Observers Notebook

Episode 238 Welcome to The Observers Notebook, the official podcast of the Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers — where we explore the Solar System and beyond, from Stargazing to Science. I’m your host, Tim Robertson, and today we’re diving into one of the best times of year for meteor observing — summertime meteor showers. Joining me is longtime meteor observer and expert Bob Lunsford. Bob...

Episode 237 Tonight on The Observers Notebook, we welcome one of the most recognizable voices in astronomy and science communication. He’s an astronomer, author, eclipse chaser, skeptic, educator, and the creator of the legendary Bad Astronomy blog and book series — Phil Plait. From debunking myths and conspiracy theories to helping the public better understand the universe and the scientific proc...

Episode 236 Tonight on The Observers Notebook — one of the most respected planetary imagers in the world joins us. From capturing incredible detail on Jupiter and Saturn to contributing observations used by professional astronomers and spacecraft teams, Christopher Go has helped redefine what amateur astronomers can accomplish. We’ll talk imaging techniques, atmospheric discoveries, equipment, pro...

Episode 236 Hello and welcome to The Observers Notebook, the official podcast of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers. I’m your host, Tim Robertson. Today’s episode is a little different—we’re going to take a step back and talk about where ALPO is right now, and more importantly, where we’re headed. Over the past year, we’ve been getting out into the community more than ever—through ev...

Episode 234 Welcome to The Observers Notebook, the official podcast of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers. I’m your host, Tim Robertson, Executive Director of the ALPO, and this podcast is dedicated to visual observing, scientific contribution, and the art of truly seeing what’s at the eyepiece. Today we’re focusing on one of the oldest and most powerful observing techniques in astro...

Episode 233 Welcome back to The Observers Notebook Podcast. I’m your host, Tim Robertson. Today’s guest is someone many of you already know by name, even if you’ve never had the chance to hear his story told in his own words. Joining me is Bob Garfinkle, a longtime member of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers and a respected voice in amateur astronomy. Bob is widely known as the auth...

Episode 232 Welcome to The Observer’s Notebook, the podcast that explores the art, science, and experience of visual astronomy. I’m your host, Tim Robertson. In this episode we’re diving into a topic that every planetary observer wrestles with sooner or later seeing and transparency. We hear those terms all the time, but understanding the difference between them, and knowing how they affect what w...

Episode 231 Every April, Earth plows through a stream of ancient comet dust, and for a few nights, the sky answers back with streaks of light we call the Lyrids. They’re one of the oldest recorded meteor showers in human history—seen by skywatchers more than 2,600 years ago—and yet every year they still manage to surprise us. Sometimes gentle and subtle… sometimes bursting with bright fireballs th...

Episode 230 One of the great joys of amateur astronomy is that we don’t just observe the night sky—we share it. Through star parties, clubs, books, magazines, and conversations that stretch late into the night, astronomy has always been a community effort. Today’s guest is someone who has helped shape that shared experience for generations of skywatchers. For decades, he was at the editorial helm...

Episode 229 On the this episode of the Observers Notebook Podcast, we’re talking eclipses — and this time, it’s a big one. On March 2nd and 3rd, 2026, skywatchers around the world will experience a beautiful total lunar eclipse, one of the major celestial events of the year. And joining me to break it all down is ALPO Eclipse Coordinator, John O’Neil. We’ll cover everything you need to know when t...

Episode 230 In this episode of The Observers Notebook, host Tim Robertson talks with Daniel Parrott, the creator of Tycho Tracker — a powerful software tool that brings professional-level asteroid detection and measurement to amateur astronomers around the world. Daniel shares the story behind Tycho’s development, explains how synthetic tracking helps detect faint moving objects, and offers practi...

Episode 227 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to Pranvera Hyseni — founder of Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo, driving force behind Kosovo’s first National Observatory and Planetarium, and one of the most influential young voices in global astronomy education. Pranvera shares her remarkable journey from discovering the night sky in post-war Kosovo to becoming...

Episode 226 In this episode, we’re turning our eyes toward some of the most dynamic travelers in our solar system — comets — and looking ahead to what promises to be an exciting year in the night sky: 2026. Each year brings a new lineup of these icy visitors, and with them, the chance for both amateur and professional observers to witness spectacular changes as they approach the Sun and develop ta...

Episode 225 In this episode of the Observers Notebook Podcast, host Tim Robertson talks with Roger Venable, the ALPO Mars Coordinator and President of the International Occultation and Timing Association (IOTA). They discuss the mission of IOTA, the important work the organization does in observing and timing occultations, and how listeners can get involved in this fascinating field of astronomica...

“Unveiling Uranus: The Ice Giant in the Amateur’s Eye” How backyard observers are helping unlock the mysteries of Uranus. Episode 224 In this episode of the Observers Notebook Podcast, host Tim Robertson talks with Richard Schmude, the ALPO Uranus Section Coordinator, about how amateur astronomers are playing a vital role in unraveling the mysteries of Uranus, the distant ice giant of our Solar Sy...

Episode 223 Don’t Miss the Show: The Geminids Light Up December 2025 In this episode of the Observers Notebook Podcast, host Tim Robertson welcomes Bob Lunsford, Meteor Coordinator for the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO), to discuss the upcoming Geminids Meteor Shower. They explore what makes the Geminids one of the most reliable and spectacular meteor displays of the year, inc...

Episode 222 In this episode of The Observers Notebook Podcast, host Tim Robertson sits down with Alberto Anunziato, an ALPO Lunar Observer from Argentina. Together, they explore the fascinating intersection between art and science in lunar observation — how detailed sketches made at the eyepiece can capture fleeting features of the Moon, aid in scientific study, and preserve the personal experienc...

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...