Welcome to the Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers
ALPO Announcements
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using the website:
Welcome
to the updated ALPO website! We are happy to launch this refreshed version
of our website and hope that you’ll be a frequent visitor. Our objective
is to have content that will be a resource for all observers that enjoy
studying our Solar System.
(July 31, 2024) -For those who attended this year’s ALPO 2024 Conference, THANK YOU so much to both the presenters AND the viewers, no matter whether it was via Zoom or the ALPO YouTube Channel! With 13 presenters and a total of 85 viewers over the two days, we believe we really did the amateur astronomical community proud. The conference was held July 26 and 27. And here’s another shout-out to our door prize donors — Celestron, Explore Scientific and Catseye Collimation System. (We ask that the winners of their door prizes to please take some time to write a thank-you letter (or email) to those door prize contributors.) For those who missed it: • Tim Robertson (ALPO Conference 2024 chairman) for overseeing things and making the online arrangements run so smoothly. • Matt Will (ALPO Membership Secretary/Treasurer) for his talk on the status of the organization today.
From Dr. John Rogers of the
BAA: “As Juno is coming up for its
perijove no.65 on Friday (Sep.20), it is still important to get amateur
images of the planet around the sub-spacecraft track. Although the
perijove track is on the dark side, Juno's Microwave Radiometer always
scans it and Dr Glenn Orton has emphasized that amateur images are needed
to show what features the MWR is viewing. This time, perijove will be at
L3 = 8, at 55 deg.N, then Juno will cross the equator at L3 = 34. So any good images of this region
in the next few days would be very welcome.” 
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Best Images Yet from BepiColombo
9/5/2024
The ESA/JAXA
spacecraft BepiColombo made a successful flyby at Mercury on Sept. 4th,
sending back its best images yet as it flew within 165km of the planet.
The successful maneuver will slow the spacecraft down to enable it to
eventually orbit Mercury starting in November 2026. The B&W images
were taken using the “M-CAM”, the main science camera is shield and will
provide higher resolution images once BepiColumbo starts its scientific
investigation in earnest.
Read More
Meteorites from Tharsis and Elysium?
8/23/2024
Scientists at the
University of Alberta have been studying some of the 200 meteorites in
their collection that have been identified as originating from Mars. By
examining the meteorites' “shock features” they were able to estimate the
size of the impact craters that could have launched the meteorites,
enabling them to speculate that the Martian rocks were ejected from
craters formed in the Tharsis and Elysium regions of the planet.
Read More
Check the Events Calendar
2024-09-19 14:22
Start of Carrington Rotation 2289
2024-09-20
Neptune at opposition
2024-09-22 05:50
Dione Transit
2024-09-23 23:00
Jupiter 6° south of Moon
2024-09-24 04:21
Rhea Eclipse Emergence
2024-09-24 18:50
Last Quarter Moon
2024-09-25 12:00
Mars 5° south of Moon
2024-09-27
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) at perihelion
2024-09-30
Mercury at superior conjunction
2024-10-02 15:42
Annular Solar Eclipse (South America)
Learn about the ALPO
The Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO) is an international organization devoted to 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.
The ALPO collects and analyzes observations of various Solar System bodies and associated phenomena and publishes detailed reports concerning these bodies in its quarterly publication the Journal ALPO, otherwise known as The Strolling Astronomer. Membership in the ALPO includes receiving our journal, and back issues can be found in our Publications section.
We welcome and provide services for all individuals 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. Further details about the ALPO can be found here.
There are a range of membership levels available starting with annual dues of only $22. See the footer below for links on how you can become a member today.
The Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO) is an international organization devoted to study of the Sun, Moon, planets, asteroids, meteors, and comets. Celebrating our 75th anniversary in 2022, our goals are to stimulate, coordinate, and promote the study of these bodies using methods and resources available to both amateur and professional astronomers.
The science of astronomy has never been more exciting or dynamic than it is today - for the novice observer, the ALPO is a place to learn and enhance one’s observational techniques. For the advanced amateur astronomer, it is a place where one's work will matter. And for the professional astronomer, it is a resource where group studies or systematic observing patrols add to the advancement of astronomy.
ALPO members range from enthusiastic individuals with the desire to pursue an initial interest in astronomy to advanced amateurs to professional astronomers deeply involved in lunar and planetary astronomy.
Becoming a member is easy, and we welcome you to join us as we explore and learn more about this vast universe we all call home. Simply select one of the options below to get started.
Please use this link to purchase your membership online via PayPal.
Download and complete the ALPO Membership form following the instruction on the form