................................................................. . = T H E M A R T I A N C H R O N I C L E = . . . . The electronic newsletter by the International Mars Patrol, . . an observing program of the . . Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers . . Edited by: J.D. Beish . . June 1991 No. 1 . ................................................................. AN INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL MARS PATROL The Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (A.L.P.O.) Mars Section's observing program is an international cooperative effort between individual observers and members of observing groups located around the world. Established in the late 1960's, by the late Charles F. Capen, the International Mars Patrol (IMP) has contributed more than 22,000 observations of Mars. Contained in the archives of the A.L.P.O. Mars Section library are the records of thirteen apparitions of Mars covering a span of 25 years. The IMP is primarily an amateur group; however, many of its members participate in professional activities such, as observing for Lowell Observatory's International Planetary Patrol, provid- ing quality photographs of Mars to the United States Geological Survey for mapping of the Red Planet, and regularly publish scientific material in amateur and professional journals. From the late 1960's, interested amateur and professional astronomers located in 42 foreign countries and U.S. territories cooperated in a 24-hour watch on the Red Planet Mars. Additional support is provided by the Oriental Astronomical Association (OAA), the British Astronomical Association (BAA), the Arbeitskreis Plane- tenbachter (Germany) and the Groupement International d'Observateurs des Surfaces Planetaires (GIOSP). The Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (A.L.P.O.) is an international group of students of the Sun, the Moon, the major planets, minor planets, meteors, and comets. Our goals are to stimulate, coordinate, and generally promote the study of these bodies using methods and instruments that are available to ama- teur astronomers. Observations carried out by professionals or with professional equipment are also welcome. We provide a service for the advanced amateur specializing in particular investigations, for the novice who wishes to develop techniques and general knowledge, and for the professional scientist inter- ested in group studies and systematic patrols of our Solar System neighbors. All interested persons are welcome as members. Our activities are on a volunteer basis and each member can do as much or as little as she or he wishes. Of course, the A.L.P.O. gains in stature in proportion to how much and also how well each member contributes. The A.L.P.O. was founded in 1947, by Walter H. Haas, and now enrolls over 700 members, of which about 160 live in foreign countries on six continents. Our group is organized into Observ- ing Sections that study each Solar System body or type of body. We have held conventions every year beginning in 1956, usually together with the meetings of the Astronomical League or of the Western Amateur Astronomers. Our chief means of communication is our quarterly Journal ("The Strolling Astronomer"), although several of our Observing Sections also publish their own newslet- ters and handouts. The Mars Section Recorders coordinate and instruct the cooperat- ing observers in using similar visual, photographic, photometric, micrometric, and CCD imaging techniques employing color filters and standard methods for reporting their observations, which results in homogeneous sets of observing data that have good analytic value. Each apparition the A.L.P.O. Mars Section re- ceives thousands of individual observations consisting of visual disk drawings made with the aid of color filters, black-&-white and color photographs, intensity estimates of light and dark albedo features, color contrast estimates, and micrometer meas- urements of polar caps, cloud boundaries, and variable surface features during the 10 to 12 month observing period. The chrono logical filing of this large quantity of data requires the obser vation information obtained for EACH NIGHT Universal Date be recorded on ONE or TWO standard observing report forms! A.L.P.O: Membership in A.L.P.O. is not required for the IMP. However, we strongly urge our observers to join if for no other reason than they can see the fruits of their labor in print in the apparition reports and other papers in The Strolling Astrono- mer. Subscribing to the J.A.L.P.O. also gives one the opportunity to read about others' observational techniques and methods of data reduction. In addition, the observer may find other fields which stimulate his\her interest, such as observing Pluto. U.S., Canada, and Mexico, send $14 for one year or $24 for two years to Harry D. Jamieson, P.O. Box 143, Heber Springs, Arkansas, 72543. Other countries: $16 for one year, $29 for two. The Martian Chronicle newsletter will be published at regular intervals on a monthly basis beginning in June or July of 1992. While monthly reports will not be issued until then, when observ- ers have begun to observe the Red Planet, a few will be pub- lished outlining our observing program and observing tips. By July 1992, Mars will have then reached 6 arc-seconds apparent size and observers usually begin observing then, at least the fanatics will. A calendar of events will be published in July. Observing tips and up-to-date news of Mars will be included with each addition. Next issue will contain information of the use of filters for planetary observing. Mars is a most difficult object to observe -- owing to its small apparent size and brightness. An excellent telescope and human patience is required for this study..... the rewards will seem small. However, major discoveries are made each apparition by amateur astronomers willing to take the time and effort to look at the God of War and report their findings to us. Don't keep those telescopes locked up waiting for the Moon to go away -- remember, light pollution has little or no effect on observing the planets and it is a long way out there to your favorite dark hideaway, so, put them to work in your highly illuninated back yard tonight! Detailed reports are published in the A.L.P.O. Journal, The Strolling Astronomer, at the beginning and ending of each appari- tion of Mars. ... OBSERVING AIDS ... 1) Now available from the Astronomical League is the Mars Observer's Handbook by Jeffrey D. Beish and Charles F. Capen at a new low price of $8.00. This very important and informative book is in second printing due to popular demand. Formerly published for The Planetary Society's Mars Watch '88, the book was sold out and has been out of print for the past two years. Send $8.00, check or money order to: Astronomical League Sales, Four Klopfer Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15209. 2) Picked as one of the top twelve non-technical astronomy books of 1989 by the ASP, Introduction to Observing and Photographing the Solar System, by T.A. Dobbins, D.C. Parker, and C.F. Capen contains both theoretical and observational information on Solar System objects. Very detailed chapters on Mars, astrophotogra- phy, micrometry, etc. Forward by A.L.P.O. founder Walter H. Haas. Hardcover, $19.95 from Willmann-Bell, Inc., P.O. Box 35025 Richmond, VA 23235, (804) 320-7016. 3) The A.L.P.O. Solar System Ephemeris: 1990. This contains the complete ephemerides for the Sun, Moon, planets and minor planets as well as selected comets. This is a "must" if one is to get full enjoyment from his observing. Send $6.00 to A.L.P.O., P.O. Box 16131, San Francisco, CA 94116. Thank you for your interest.............Jeff Beish