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ASTROCON 2025 Observing Contest

52 Listed Deep Sky Objects Compiled by Observing Committee:
Jenette Scott, Krista Lemoine, Leslie Fowler, and Max Byerly

Awards of Recognition:

  • 20 Objects Viewed: BRONZE Certificate
  • 30 Objects Viewed: SILVER Certificate
  • 42 Objects Viewed: GOLD Certificate (42 is the answer)
  • 50 Objects Viewed: Special Recognition Certificate for Starhoppers
ASTROCON 2025 Observation Guide and Logbook

The list of objects will be in the Observing Guide and Logbook, which can be picked up at the ASTROCON Information Desk near the exhibitor area.

To receive any award certificates, you may view any of the objects among the 52 listed.

Easy requirements for location:
  • Star-hopping, setting circles, and go-to mounts are all acceptable.
  • Friends and acquaintances may cooperate.
  • Viewing the objects and observing detail is paramount.
  • Use the Observation Guide and Logbook to record what you see.

You have Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights to find the objects. These may be viewed from the Public Star Party viewing site or at the Private Star Party location at Rainbow Point.

Award certificates will be presented at the Gala Awards Banquet.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Atlas page numbers will be referenced for each object.

A .skylist attachment will be made available for downloading the list into the SkySafari app.

Presenters

  • Dr. Stacy Palen
  • Shane L. Larson, Research Professor [he/him] KF7WOZ Associate Director, CIERA, Northwestern University Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration & Research in Astrophysics Fellow, American Physical Society BLOG : writescience.wordpress.com/ TWITTER: @sciencejedi YOUTUBE: youtube.com/sciencejedi/ "The desire to be connected to the Cosmos reflects a profound reality... that we ARE connected. Not in trivial ways... but in the deepest ways." -- Carl Sagan
  • Cindy La Russa
  • Cindy L Krach, DVM
  • Terry Mann became the Vice President of the Astronomical League on September 1, 2024. Currently, she is also the Chair of the Great Lakes Region of the League and a Trustee. She is the host of Astronomical League Live, a monthly program broadcasted by Scott Roberts of Explore Scientific. The program has been on for about three and a half years and has reached thousands of viewers.
  • Chuck is president of the Astronomical League and has 12 years of prior service as League president (1998-2002) and vice-president. A League Lifetime Member, he founded the League’s National Young Astronomer Award in 1993, co-chaired the ALCon ’21 Virtual convention, and received the G. R. Wright Award for service in 1998.
  • Scott Harrington is a 30-year-old amateur astronomer from northern Arkansas who lives under very dark and enviable skies. Scott is quickly becoming known for such extraordinary observations as seeing 80 globular clusters in handheld 8x56 binoculars and 200 planetary nebulae in a 130mm reflector.
  • Brian Ottum
  • Dr. Carl J. Wenning
  • Jeffrey W. Mirick

Sponsors

  • skyAndTelescope

Exhibitors

  • firstcontact