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ALPO Announcements

Jupiter Alert!

From Dr. John Rogers at the BAA:

“A pair of AWOs in the northern NEB, due N of the GRS, have interacted rapidly in the last two days - observations are needed urgently! The larger oval is temporarily named WS-C/E, as it formed by merger of WS-C and WS-E at the start of September. The smaller one (now greatly distorted) was a new, unnamed one that appeared since then.”

Jupiter

Please send your observations to jupiter@alpo-astronomy.org and copy Dr. John Rogers with your report.

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Parker Probe Swings by Venus
11/5/2024

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is slated to have its seventh and final swing by our sister planet Venus on November 6^th. These encounters tighten its choreographed orbit around the Sun, with this last one bringing the craft to within 3.8 million miles of its surface. While the Sun is the principal object for investigation, the plucky spacecraft has also been helpful examining our sister planet. During the last encounter in July 202, scientists were surprised to find the spacecraft's camera could peer through the dense clouds all the way to its surface, revealing distinct features, such as continental regions, plains and plateaus.

Solar Maximum Reached
10/16/2024

NASA Logo In a conference today NASA, NOAA, and the International Solar Cycle Prediction Panel announced that the Sun is in its solar maximum period where sunspots, flares, and other activity are at their greatest. This period will last approximately a year according to scientists. Such activity can lead to aurora, such as those seen deep into the continental US last week. Scientists will not be able to determine the exact peak of this solar maximum period for many months because it's only identifiable after they've tracked a consistent decline in solar activity after that peak.

Check the Events Calendar

All Times are in Universal Time (UT)

2024-11-09 05:55
First Quarter Moon

2024-11-11 02:00
Saturn 0.09° south of Moon, occultation Polynesia to Azores

2024-11-12
Equinox - Northern Spring/Southern Autumn;NPH breaking up

2024-11-15 21:29
Full Moon

2024-11-16
Leonid meteor shower

2024-11-16
Mercury at greatest eastern (evening) elongation

2024-11-16 08:00
Moon in Pleiades

2024-11-20
Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky

2024-11-21
Uranus at opposition

2024-11-23 01:28
Last Quarter Moon

Explore our Galleries

Credit: Gregory Shanos
Equipment: 25cm f/10 SCT, ASI178MM
Cloud structure in our sister planet is revealed in this UV image from June, 2023.

Credit: Gary Walker
Equipment: 254mm APM refractor
The GRS approaches the central meridian with ovals A7 and A8 below it in this image from earlier in 2024

Credit: Bill Flanagan
Equipment: Canon EOS D6 with 200mm lens
Detailed view of the corona and its streamers are seen in this beautiful HDR shot.

Credit: Mike Hood
Equipment: SCT 356mm f/11
Multiple blue-white cold fronts extend southward from the North Polar Hood. Such "north polar fronts" are analogous to the jet streams that extend southward over North America every springtime on Earth.

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.

Join ALPO

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.

Paying Online

Please use this link to purchase your membership online via PayPal.

Paying by Mail

Download and complete the ALPO Membership form following the instruction on the form