ALPO Astronomy

06/16/2026

🌙✨ Tonight is the dress rehearsal for one of the best sky shows of the week!

After sunset this evening, the thin crescent Moon joins the planet lineup in the western sky, with brilliant Venus, bright Jupiter, and elusive Mercury all sharing the twilight.

This is a beautiful beginner-friendly skywatching moment because the Moon helps point the way.

Here’s what to look for:
🔭 Venus: the brightest “star” in the western sky
🪐 Jupiter: lower than Venus and still easy to spot
🌙 Thin crescent Moon: sitting between Jupiter and Mercury
✨ Mercury: much lower and trickier to see near the horizon

😲The Moon, Jupiter, and Mercury form a little triangle low in the western twilight, and with Venus shining nearby, you’ll be looking at a beautiful solar system lineup you may even be able to capture with your cellphone camera.

How to see it:
✅ Go outside about 30–60 minutes after sunset
✅ Face west
✅ Find a spot with a clear, open horizon
✅ Spot Venus first- it’s the bright anchor
✅ Then look lower for Jupiter, the crescent Moon, and Mercury
✅ Use binoculars only after the Sun is completely below the horizon

This is a great warm-up for tomorrow’s big Moon-and-Venus event, so don’t miss tonight’s sky!

📸 If you spot the lineup, try taking a photo and drop it in the comments. Where will you be watching from tonight?

SkySafari National Geographic Books

06/15/2026

It’s my pleasure to announce that two outstanding ALPO members have been selected to have a minor planet named after them.

Jim Tomney and David Teske.

06/15/2026

06/09/2026

06/07/2026

ALPO Webinar Demystifying Wavelets

This webinar explains what wavelets are and how they sharpen planetary images in tools like RegiStax.

Attendees learned how an image is broken into six detail layers, from noise‑heavy fine structure to broad brightness gradients, and why layers 3–4 usually provide the most natural, effective sharpening.

The session covered how sliders boost wavelet coefficients, how Denoise thresholds control which details survive, and why layers 1 and 6 require only the lightest touch.

We also compare Gaussian and Default wavelets - Gaussian for smooth, noise‑controlled sharpening and Default for aggressive edge enhancement on high‑contrast targets like Jupiter and the Moon.

The webinar closes with a practical workflow for processing images.

This webinar explains what wavelets are and how they sharpen planet...

06/06/2026

Dr. Alan Hale, Co-Discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp, Has Passed Away

The astronomical community mourns the passing of Dr. Alan Hale, best known as the co-discoverer of Comet C/1995 O1 Hale-Bopp, one of the most famous and widely observed comets of the modern era.

According to a post shared by his wife on Facebook, Dr. Hale has passed away. His name will forever be linked with the great comet that inspired millions of people around the world to look up and reconnect with the night sky.

On July 23, 1995, Alan Hale, observing from Cloudcroft, New Mexico, independently discovered the comet at nearly the same time that Thomas Bopp observed it from Arizona. The object would soon become known as Comet Hale-Bopp, later celebrated as the Great Comet of 1997. NASA notes that Hale-Bopp was visible to the naked eye for approximately 18 months during 1996 and 1997, an extraordinary apparition that made it one of the most memorable celestial events of the twentieth century.

Dr. Hale’s discovery was the result of dedication, patience, and the careful practice of observational astronomy. His work reflected the enduring value of visual observation and the important role that individual observers continue to play in astronomical discovery.

Beyond Hale-Bopp, Dr. Hale was known for his commitment to science education, public outreach, and the use of astronomy as a way to bring people together. His legacy extends far beyond the comet that bears his name. It lives on in the countless people who stood outside under dark skies in 1997, saw Hale-Bopp shining above them, and felt the wonder of the universe.

The Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers extends its condolences to Dr. Hale’s family, friends, colleagues, and to all who were inspired by his life and work.

Clear skies, Dr. Hale. Your comet still travels onward, and your name travels with it.

Episode 181In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, hos...

06/05/2026

You've probably been told that you should never look directly at the Sun— but what if we told you there was a way to do it safely? ☀️👀

Take a look through our solar telescope to see sunspots, solar flares, and more. One of our out-of-this-world Educators will be there to answer your burning (get it?) questions about Earth's closest star 🌞

Plan your visit today at lowell.edu

06/05/2026

06/03/2026

Two Eruptions At Once.

An M3.3 solar flare was observed around Earth facing sunspot region 4455 peaking at 16:50 UTC (June 2). A type II radio emission with an estimated velocity of 631 km/s was recorded. Coronal dimming is evident from this event, along with a fairly large eruption off the east limb at nearly the same time. A further update will be provided once updated coronagraph imagery is available to determine if an Earth directed component is associated with the M3 event.

SolarHam.com