A.L.P.O. Why We Have Conventions, Conferences, and Meetings

1. A.L.P.O.Why We Have Conventions, Conferences, and Meetings By Matthew Will ALPO Secretary and Treasurer

2. The ALPO of Today • The 2011 ALPO Conference here in Las Cruces will be the 62nd meeting of its kind over the last 55 years. • The ALPO itself has always been a forum for amateur and professional astronomers interested in Solar System astronomy.

3. The ALPO of Today • Today’s ALPO members are active in our observing programs. • They read about analyses from their observations in the Journal ALPO,

4. The ALPO of Today • Utilize the ALPO web site for assistance and guidance with observations, and • Exchange perspectives on lunar and planetary astronomy through email and ALPO blogs

5. The ALPO of Yesteryear • In 1956, the ALPO had its first every annual meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona. • The 9 year old astronomical organization by this time had earned not only a following of loyal members but had established itself as a focal point for serious amateur observation of the Solar System through its observing programs.

6. Solar System Astronomy Anyone ? • While ALPO had its Journal otherwise known as The Strolling Astronomer, as its main outlet, the organization lacked the face-to-face contact local astronomy clubs had. Credit Dennis Milon, Journal A.L.P.O.

7. Solar System Astronomy Anyone ? • With limitations of mail and long distance phone calls, it was thought that a meeting of several days with multiple presentations, personal contacts, and exposure to a variety subject matter could make for a very enriching experience for the budding amateur of the mid 20th Century.

8. Solar System Astronomy Anyone ? • Thus the ALPO Convention, Conference, or Annual Meeting was born !

9. Today’s Presentation! • Today I will discuss why we have ALPO annual meetings, especially in this day and age of mass and fast communications. • And a little bit of history behind our annual meetings.

10. What is the A.L.P.O.? • An international group of individuals that study the sun, moon, planets, asteroids, meteors, and comets and other topics of study that relate to Solar System astronomy.

11. 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.

12. We welcome and provide services for all individuals interested in lunar and planetary astronomy. • For the novice observer, the A.L.P.O. 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 through participation in observing programs. • For the professional astronomer, it is a resource where group studies or systematic observing patrols add to the advancement of astronomy.

13. ALPO Sections & Programs • The A.L.P.O. has a kaleidoscope of different programs related to Solar System astronomy managed by up to 19 separate sections. • All Solar System bodies and phenomena are covered by coordinators that manage these sections.

14. Section Coordinators • Collect and study submitted observations • Correspond with observers • Encourage beginners, and • Contribute reports to our Journal at appropriate intervals.

15. The ALPO of Today • Our mission and all of the elements that make up the ALPO have not changed in 64 years as the ALPO has always been a vibrant organization in that regard. • What has changed is the ability for ALPO members living vast distances apart from one another, to communicate almost instantaneously, using email and the World Wide Web.

16. The Early ALPO • But in the early years, that was a far different world… • The fledglings ALPO produced The Strolling Astronomer as a mimeograph in its first few years. • The publication had managed to publish lunar and planetary drawings by February of 1950.

17. The Early ALPO It wasn’t until 1953 that The Strolling Astronomer achieved the professional print quality look to it resembling an established journal.

18. The Early ALPO • Still with all of these advancements, the ALPO, with its Journal, could not be a total substitute for human contact. • The ALPO was growing, to 350 members by 1953. A personal contact would be helpful in the editor understanding his readers and vice-versa.

19. The ALPO’s First Annual Meeting “…we would like to voice a hope for the future – that some day we will have A.L.P.O. Conventions and shall get to know each other better.” Walter H. Haas, from The StrollingAstronomer in 1953 Photo credit, Frank Delaney, Sky & Telescope

20. The ALPO’s FirstAnnual Meeting That dream became a reality in 1956. The Western Amateur Astronomers, a US group adept at organizing conventions since 1949, went in with the ALPO to jointly host this convention. The venue would be Flagstaff, Arizona.

21. The ALPO’s FirstAnnual Meeting This convention would follow a formula or format that would repeat itself in coming years. • Separate ALPO technical paper sessions that establishes a more in depth scientific perspective to the convention. • The larger partner organization and/or local society shoulders the burden of coordinating the basic logistics.

22. The ALPO’s FirstAnnual Meeting • Both meeting organizations benefit from their mutual presence in attracting new members. • Planned field trips to interesting sites near the meeting place enhanced interest to travel to these meetings. • The meeting concludes with a banquet, awards presentation, and after banquet presentation.

23. The ALPO’s FirstAnnual Meeting The first meeting that the ALPO participated in ran from Wednesday, August 29 through Saturday, September 1, 1956.

24. The ALPO’s FirstAnnual Meeting Paper sessions were held at a local high school auditorium in Flagstaff, with the banquet Thursday evening. The “after dinner” speaker was Dr. Otto Struve who also received the WAA’s G. Bruce Blair Award later that evening. Credit, Jack Eastman, Journal A.L.P.O.

25. The ALPO’s FirstAnnual Meeting Visits to other sites such as a star party at Lowell Observatory and a field trip to Meteor Crater filled out convention activities. Credit, Sky & Telescope

26. The ALPO’s FirstAnnual Meeting Actually, while the WAA had primary control of the logistics, the convention was co-chaired by two ALPO people, Tom Cave and Tom Cragg. The Caves left, and the Craggs right, credit, L. J. Robinson, Sky & Telescope

27. The ALPO’s FirstAnnual Meeting Over 260 attendees, 120 of which were ALPO members, met at this convention. Credit, Fronske Studio, Sky & Telescope

28. The ALPO’s FirstAnnual Meeting ALPO papers included timely papers from Clyde Tombaugh and Chick Capen concerning the geology of Mars and observational techniques with color filters. Tombaugh left, Capen right, courtesy Don C. Jardine

29. The ALPO’s FirstAnnual Meeting Other papers discussed lunar topics by David P. Barcroft, Steadman Thompson, and John Westfall (in picture). Credit: Jack Eastman, Journal A.L.P.O.

30. The ALPO’s FirstAnnual Meeting • Other section papers by various “recorders” for Saturn, Venus, Uranus, and Neptune. • And many member generated papers regarding observing techniques. • Also the BAA was also represented with papers from Patrick Moore and H.P. Wilkins. • All told 15 ALPO papers were presented on the last day of the conference.

31. ALPO Meetings at a Glance • 62 meetings have been held since 1956. • In years 1958, 1960, 1961, 1967, 1968, and 1996, had two meetings usually in the summer, at diverse geographic locations.

32. ALPO Meetings at a Glance • The ALPO has either been hosted or met with other groups, sometimes multiple groups, at 53 meetings. • Some of these organizations have been: - Astronomical League, 35 times - WAA, 22 times - AAVSO, 9 times - Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 4 times - International Occultation Timing Assoc., 4 times - Royal Astronomical Soc. Canada, 3 times

33. ALPO Meetings at a Glance • The ALPO has either met by itself or been hosted by a local astronomical society 9 times. • 3 of those times in Las Cruces, with today’s meeting being the fourth.

34. ALPO Meetings at a Glance • ALPO has met outside the US 3 times, twice in Canada and once in Mexico. • We have met in California more often than any state in the US, with 16 different meetings. • We have met in the Southwest more than any other region in the US, 29 times.

35. ALPO Meetings at a Glance In terms of metropolitan areas, the ALPO has met: - In the Los Angles area at various venues 8 times. - In the San Francisco Bay area and Las Cruces, NM area, 4 times each. - In Tucson, AZ, 3 times.

36. ALPO Meetings at a Glance • Places were we have been scarce - The South (6) - The East (8) - Pacific Northwest (2) • Places were we have never been - Texas - New England - North Central US

37. ALPO Members vs. Meeting Sites Blue Dots = Meetings before 1990 Red Dots = Meetings 1990 or later Red = 21 to 30 members Orange = 16 to 20 members Yellow = 11 to 15 members Green = 6 to 10 members White = 5 or less members Blue = None

38. The Las Cruces Meetings • There were 3 meetings in Las Cruces over the years, in 1968, 1993, 1997, and our present one today. • These meetings probably exemplify the best attributes of ALPO meetings and the need to still have these meetings even in the age of the internet.

39. The Las Cruces Meetings These attributes are: • ALPO Staff could deliver their data and findings in person, and not just remotely though the Journal. • Presences of ALPO speakers at the conventions give attendees frequent opportunities to interact.

40. The Las Cruces Meetings • A chance to be familiar with topics not normally encountered or easily understood in amateur astronomy. • An opportunity to meet others with similar interest and challenges in amateur astronomy – seeing old friends and making new ones. • And the occasional surprise!

41. The Las Cruces Meetings Our first meeting in the Las Cruces area was actually at the campus of New Mexico State University in August of 1968. The meeting was part of a SW Region Astronomical League convention.

42. The First Las Cruces Meeting Credit: Leonard Jefferson, Journal A.L.P.O. • The convention was hosted by the Astronomical Society of Las Cruces and also had the WAA in attendance. • Approximately 300 attendees flocked to Las Cruces.

43. The First Las Cruces Meeting This convention must have had a high profile with the Las Cruces community for the NMSU President and Commander of White Sands Missile Range were there to greet attendees at opening ceremonies. Credit, Frederick W. Jaeger, Journal A.L.P.O.

44. The First Las Cruces Meeting Phil Budine (left), Wini Cameron (right), credit, Frederick W. Jaeger, Journal A.L.P.O. Several well known present and future ALPO recorders (coordinators) spoke at this convention.

45. The First Las Cruces Meeting Credit, Frederick W. Jaeger, Journal A.L.P.O. And there were numerous opportunities to meet and converse with speakers and other convention attendees.

46. The First Las Cruces Meeting This convention had one unique surprise. It was the only convention to have ever had a comet discovered by its attendees, Pat Clayton and John Bally-Urban. Naturally, this 11th magnitude comet near the Ring Nebula was named Comet Bally-Clayton 1968d and confirmed the night of the banquet. (Left to right), Mark Whitaker, Pat Clayton, and John Bally-Urban, credit, Jack Eastman.

47. The 1993 Las Cruces Meeting The ALPO met again in Las Cruces in 1993. The organization would this time, meet by itself from August 5th through the 7th, with 61 registrants showing up. Credit, John Westfall, Journal of the A.L.P.O.

48. The 1993 Las Cruces Meeting The venue for paper sessions and accommodations was the Best Western Mission Inn in Las Cruces. The community again greeted us on the marquee of the “Downtown Mall”. Credit, John Westfall, Journal A.L.P.O.

49. The 1993 Las Cruces Meeting The topics were varied and ranged from our own founder, Walter H. Haas giving an historical outline of the A.L.P.O… Credit, Phil Plante

50. The 1993 Las Cruces Meeting …to a workshop for suggested observing projects for Comet Shoemaker-Levy, just in case some lucky amateur happened to image or observe the comet impacting Jupiter. A surprise waiting for us months after the meeting! Credit, John Westfall, Journal A.L.P.O.