................7 Lunar & Planetary Training Program .............7 © 2003, Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers Computing Section ........................................8 (ALPO). The ALPO hereby grants permission to educa- Events of Interest: 2003 Peach State Star Gaze ..8 tors, academic libraries and the professional astronomi- Letters ................................................................8 cal community to photocopy material for educational or This month’s cover ...........................................12 research purposes as required. There is no charge for these uses provided that credit is given to The Strolling Astronomer, the “JALPO” or the ALPO itself, as appro- Features priate. All others must request permission from the A Proposed Project for 2003-2004: Photoelectric ALPO. Photometry of Saturn’s Rings .......................13 Techniques for Viewing Sunspot Umbrae with For membership or general information about the Isophotes .....................................................14 ALPO, contact: A Decade of Mercury/Venus Transits ................16 Domes in the Hortensius Region ......................26 Matthew Will The Great 2003 Perihelic Apparition of Mars ...29 ALPO Membership Secretary/Treasurer Flashes on Mars Observed in 1937 and Some P.O. Box 13456 Random Remarks ........................................43 Springfield, Illinois 62791-3456 The 1992-1993 Apparition of Jupiter ...............46 Photoelectric Photometry of Saturn in 2000-2001 E-mail to: [email protected] .....................................................................62 ALPO Observations of Saturn During the 2000-2001 Apparition ....................................................64 Visit the ALPO online at: http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/alpo ALPO Resources ALPO Board of Directors ..................................77 Publications Staff ..............................................77 Lunar and Planetary Training Program .............77 Observing and Interest Section Staff............ 77-78 ALPO Board/Staff E-mail Directory...................79 ALPO Publications: The Monograph Series..................................78 ALPO Observing Section Publications ..........79 Other ALPO Publications..............................80