archive: SETI [ASTRO] 1999 American Meteor Society
SETI [ASTRO] 1999 American Meteor Society
Larry Klaes ( lklaes@bbn.com )
Fri, 05 Feb 1999 13:07:00 -0500
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>Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 15:22:32 -0600
>To: astro@lists.mindspring.com
>From: Jim Richardson <richardson@digitalexp.com>
>Subject: [ASTRO] 1999 American Meteor Society
>Sender: owner-astro@brickbat12.mindspring.com
>Reply-To: Jim Richardson <richardson@digitalexp.com>
>
>Hello Colleagues,
>
>Claudio failed to mention another group which promotes professional-amateur
>cooperation in the area of meteor astronomy. The American Meteor Society
>(AMS) exists for the purpose of providing an opportunity for serious
>amateur astronomers to make valid contributions to current professional
>research -- using visual, radio, spectroscopic, and other methods. Please
>pardon my taking this opportunity for a plug, but we have worked hard over
>the last 3 years to overhaul and restructure our society, and I am quite
>proud of our results.
>
>For the information of those who might be interested, the below contains an
>email directory of the 1999 American Meteor Society staff, along with some
>general information about us. Further information on meteor science, our
>society, and affiliated groups can be found at the AMS web site, located at:
>
>http://www.serve.com/meteors/
>
>
>** AMS Officers **
>
> * Board of Directors *
>
>Dr. David Meisel (Executive Director)
>Geneseo, New York
>
>Michael Morrow (Secretary)
>Ocean View, Hawaii
>
>Karl Simmons (Treasurer)
>Callahan, Florida
>
> * Operations Staff *
>
>James Richardson (Operations Manager)
>Tallahassee, Florida
>email: richardson@digitalexp.com
>
>Robert Lunsford (AMS Journal Editor / International Liaison)
>Chula Vista, California
>email: LUNRO.IMO.USA@prodigy.com
>
>James Bedient (Electronic Information Coordinator)
>Honolulu, Hawaii
>email: wh6ef@pixi.com
>
>Lewis Gramer (Assistant Electronic Information Coordinator)
>Medford, Massachusetts
>email: dedalus@latrade.com
>
> * Visual Studies Program *
>
>Mark Davis (Visual Program Coordinator)
>Charleston, South Carolina
>email: MeteorObs@Charleston.Net
>
>Norman McLeod (Assistant Visual Program Coordinator)
>Ft. Myers, Florida
>email: nmcleod@peganet.com
>
>Cathy Hall (Assistant Visual Program Coordinator)
>Ottawa, Ontario
>email: chall@cyberus.ca
>
>
>** AMS Special Projects
>
>James Richardson (Radiometeor Project Coordinator)
>Tallahassee, Florida
>email: richardson@digitalexp.com
>
>Edward Madjen (Meteor Spectroscopy Project Coordinator)
>Courtenay, British Columbia
>email: epmajden@mars.ark.com
>
>
>** AMS Affiliated Groups
>
>Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (ALPO), Meteors Section
>Robert Lunsford (Recorder)
>email: LUNRO.IMO.USA@prodigy.com
>
>Jordanian Astronomical Society (JAS)
>Mohammad Shawkat Odeh (JAS Administrative Board)
>email: odehjas@geocities.com
>
>Meteor Group Hawaii
>Michael Morrow (President)
>email (c/o): eide@hawaii.edu
>
>New Jersey Astronomical Association (NJAA), Meteor Group
>Wayne Hally (Director)
>email: wayne.t.hally@bangate.tek.com
>
>North American Meteor Network (NAMN)
>Mark Davis (Coordinator)
>email: MeteorObs@Charleston.Net
>
>
>** AMS General Description **
>
>The American Meteor Society, Ltd. is a public foundation established for
>the purpose of promoting and conducting scientific research in the area of
>meteor astronomy, by both amateur and professional scientists. We have a
>long history, extending back to 1911, when Dr. Charles Olivier founded the
>AMS as an off-shoot from the American Astronomical Society (AAS) for the
>purpose of encouraging amateur astronomer participation in meteor studies.
>To this day, the amateur meteor observer and scientist remains the backbone
>and primary focus of the society. Under our current Executive Director,
>Dr. David Meisel (State University of New York at Geneseo), the society
>received a modest endowment from the Clinton B. Ford Foundation in 1993,
>and was officially incorporated at that time. The AMS received full public
>foundation status in 1998, and maintains its present headquarters at the
>State University of New York at Geneseo.
>
>Today, the American Meteor Society consists of affiliated individuals and
>groups located throughout North America (both the United States and
>Canada),Hawaii, as well as other parts of the world. Our staff consists of
>a non-paid all volunteer group of 10 individuals: three Board of Directors
>members, and an appointed Operations Staff consisting of seven highly
>productive and enthusiastic amateur meteor astronomers. Our diverse staff
>includes individuals located over a broad cross section of North America
>and the eastern Pacific: from Canada to Florida, and from New England to
>Hawaii. This group has worked hard over the past year to bring about an
>overhaul and revitalization of our venerable society; including the merger
>of most meteor groups across North America, improvements in data collection
>and archive, and the production of a new class of printed and electronic
>publications, including our new journal, "Meteor Trails."
>
>In addition to the above, our society continues to be active in several
>areas of meteoric research. AMS affiliates and members of our affiliate
>groups regularly contribute visual meteor observations to the meteor shower
>research of the International Meteor Organization (IMO). Dr. Meisel and
>his associates continue to explore the micro-meteor population using the
>powerful 305 meter astronomical radar located at Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The
>AMS Radiometeor Project has yielded a joint introductory paper by Dr.
>Meisel and James Richardson, which has been accepted for publication in the
>European journal Planetary and Space Science. Dr. Jiri Borovicka (Ondrejov
>Observatory) and AMS affiliate Edward Majden have recently published a
>joint paper on a bright Perseid meteor spectrum captured by Ed in 1986.
>Additionally, Ed has also published a paper last fall in the RASC journal
>on a technique for capturing meteor spectra using inexpensive holographic
>gratings. Based upon these successes, Ed Majden has recently been awarded
>AMS sponsorship for his work, and has been asked to head an AMS Meteor
>Spectroscopy Project in which other amateurs are encouraged to pursue this
>area of meteor research. Additionally, our society continues to look for
>other new and innovative ways in which amateurs and professionals can
>pursue collaborative efforts in this fascinating field.
>
>
>** Joining the AMS **
>
>If our work sounds interesting to you, please consider affiliating with our
>society. Your affiliation includes a year's subscription to the AMS
>journal, "Meteor Trails," receipt of the society's annual report, and other
>occasional publications and bulletins. There are four types of affiliation:
>
>* Student - $6.50 annually
>
>Persons under age 18 who satisfactorily fulfill the initial Observer status
>requirements.
>
>* Observer - $6.50 annually
>
>persons over age 18 who meet the initial Observer status requirements, and
>who contribute at least once a year to an AMS observing program or special
>project.
>
>* Associate - $8.00 annually
>
>Persons wishing to subscribe to the society's publications, without having
>to meet the Observer status requirements or actively contribute to an AMS
>observing program or special project.
>
>* Group - $10.00 annually
>
>Organizations of at least 3 persons who participate in the work of the
>society (as defined under Observer above). Affiliation at this level
>allows requests of up to three copies of the AMS journal and other
>publications sent to one address.
>
>
>Observer Status Requirements
>
>The AMS welcomes all meteor enthusiasts, and strongly encourages its
>members to actively contribute to the work of the society. In 1993, the
>AMS Board of Directors created the special affiliate class of Observer to
>encourage this higher level of participation. The basic requirements for
>Observer status are described below, for either visual observations,
>radiometeor detection, meteor spectroscopy, or CCD / photographic imaging.
>Those needing more information to get started are encouraged to contact the
>AMS coordinator for the field of their particular interest.
>
>The requirements for visual meteor observers are:
>
>To go out on three clear, moonless nights, starting not earlier than 10
>P.M., and make hourly counts of all meteors seen for a total period each
>night of at least 3 hours. The following data should be recorded:
>
> 1. Your location;
> 2. The date of observation;
> 3. The start time of your observations and type of time;
> 4. The condition of the sky at the starting time, noting any haze or
> other obscuration;
> 5. A total meteor count for each full hour you observe;
> 6. Any changes to the sky conditions during your observing period.
>
> Note: More experienced meteor observers are welcome to submit
>full descriptive data and/or meteor plots in addition to hourly counts.
>
>Alternative forms of meeting the Observer status requirements include the
>following:
>
> * Those interested in radiometeor work should submit three hours of
> audio tapes with meteor signals on them.
>
> * Those specializing in meteor spectroscopy should submit 1 good quality
> meteor spectrum with two calibrations of wavelength (either an
> artificial source or known natural source).
>
> * CCD or photographic observers should submit at least three separate
> frames with meteor trails on them.
>
>Copies of the above should be included with your dues and completed
>membership form, and sent to the AMS Treasurer (address below).
>
>Please note that all individuals are still most welcome to join the society
>as regular Associates, without meeting any of the above observer status
>requirements. Payment of the appropriate society dues is the only
>requirement for Associates.
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>AMS Affiliation Form
>
>Please provide us with the following information:
>
>Name:______________________________________________
>
>Organization:______________________________________
>
>Address 1 (Street, Box,
>etc.):_________________________________________________
>
>Address 2 (Apt No., etc.):________________________________________
>
>City: ____________________________
>
>State / Region: _________________
>
>Postal (Zip) Code: ___________________
>
>Country:________________
>
>Email:__________________________________
>
>Type of affiliation:
>
>-------- New affiliate ---------- Renewal
>
>-------- Student ($6.50)
>
>-------- Observer ($6.50)
>
>-------- Associate ($8.00)
>
>-------- Group ($10.00)
>
>Affiliation requires a check or money order made out to the "American
>Meteor Society," in US Dollars. If you live outside of the USA, do not
>send checks. Please send postal money orders. This completed form, society
>dues, and Observer requirements (if applicable) should be mailed to:
>
>Karl Simmons
>AMS Treasurer
>3859 Woodland Heights
>Callahan, FL 32011
>USA
>
>
>Please allow us about 2-6 weeks for the processing of new affiliations.
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>James Richardson
>Tallahassee, Florida
>
>Operations Manager / Radiometeor Project Coordinator
>American Meteor Society (AMS)
>http://www.serve.com/meteors/
>
>