ISSN-0039-2502 Journal of the Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers The Strolling Astronomer Volume 43, Number 4, Autumn 2001 Now in Portable Document Format (PDF) for MacIntosh and PC-Compatible Computers Inside . This excellent Leonid fireball was captured by John Pane from Laurel Mountain State Park near Ligonier, Pennsylva- nia. Photo is a two-minute exposure taken November 18 at Wondrous! 5:40 a.m. EST. with an ordinary 35mm SLR camera mounted on a tripod, with a "normal" 50mm f/1.4 lens and Kodak TMZ 3200 film. The bowl of the Little Dipper can be seen to the left of the fireball. Also ..a report this year’s Leonid meteor shower -- the best in at least 35 years, plus a report on a lunar dome in the Apennine region south of the lunar crater Archimedes, reports on Venus and Saturn, a book review, ALPO observing section reports and much, much more. The Strolling Astronomer Journal of the In This Issue: Association of Lunar & The ALPO Pages Point of View.......................................................1 Planetary Observers, Address Change Reminder..................................2 Minutes of the ALPO Board of Directors Meeting, The Strolling Astronomer Frederick, MD, 2001 July 25...........................2 Volume 43, No. 4, Autumn 2001 Section Reports: This issue published in December 2001 for distribu- The ALPO Youth Program ..............................4 tion in both portable document format (pdf) and also ALPO Training Program..................................5 hardcopy format. Comets Section...............................................5 Eclipse Section................................................5 This publication is the official journal of the Associa- Lunar Section: tion of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO). Observation of Lunar Leonid Impacts.........6 Mars Section ...................................................6 The purpose of this journal is to share observation Minor Planets Section .....................................7 reports, opinions, and other news from ALPO mem- Jupiter Section................................................8 bers with other members and the professional astro- Remote Planets Section ..................................8 nomical community. About the Authors...............................................8 In Passing: © 2001, Association of Lunar and Planetary Observ- Robert “Big Bob” Itzenthaler...........................9 ers (ALPO). The ALPO hereby grants permission to Toshihiko Osawa.............................................9 educators, academic libraries and the professional astronomical community to photocopy material for Features educational or research purposes as required. There An Exceptional Leonid Display, is no charge for these uses provided that credit is 2001 November............................................11 given to The Strolling Astronomer, the “JALPO” or Photometry and Other Characteristics of Venus the ALPO itself, as appropriate. All others must .....................................................................17 request permission from the ALPO. A Previously Unreported and Unclassified Dome Near Archimedes ..........................................27 For membership or general information about ALPO Observations of Saturn During the the ALPO, contact: 1998-99 Apparition ......................................31 ALPO Book Review: Observing the Moon: Matthew Will The Modern Astronomer’s Guide..................44 ALPO Membership Secretary/Treasurer P.O. Box 13456 Springfield, Illinois 62791-3456 ALPO Resources ALPO Board of Directors ..................................45 E-mail to: [email protected] Publications Staff ..............................................45 Lunar and Planetary Training Program .............45 Observing and Interest Section Staff............ 45-47 Visit the ALPO online at: ALPO Board/Staff E-mail Directory...................47 http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/alpo ALPO Publications: The Monograph Series..................................47 ALPO Observing Section Publications ..........48 Other ALPO Publications..............................49 Membership in the ALPO..................................49 Volume 43, No. 4 Autumn 2001 The Strolling Astronomer The ALPO Pages: Member, section and activity news Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO) Point of View By Matthew Will, Membership Secretary & Board of Directors Treasurer, Assn. of Lunar & Planetary Executive Director (Chair); Julius L. Benton, Jr. Observers Associate Director, Donald C. Parker With concerns about Y2K Founder/Director Emeritus; Walter H. Haas two years ago, and other pre- Member of the Board; Richard Hill dictions of doom and Member of the Board; Ken Poshedly gloom, the Year 2000 was Member of the Board; Richard W. Schmude, Jr. supposed to be an epoch Member of the Board; John E. Westfall beginning or ending year in Member of the Board, Secretary; Elizabeth W. Westfall many people's minds. With- Member of the Board, Treasurer and out digressing into an argu- Membership Secretary; Matthew Will ment over what year constitutes Publications the beginning year of the 21st Century, 2000 or 2001, Acting Publisher, Ken Poshedly after the excitement of the transition toward 2000, many of us could not antici- pate that the very next year, 2001, would be a reality- Primary Observing Coordinators, Other altering year. The unfathomable events of Septem- ber 11th and thereafter have changed our view of the Staff world and how we live in it to some extent. While (See full listing in ALPO Resources at end of book) these sad events should not modify our enthusiasm Lunar and Planetary Training Program: Coordinator; and approach to our beloved interest of lunar and Timothy L. Robertson planetary astronomy, on a happier note I can report Solar Section: Coordinator, Website, SolNet, Rotation that the ALPO has undergone a great, positive trans- Report, handbook; Richard Hill formation in this pivotal year of 2001, a transforma- Mercury Section: Acting Coordinator; Frank Melillo tion that I hope will stimulate new growth and will Venus Section: Coordinator; Julius L. Benton, Jr. benefit our organization. Mercury/Venus Transit Section: Coordinator; By now, you may have noticed that our Journal has John E. Westfall changed in format and has modified its content to reflect what you, the members, have wanted via the Lunar Section: Coordinator; Selected Areas Program; ALPO Survey that was conducted some time ago. Julius L. Benton, Jr. Ken Poshedly, our new editor, has worked very dili- Mars Section: Coordinator, all observations, U.S. corre- gently to install these alterations. In the spirit of this spondence; Daniel M. Troiani change, the ALPO is always open to suggestions and Minor Planets Section: Coordinator; Frederick Pilcher opinions from members that read our Journal. Jupiter Section: Acting Coordinator; The Journal now has the capability of being repro- Richard W. Schmude, Jr. duced electronically, in a PDF format that will allow Saturn Section: Coordinator; Julius L. Benton, Jr. members to receive the Journal at reduced cost and Remote Planets Section: Coordinator; Richard W. through the convenience of the Internet. This has Schmude, Jr. given us a color capability that we could not afford Comets Section: Coordinator; Gary Kronk through conventional printers, and offers us a tanta- Meteors Section: Coordinator; Robert D. Lunsford lizing possibility of incorporating other electronic Meteorites Section (provisional): Acting Coordinator; features in future issues. But I'm over stepping my Dolores Hill bounds here and I will let Ken Poshedly introduce Computing Section: Coordinator; Mike W. McClure and discuss all of his plans in forthcoming issues. Youth Section: Acting Coordinator; Nevertheless, exciting times are ahead for the Jour- Timothy L. Robertson nal, and as members, we're glad you're aboard with Historical Section: Coordinator; Richard Baum us! Instruments Section: Acting Coordinator; R.B. Minton Eclipse Section (provisional): Acting Coordinator; Michael D. Reynolds Continued on page 10 Webmaster: Coordinator; Richard Hill Volume 43, No. 4 Autumn 2001 1 The Strolling Astronomer Reminders The Minor Planets Section will now be publishing reports in the Journal. Address changes We hope to expand the JALPO from 4 to 6 issues per Unlike regular mail, electronic mail is not forwarded year over a 1-2 year period, trying initially to publish when you change e-mail addresses unless you make special arrangements. the 2 extra issues as special issues such as on special topics, conference proceedings, and/or something more informal than the defunct Through the Tele- More and more, e-mail notifications to members are bounced back because we are not notified of address scope newsletter. changes. Efforts to locate errant members via online Towards the above-mentioned goal, it was proposed search tools has not been sucessful. and approved that the current year (Volume 43) run as 4 issues, each about 44-48 pages. For Volume 44, So once again, if you move or change Internet Ser- 2 special issues would be produced; for Volume 45, vice Providers and are assigned a new e-mail address, please notify Matt Will at will008@attglo- the 2 special issues would be incorporated into the bal.net as soon as possible. regular JALPO schedule. This plan will be reviewed at the 2002 meeting, and financial aspects of Minutes of the increased issues will be examined. ALPO Board of Directors Meeting, Treasurer’s Report Frederick, MD, 2001 July 25 Because of the change-over of treasurers,