Observers Notebook

Episode 29

August 16, 1938 - July 26, 2018

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to John Westfall.

John joined the Geography Department in 1968; In 2005 appointed Professor Emeritus from SF State University. With the ALPO has held the positions of Lunar Recorder, Associate Director, Editor and Director. John is currently the coordinator of the Mercury and Venus transit section and of the Galilean satellite eclipse-timing program. Author of a critically acclaimed book- "Atlas of the Lunar Terminator".

John talks at length about what amazing changes he has witnessed in his years in the ALPO.

You can contact John at:

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:

http://www.alpo-astronomy.org/

You can join the ALPO here:

https://store.astroleague.org/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=39

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

Episode 28

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Meteor Section Coordinator, Bob Lunsford about the upcoming Orionids Meteor Shower peaking the morning of October 22 2017.

Bob gives us a brief history of the Meteor Shower, how and where to observe and details on reporting your observations, and contact information.

You can contact Bob at:

The ALPO Metoer Section link for the 2017 Orionids

http://www.alpo-astronomy.org/meteorblog/?p=171

The link for the details on the Orionids meteor shower:

https://www.amsmeteors.org/2017/10/meteor-activity-outlook-for-october-14-20-2017/

For the latest information from the ALPO Meteor Section you can visit:

http://www.amsmeteors.org/

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:

www.alpo-astronomy.org/

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

Episode 27

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Mars Section Coordinator, Jim Melka.

Jim gives us a brief history of the Mars Section and discusses what type of equipment is needed to contribute to the section, and also the various observing programs available, and contact information.

Plus additional information on the 2017 ALPO convention in Athen Georgia.

You can contact Jim at:

For additional information on the ALPO Mars Section:

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/marsobservers/info

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:

www.alpo-astronomy.org/

You can join the ALPO here:

https://store.astroleague.org/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=39

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

Episode 26

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Saturn Section Coordinator, Julius Benton.

Julius gives us a brief history of the Saturn Section and discusses what’s happening on Saturn right now during it 2017 Apparition and also what observations could be in conjunction with the Cassini Mission ending, and contact information.

You can contact Julius at:

Additional information on the ALPO Saturn section can be found here:

http://www.alpo-astronomy.org/saturnblog/

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Saturn-ALPO/info

Saturn Section Observing Forms:

http://www.alpo-astronomy.org/saturn/satfrms.html

Saturn and How to Observe it, By Julius Benton

https://www.amazon.com/Saturn-Observe-Astronomers-Observing-Guides/dp/1852338873/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504052075&sr=8-1&keywords=julius+benton

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:

www.alpo-astronomy.org/

The Observers Notebook on twitter:

@ObserversNBPod

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

I want to thank our Patreon producer of this podcast, Steve Siedentop.

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

Show Notes 25

Episode 25

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson gives his State of the Podcast- Podcast.

Tim discusses where the podcat has come and where it is going, along the way thanking those who have helped out along the way. Tim also discusses the power of the internet with his recent visit The Edge podcast on the Trek FM network.

You can contact Tim at:

Diana Liston’s etsy page:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/desertnightsstudio

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:

www.alpo-astronomy.org/

The Observers Notebook on twitter:

@ObserversNBPod

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

I want to thank our Patreon producer of this podcast, Steve Siedentop.

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

Episode 24

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to ALPO Meteorite Section Leader, Dolores Hill.

Dolores gives us a brief history of the Meteorite Section and discusses what’s up with rain gutter meteorites, ALH 84001 the Martian meteorite and what is needed to contribute to the section, and contact information.

You can contact Dolores at:

For more informarion on the Meteorite Section:

http://alpo-astronomy.org/meteorite/

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:

http://www.alpo-astronomy.org/

You can join the ALPO here:

https://store.astroleague.org/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=39

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

I want to thank our Patreon producer of this podcast, Steve Siedentop.

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

Episode 23

In this special edition episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson covers the 2017 Total Eclipse with his travel log and interviews with various people along the way.

I want to thank everyone that allowed me to interview them along the way.

You can watch the video I made from Madras Oregon during the eclipse here:

https://youtu.be/zKLfDQvd2M8

The Observers Notebook on twitter:

@ObserversNBPod

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:

http://www.alpo-astronomy.org/

I want to thank our Patreon producer of this podcast, Steve Siedentop.

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

Episode 22

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Founder of Explore Scientific and past VP of Meade Instruments, Scott Roberts.

Tim and Scott have a great conversation about telescopes, the future of telescopes and also his new company Explore Scientific.

I want to thank our Patreon producer of this podcast, Steve Siedentop.

You can contact Scott at:

949-637-9075

You can visit Explore Scientific at:

https://explorescientificusa.com/

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:

www.alpo-astronomy.org/

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Follow us on Twitter @ObserversNBPod

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

Episode 21

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Ken Poshedly about the upcoming ALPO convention planned for October of this year.

Ken gives us an enlightening discussion on the plans, lodging and speaker lineup and attendee information for the event in Athens Georgia.

You can contact Ken at:

You can get the registration information here:

http://cometman.net/alpo/ALPO 2017 Convention.pdf

You can get additional information on the conference here:

Lodging information is available by calling this number:

706-542-2139

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:

www.alpo-astronomy.org/

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

Episode 20

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Lunar Transient Phenomena Section Coordinator, Tony Cook.

Tony gives us a brief history of the Lunar Transient Phenomena Section and discusses what type of equipment is needed to contribute to the section, and also the various observing programs available, and contact information.

You can contact Tony at:

The Twitter LTP alert site is on:

https://twitter.com/lunarnaut

For Repeat illumination predications of features to observe to match past LTP observers can use:

http://users.aber.ac.uk/atc/lunar_schedule.htm

If there are not enough objects on the Moon to study they can try a less sanitized version:

http://users.aber.ac.uk/atc/tlp/tlp.htm

In terms of work done elsewhere on LTP there is a good page on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transient_lunar_phenomenon

A very good account of the 1963 Aristarchus event by Greenacre and Barr can be found on:

http://www.the1963aristarchusevents.com/

One recent astronomer who studied LTP statistics was Prof. Arlin Crotts (1958-2015) of Columbia University

http://user.astro.columbia.edu/~arlin/TLP/index.html

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:

www.alpo-astronomy.org/

You can also support this podcast at Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producer of this podcast, Steve Siedentop for his generous support of the Observers Notebook.