HAC Meeting News: Jan. 29, 2010
Glen Sanner Receives Award


Dave Healy (l) congratulates Glen Sanner (r) on his receipt of the Astronomical League's Galaxy Groups and Clusters Observing Program. Glen is only the twentieth person in the entire United States to achieve this honor. Photo by Del Gordon

HAC Vice-President Glen Sanner demonstrated his advanced astronomical skills by observing 120 galaxy clusters and galaxy groups. Of the 250 objects listed in the Galaxy Groups and Clusters Guide, one must observe 120 objects: 1) 30 Galaxy Trios; 2) 30 Hickson compact galaxy groups; 3) 30 Additional Galaxy Groups; and 4) 30 Abell galaxy clusters.

Dave Healy, our AL Correspondent (ALCor), said about the Astronomical League’s thirty different observing programs, “I think it’s a very good way to learn the sky. I think we all face the problem of what to look at when we take our telescope out. This is an organized way of learning the sky, and learning very different objects. The difficulty level is from simple to challenging, and the range of optical instruments is from your eye to a large telescope. There are very simple programs where you just identify and map the constellations by eye, and going up all the way to some very difficult ones, including one I am going to award tonight.”

This was Glen’s first observing certificate, but he went right to the advanced level: the Astronomical League's Galaxy Groups and Clusters Observing Club. Dave Healy continued, “This is probably the most difficult club in the entire bunch: 120 Galaxy Clusters and Galaxy Groups. I want to read you the letter he got from Dereth Murray of the Astronomical League: ‘Dear Glen, Congratulations on your achievement on observing and recording all 120 of the objects required for certification for completion of the Astronomical League’s Galaxy Groups and Clusters Observing Program. This certification committee has reviewed your documentation and determined that you qualify for the certificate of completion and special “ GGC Observer” pin (see image, below). You join an elite group of advanced observers and can include this award in your quest for the title of Master Observer.’”

“We have three Master Observers in the Huachuca Astronomy Club,” said Dave, “which I think speaks well for the dark skies and the dedication of the people involved. If you get ten observing certificates: five electives and five required, you qualify automatically for the Master Observer award, and there are three of us in the club.”

“Going back to Glen [the letter], ‘you are hereby awarded Certificate #20 and have been added to the awards Web page, and will be in the ALReflector publication on the awards page. I want to thank you for the quality of your documentation and the effort you put forth to qualify for this award. Kudos for a job well done. Best regards, Dereth Murray, Certificate Committee Galaxy Groups and Clusters.’”

Glen Sanner received the award from Dave Healy and then said, “As you can imagine, this is a fun thing to do. It took me forever. It’s been almost five years that I worked on that. Now, that’s my own fault.”

“So in only forty-five more years you’ll qualify for Master Observer,” said Dave.

“That’s right,” replied Glen, “I want to stretch this out. But you can do this much quicker than that. It took me a long time because I would work on it a while and then put it aside for a while. […] I would encourage everyone to pursue some of these programs. They are a lot of fun, and you will get a lot out of it.”

HAC President Wayne Johnson said, “I have to second that, too. Congratulations, Glen, that’s great, and you’ll notice he’s only the twentieth person to get that award, so that’s out of the entire United States. That’s pretty darn good! But if you’re one of those people who have wondered, what should I look at in the sky, or where should I begin, these Astronomical League observing certificates are a real good way to get started. So, thank you, Dave, for coordinating that, I know Dave has as much fun giving the awards out as anybody. So, we really appreciate it.”

“The duties of the ALCor are very light and very pleasant,” said Dave.

“Dave is one of our Master Observers,” said Wayne, “so that is a great honor.”

Dave replied, “The other two are James Taylor and Bob Kepple, so that’s the three Master Observers in our club.”

Congratulations, Glen Sanner, on your not-merely-stellar, but galactic achievement!

Astronomical League Observing Clubs

The Astronomical League (AL) provides many different observing programs (clubs). These programs are designed to provide a direction for your observations and to provide a goal. The programs have certificates and pins to recognize the observers’ accomplishments and for demonstrating their observing skills with a variety of instruments and objects.

 


Order the Night Sky Observer's Guide books here!

Note that Bob Kepple is offering signed versions of the books to HAC members for $34.95 (no sales tax). These books are essential astronomer's tools.