Episode 166 In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to the ALPO Board Member Ken Poshedly on the upcoming Virtual ALPO Conference. The dates will be Friday and Saturday, July 28/29, 2023. The conference will also be Live Streamed on the ALPO YouTube channel. The conference times for both days will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pacific Time (1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time) . All presentations be limited to approximately 25 minutes each with a few minutes left for audience questions. The ALPO board of directors meeting will be held on Friday, July 28 at 4 p.m. PT (7 p.m. ET). The ALPO Conference is free and open to anyone to attend; however, all presenters must be current members of the ALPO. Digital memberships start at only $22 a year. To join online, go to http://www.astroleague.org/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=39, Following a break after the last paper presentation on Saturday afternoon, July 29, will be presentation of the annual Walter Haas Observer Award. This will be followed by our keynote speaker at 4 pm. PT (7 p.m. ET). The only hardware required along with your computer are a webcam and microphone. If you will be using a laptop computer, both are already built into your system. Those with PC desktop computers can obtain an inexpensive webcam with built-in microphone from either your local computer retailer or online. An online chat feature will allow type-in text comments for questions once the conference gets underway. All presenters must already have ZOOM installed on their computer prior to the conference dates. ZOOM is free and available at https://zoom.us/ The ZOOM links will be e-mailed out on Thursday, July 27. There will be a separate ZOOM meeting set up for each day. The ZOOM virtual (online) meeting room will open 15 minutes prior to the beginning of each day’s activities. Upon logging into ZOOM you will be placed into a ‘waiting room’ until the meeting begins, and your microphone will be muted automatically. Participants are encouraged to submit research papers, presentations and experience reports concerning various aspects of Earth-based observational solar system astronomy. Suggested topics for papers and presentations include the following: • New or ongoing observing programs and studies, specifically, how those programs were designed, implemented, and continue to function. • Results of personal or group studies of solar system or extra-solar system bodies. • New or ongoing activities involving astronomical instrumentation, construction or improvement. Those individuals wishing to present a paper should submit their request to Tim Robertson at [email protected] no later than Monday, July 3rd, along with a brief bio about themselves and a summary of their presentation. Microsoft PowerPoint is the preferred method of visual presentation along with an audio explanation. Contact Information: ALPO Website: http://www.alpo-astronomy.org/ Tim Robertson: [email protected] ZOOM: https://zoom.us/ ALPO YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/AssociationofLunarandPlanetaryObservers ALPO Podcast- The Observers Notebook: https://soundcloud.com/observersnotebook 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 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 Matt Will Steve Seidentop Stephen Bennett Michael Moyer Shawn Dilles Frank Schenck Damian Allis Carl Hergenrother Julian Parks Michael McShan Michael Blake Nick Evetts Rik Hill Stan Sienkiewicz