38 July 2014 sky & telescopeIT’S A CLEAR NIGHT. Your scope is set up and pointed
skyward. You’re ready to start your observing session.
And then comes that moment of indecision: What am I
going to observe tonight?
If you have ever asked yourself that question and found
that the answer was “the usual things” — or worse, “I
don’t know” — then let me suggest tackling an Astro-
nomical League observing program.
If you’re a member of an astronomy club, there’s a
good chance that you are also a member of the Astronom-
ical League; more than 240 astronomy clubs are member
societies. Individuals, too, can join the League as mem-
bers at large. The forty-plus observing programs (formerly
known as observing clubs) are one of the great benefi ts of
membership in the League.
More than just a list of objects to observe, an observing
program off ers a specifi c goal to work toward and comes
complete with some well-earned bragging rights. The rec-
ognition of your fellow hobbyists is marked with a certifi -Astronomy with a Plan
You?
The Astronomical League has a project for every taste and skill level.
Te d For teT dF
cate, a lapel pin, and a spot on the awards list published in
the League’s quarterly newsletter, The Refl ector, as well as
permanent honors on http://www.astroleague.org. A great many
observers fi nd a source of pride and accomplishment in
earning these awards.
There are a host of benefi ts to be gained by working
the programs. They will help you develop new observing
skills and introduce you to objects that you might other-
wise never encounter. The logging requirements will
foster better note taking. The requirement to describe or
sketch objects will improve your eye for detail and make
you more observant. And in addition to improving your
observing skills, these programs may introduce you to
aspects of astronomy that you had not previously encoun-
tered, sparking new interests and greater understanding
of the science behind the hobby.
There seems to be a program for almost any observ-
ing interest, skill level, or degree of commitment. The
observing lists are themed. They’re typically comprised