Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Observing SIG

[NOTE: Participation in Special Interest Groups is limited to MAS members only. For information about joining the MAS, please visit the membership page at www.mnastro.org/membership.]

Purpose

The Observing SIG provides MAS members with the encouragement, skills and support needed to complete observing projects of all kinds.

Coordinator's Welcome

Observing SIG Mission Statement

[Please send comments, questions or suggestions to SIG coordinator Bill Kocken at the email address listed below.]

To encourage and facilitate the OBSERVING of astronomical objects by amateur astronomers.
To encourage and facilitate the improvement of OBSERVING and logging skills by amateur astronomers.
Encouraging and facilitating participation in ALL the Astronomical League's OBSERVING Club Projects (including the administration, observing log review, and coordination of OBSERVING Club Certificates as awarded by the Astronomical League).
To sponsor events, from time to time, including the annual Messier marathon, observing SIG meetings, and field OBSERVING sessions/contests.
To create and make available the "Messier SIG Astro CD" containing a wealth of visual OBSERVING information (from beginner info, Messier history, Messier finder charts, planetarium freeware, solar system information, etc.) free to any MAS Member interested in visual observing.
To provide OBSERVING outreach and assistance to MAS membership (including the Beginners SIG, new Observing SIG members, etc.)
To encourage discussion about observing projects, challenges and techniques via the MAS discussion forums.
Isn't "OBSERVING" what amateur astronomy is all about? Let's quit talking astronomy, and DO astronomy!!

Astronomical League Observing Projects / Clubs

The Astronomical League web page: www.astroleague.org lists the following 18 observing projects/clubs:

Arp Peculiar Galaxy Club
Asteroid Observing Club
Binocular Messier Club
Caldwell Club
Deep Sky Binocular Club
Double Star Club
Earth Orbiting Satellite Club
Herschel 400 Club
Herschel II Club
Lunar Club
The Master Observer Club
Messier Club
Meteor Club
Planetary Observers Club
Southern Skies Binocular Club
Sunspotters Club
Universe Sampler Club
Urban Observing Club

Upcoming Meetings / Events

[Please check for announcements of upcoming meetings or events in the Observing SIG forum found at http://www.mnastro.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=6.]

[observing/messier_meetings.htm]

SIG Update

[Please check for SIG updates in the Observing SIG forum found at http://www.mnastro.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=6.]

SIG Members Web Sites

Under construction

Useful Resources on the Internet

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) Messier data base (http://www.seds.org/messier/)
The Astronomical League's Messier observing program (http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/messier/mess.html)
The Astronomical League's binocular Messier observing program (http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/binomess/binomess.html)

E-mail Discussion List Instructions

NOTE: The Observing SIG is shifting its electronic discussions from a subscription-based email service to a web-based discussion forum located at http://www.mnastro.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=6.

Anyone is welcome to read the message posted in the forum, but only registered users are allowed to start new topics, reply to existing topics, respond to polls, etc. If you are not already a registered user for the forums, follow the [Register] link found near the top of each discussion forum page and follow the directions. Once you've successfully registered, you will have full posting rights to the Observing SIG forum.

"Basic instructions regarding using the forums is available at http://www.mnastro.org/forums/faq.php.

An archive of email-based postings made prior to this change is available at by pointing your browser to http://lists.mnastro.org/pipermail/messier/.

Contact Information:

For more information regarding this Special Interest Group, please contact:

Bill Kocken, SIG coordinator
wmkocken@hotmail.com