This year (1997) the Astronomical
League held their fiftieth annual national convention
(ALCon) at the Copper Mountain Resort, about 75 miles
west of Denver, Colorado. The convention provides an
opportunity for amateur astronomers from all over the
country to exchange ideas and share adventures. At almost
ten thousand feet elevation, Copper Mountain brought
this year's attendees two miles closer to the stars.
The convention had papers sessions, observing sessions,
and a Project Astro workshop. The Chair for this year's
convention was Jerry Sherlin, pictured at right.
ALCon ‘97 started with a reception
on Tuesday night. Early arrivers got to sample tasty
hors dorvs as old friends greeted each other. The resort
is nestled in a valley and the view out the window of
the restaurant toward the summit of Copper Mountain
was spectacular.
 Wednesday had
talks about the History of the Astronomical League,
CHARA, the Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy,
the construction of Hercules, a 41-inch reflector, a
presentation on a comet research program initially created
for Comet Kohutek, and Don Parker's "Mars: Still a Planet
of Mystery". That night there was an observing
session at the Meyer-Womble Observatory high atop of
Mount Evans.
Thursday
had two tracks. One had the Astronomical Society of
the Pacific's Project Astro, a program to bring astronomers
and teachers together to enhance the students learning
experience in the field of astronomy. The other
track included talks on the construction of a mobile
observatory, observing debris trails left by comets,
why the Astronomical League has a newsletter, and "Gravity
and Space-Time". The afternmoon had talks on imaging
spectroscopy and light pollution. Evening observing
was preceded by Dr. Roger Clark of the U.S. Geological
Survey speaking on "Visual Astronomy of ‘The National
Parks of the Universe'".
Friday was
the Mars Pathfinder landing while the talks included
Dr. Ben Clark speaking on "Anticipated Martian Discoveries
from Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Pathfinder", and
Dr. John Brandt on "Recent Spacecraft Observations and
Discoveries Related to Comet Hale-Bopp". There
was a conference call to the A.L.'s Southern Sky Star
Party in Bolivia. Afternoon had talks on Kitt
Peak's public outreach program, and this year's National
Young Astronomer Award winner Heather Cameron who talked
about her multi-year solar observing project in "To
the Sun and Back". The MARS/FRASC business meeting
was next. The evening meal was a Wild West Barbecue
where Ms. Jeannie Kuich, an author and story teller,
told us about the "Soap Operas of the Sky".
Saturday
had talks on timing occultations of Bright Stars with
camcorders, variations on the rate of sporadic meteors,
and "Jets, Outflows, and Proto- Planetary Discs". The
afternoon was free, but the evening had the awards banquet
and a by Leif Robinson, Editor-in-Chief, Sky and Telescope
magazine reporting that "The Golden Age of Amateur Astronomy
is Now".
With that exhortation, the Fiftieth
Anniversary Convention of the Astronomical League came
to an end. Friends said goodbye until next year, when
the Astronomical League will reconvene in French Lick,
Indiana for their Fifty-First Annual Convention.
The Vendors Display Room at ALCon '97.
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