1. O BSERVING THE H EAVENS How to get started on a lifetime adventure.

2. G OALS Point out what’s available Give hints on where to start Give hints on how to start Encourage you to start When you are done…

3. W HAT ’ S A VAILALBE Over 50 observing programs Targeted age levels Targeted skill levels Targets by objects Differ in equipment necessary Differ in time necessary

4. S KILL L EVELS Beginner Binocular Double Star, Meteor, Sketching, etc. Some programs have higher level followups Good place to get started Intermediate Carbon Star, Comet, Lunar II, Stellar Evolution, etc. Need more sophisticated equipment sometimes Advanced NEO, Arp Peculiar Galaxies, Variable Stars, etc. May need to learn to use the Club’s telescope

5. O BJECT TYPES Stars Galaxies Clusters Comets Solar System Moon Constellations/Asterisms Transits/Occultations Nebula Politics/Activism

6. E QUIPMENT N EEDED Naked Eye Meteor, Constellation Hunter, Outreach, etc. Binocular (No Telescope) Binocular Double Star, Comet, etc. Small Telescop (<8 inch) Double Star, Dark Sky Advocate, Asteroid, etc. Telescope (8-12 inch) Bright Nebula, Carbon Star, Gobular Clusters, etc. Telescope (>12 inch) Arp Galaxies, Local Galaxy Group, Flat Galaxies, etc.

7. T IME T ABLES Many times you have to wait for events Comets Transits Occultations Lunar cycle You may have to wait on weather You may have to so out early in the morning or wait a few months You may have to change locations Usually we find time for the things we want to do

8. W HERE TO START The AL website www.astroleague.org Then “Observing Programs” in the navigation map

9. H OW TO S TART Figure out what observing level you want to start at Figure out what equipment you have available Figure out how much time you can dedicate Figure out where you can make your observations Then Read through the descriptions to find a match. Order the manual if necessary Consider starting on 2 easy ones to maximize time

10. E XAMPLE – C ONSTELLATION H UNTER Go to the list and click on this program The introduction tells you what the program is for and the focus group The rules and regulations tell you what you have to do and how you have to do it What data you need to record What format if any it has to be in If you need a sketch The related links will point you to additional information, forms, and other information

11. S EEING VS. T RANSPARANCY Seeing The blurriness of the image affected by the air The ability to see details through the atmosphere Caused from movement of air cells in the atmosphere 1-10 scale where 10 is best Transparancy The darkness of the sky Affected by clouds, pollution, moon, etc 1-10 scale where 10 is best

12. G ETTING YOUR AWARD Johnny Barton is our AL contact so: Submit materials to him Give him time to give you feedback Remember: This is a volunteer position Give the reviewers adequate time to review your materials Some programs may slightly differ in procedures Remember: They may have full time jobs too Wear your award proudly!