Certificates
Take on a challenge and sharpen your observing skills at the same time. Pursue an observing certificate. The Astronomical League, of which ORAS is a member organization, offers a series of observing programs that range from fairly easy to exquisitely challenging.
Take on a challenge and sharpen your observing skills at the same time. Pursue an observing certificate. The Astronomical League, of which ORAS is a member organization, offers a series of observing programs that range from fairly easy to exquisitely challenging.
Each observing program requires that you complete a list of observations while following the rules of the program and taking care to maintain records of your work. Upon completing the required observations, you provide the records to the observing program coordinator, who reviews them and grants a certificate of recognition for the effort.
This link gives an overview of the Astronomical League observing programs:
www.astroleague.org/observing.html
A list of observing programs and the relative level of experience required for completion is available at this link:
www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/LevelObservingClubs.html
If you are just getting started in astronomy, consider pursuing a few of the novice-level observations. They are a great way to quickly gain a lot of knowledge about astronomy and to develop good observing skills. Starting without a telescope? No problem. Several of the programs require only binoculars.