Observers Notebook

Episode 221 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to Bob Lunsford about the upcoming Orionids, Taurids, and Leonid’s Meteor Showers. You can contact Bob at: lunro.imo.usa@cox.net American Meteor Society https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/ For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at: www.alpo-astronomy.org/ You can also...

Episode 102025 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the ALPO Comets Section Coordinator Carl Hergenrother. Carl comes on the podcast to discuss Comet Lemmon and Swan. You can contact Carl at: carlhergenrother@gmail.com ALPO Comets Section blog: http://www.alpo-astronomy.org/cometblog/ In the Sky- Guides to the night sky https://in-the-sky.org/ For more inf...

Episode 220 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Director of Astronomy Outreach for the International Astronomical Union, Kelly Blumenthal. You can contact Kelly at: blumenthal.kelly@oao.iau.org International Astronomical Union: https://www.iau.org/ https://iau.org/WG330/WG330/Home.aspx public@oao.iau.org iauoutreach.org For more information you can vi...

Episode 219 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to Bob Lunsford about his process for observing and photographing the recent transits of Saturn’s moon Titan. Titan’s Orbit and Motion: • Orbital period around Saturn: ~15.945 Earth days • Average distance from Saturn: ~1.22 million km • Orbital inclination: ~0.3° relative to Saturn’s equator (small, so Titan’s...

Episode 218 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Director of International Observe the Moon Night, Staci Horvath. You can contact Staci at: staci.l.tiedeken@nasa.gov International Observe the Moon Night: https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/ For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at: www.alpo-astronomy.org/ You can also support th...

Episode 217 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the ALPO Lunar Section Coordinator and Editor of the Lunar Observer newsletter. You can contact David at: drteske@yahoo.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 Listen to the po...

Episode 216 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Editor in Chief of Sky& Telescope magazine, Diana Hannikainen. You can contact Diana at: diana@skyandtelescope.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...

Episode 215 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Meteor Section Coordinator, Bob Lunsford about the upcoming Delta Aquariids meteor showers peaking the evening of July 29/20 2025. Bob gives us a brief history of the Meteor Showers, how and where to observe and details on reporting your observations, and contact information. You can contact Bob at: lunr...

Episode 213 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Mercury Section Coordinator, Frank Melillo. Frank gives us a brief history of the Mercury 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 Frank at: frankj12@aol.com ALPO Mercur...

Episode 212 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Solar Section Coordinator, Rik Hill about what is a Solar Cycle and what we need to know about this event. You can contact Rik at: rhill24@cox.net You can visit Rik’s website here. https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/~rhill/jlobs.html Space Weather https://spaceweather.com/ For more information you can visit the...

Episode 214 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Minor Planets Coordinator, Fred Pilcher about the ALPO Minor Planets Section. You can contact Fred at: fpilcher35@gmail.com Minor Planet Bulletin https://mpbulletin.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://...

Episode 211 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the ALPO member Jim Tomney on the upcoming Virtual ALPO Conference. The dates will be Friday and Saturday, July 25/26, 2025. The conference will also be Live Streamed on the ALPO YouTube channel. As a "virtual" event, this year's ALPO conference will NOT be an in-person event. This way, you can participate f...

Episode 209 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to Jack Daleo, Reporter covering the modern flying beat for FLYING Magazine, writing about topics like drones, unmanned aircraft systems, advanced air mobility and space travel. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FAA oversee investigations of aircraft accidents in U.S. airspace. But what happen...

Episode 209 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Comet Section Coordinator, Carl Hergenrother about the newly discovered Comet Swan, 2025F2. You can contact Carl at: carlhergenrother@gmail.com ALPO Comets Section blog: http://www.alpo-astronomy.org/cometblog/ For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at: www.alpo-astronomy.org/ You can also...

Episode 207 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to Sam Deen, as a child, he began searching for exoplanets, but soon he was not satisfied with simply clicking on the offered images. He wanted more, to use the available data for his own scientific research. After a year, he left university studies to devote all his time to astronomy. He finds lost asteroids,...

Episode 208 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Meteor Section Coordinator, Bob Lunsford about the upcoming Lyrids and eta Aquariids meteor showers peaking the evening of April 17-26, 2025 and April 20-May 21 2025. Bob gives us a brief history of the Meteor Showers, how and where to observe and details on reporting your observations, and contact infor...

Episode 206 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Astronomer and ALPO Eclipse Section Coordinator John O’Neal. John discusses the upcoming Total Lunar Eclipse and contact information. You can contact John at: kohamher1@yahoo.com John’s Website: http://www.ncstargazer.com/ Time and Date Website https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2025-march-14 For...

Episode 205 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Scott Roberts of Explore Scientific about the future of telescopes and the future of the industry. You can contact Scott at: S@explorescientific.com Explore Scientific: https://www.explorescientific.com/ For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at: www.alpo-astronomy.org/ You can also support...

Episode 203 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the coordinator of the ALPO Mars section about the upcoming apparition with Roger Venable We discuss Roger’s life and experiences in Amateur Astronomy and contact information. You can contact Roger at: rjvmd@progressivetel.com The ALPO Mars Blog: https://www.alpo-astronomy.org/Mars For more information you c...

Episode 202 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the ALPO Comets Section Coordinator Carl Hergenrother. Carl again comes on the podcast to bring us The Comets of 2025, which is always one of our most popular podcasts and his contact information. You can contact Carl at: carlhergenrother@gmail.com ALPO Comets Section blog: http://www.alpo-astronomy.org/come...

Episode 204 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the author Robert Reeves. Robert discusses his interest in lunar observing and his latest book. You can contact Robert at: robertreeves400@gmail.com Photographic Atlas of the Moon: A Comprehensive Guide for the Amateur Astronomer https://www.amazon.com/Photographic-Atlas-Moon-Comprehensive-Astronomer/dp/0228...

Episode 200 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks about the history of the Observers Notebook and the future. You can contact Tim at: cometman@cometman.net The beginning Matt Will Episode 1 released on 2/2/2017 In Memorial Mike Reynolds (2019)- Episode 6, 39, 48, 60, 67- (Member Profile), 69, John Westfall (2018)- Episode 29 Don Machholz (2022)- Episode 42, 58...

Episode 201 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Jupiter Section Coordinator, Richard Schmude. Richard gives us a brief history of the Jupiter 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 Richard at: schmude@gordonstate.ed...

Episode 197 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the founder of the home observatory company, Sky Shed Pod, Wayne Parker. Wayne gives us a brief history of the company and contact information. You can contact Wayne at: wparker@ezlink.ca Glass Tiger https://glasstiger.ca/pages/the-band Sky Shed: https://skyshedpod.com/ For more information you can visit the...

Episode 199 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the Meteor Section Coordinator, Bob Lunsford about the upcoming Geminids Meteor Shower. The Geminids will next peak on the December 12/13, 2024. 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...