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 Mercury Section
http://www.alpo-astronomy.org/mercuryblog/

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 on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producer of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Bob Lunsford
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Stan Sienkiewicz
Carl Hergenrother
Stan Sienkiewicz
John Rogers
Jim McCarthy
Stanley McMahan



The Observers Notebook- The Planet Mercury 2025

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:
lunro.imo.usa@cox.net

The link for the details on the Lyrids meteor shower:
https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/

International Meteor Organization
https://www.imo.net/

ALPO Meteor Section Blog
https://www.alpo-astronomy.org/Meteor

For the latest information from the ALPO Meteor Section you can visit:
http://www.amsmeteors.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 on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Bob Lunsford
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Stan Sienkiewicz
Carl Hergenrother
Stan Sienkiewicz
John Rogers
Jim McCarthy
Stanley McMahan




The Observers Notebook- Summertime Meteor Showers 2025

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 on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Bob Lunsford
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Stan Sienkiewicz
Carl Hergenrother
Stan Sienkiewicz
John Rogers
Jim McCarthy
Stanley McMahan



The Observers Notebook with Sky & Telescope, Diana Hannikainen

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 podcast on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Bob Lunsford
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Stan Sienkiewicz
Carl Hergenrother
Stan Sienkiewicz
John Rogers
Jim McCarthy
Stanley McMahan


The Observers Notebook- The Lunar Observer

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 path is nearly aligned with Saturn’s rings).
•	Apparent size: ~0.8 arcseconds (tiny, only detectable as a “point” in most telescopes).
•	Shadow transits are possible only when Saturn’s rings are edge-on (every ~15 years).
•	September 20, 2025 — Start around 5:09 AM UTC (≈10:09 PM PDT); ends ~7:34 AM UTC (~12:34 AM PDT); Titan may also be visible near its shadow. 
•	After October 5–6, 2025, this spectacular phenomenon won’t happen again until 2038–2039.

You can contact Bob at:
lunro.imo.usa@cox.net

Stellarium
https://stellarium.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 on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Bob Lunsford
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Stan Sienkiewicz
Carl Hergenrother
Stan Sienkiewicz
John Rogers
Jim McCarthy
Stanley McMahan




The Observers Notebook- Titan's Transit of Saturn

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 this podcast at Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Bob Lunsford
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Stan Sienkiewicz
Carl Hergenrother
Stan Sienkiewicz
John Rogers
Jim McCarthy
Stanley McMahan




The Observers Notebook - International Observe the Moon Night

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 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 on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Bob Lunsford
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Stan Sienkiewicz
Carl Hergenrother
Stan Sienkiewicz
John Rogers
Jim McCarthy
Stanley McMahan


The Observers Notebook - Kelly Blumenthal, IAU Outreach

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 support this podcast at Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/ObserversNotebook

Listen to the podcast on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Bob Lunsford
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Stan Sienkiewicz
Carl Hergenrother
Stan Sienkiewicz
John Rogers
Jim McCarthy
Stanley McMahan


The Observers Notebook-Orionids, Taurids, and Leonids Meteor Showers

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 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 on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Bob Lunsford
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Stan Sienkiewicz
Carl Hergenrother
Stan Sienkiewicz
John Rogers
Jim McCarthy
Stanley McMahan



Observers Notebook - New Coments in the sky!

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 experience of observation.

Is sketching an artistic pastime or a scientific tool? Alberto shares his insights, techniques, and passion for visual recording of lunar phenomena, reminding us that even in the digital age, a sketch can reveal what a camera may miss.


You can contact Alberto at:
albertoanunziato@yahoo.com.ar

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 on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook

Subscribe on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers

Subscribe on iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/observers-notebook-the-alpo-podcast/id1199301885?mt=2

I want to thank the Producers of this podcast, Steve Siedentop and Michael Moyer for their generous support of the Observers Notebook.

Our Patreons:
Jerry White
Jason Inman
Bob Lunsford
Steve Seidentop
Stephen Bennett
Michael Moyer
Shawn Dilles
Damian Allis
Carl Hergenrother
Michael McShan
Michael Blake
Nick Evetts
Stan Sienkiewicz
Carl Hergenrother
Stan Sienkiewicz
John Rogers
Jim McCarthy
Stanley McMahan

The Observers Notebook- Sketch or Science? The true value of Lunar Drawings

The Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers was founded in 1947 and promotes observing of the solar system. Both amateur and professional astronomers work together to further our understanding of the universe.

New tracks tagged #observers