Centennial Celebration Update March 2011

We are nearing the end of the first quarter of our centennial year. This is a good time to take a look at what has transpired thus far and what is yet to come.

Observer Challenges

http://www.aavso.org/centennial-observer-challenges

The Twenty Million and Counting! Contest is over now that the database has passed this milestone. The winner, with the prediction closest to the actual day of the milestone was Christopher Watson of San Diego, California.

We have some observers who have crossed the finish line early in the 100 Stars in 100 Days Challenge. The object of this challenge is to observe 100 different variable stars in 100 days. The official announcements will begin on day 101, Monday, April 11, 2011, but here are some preliminary results.

NOTE: These are the number of distinct stars observed by these observers in the last 100 days as of this writing. These are not official results, which will begin being announced April 11, 2011.

People Who Have Observed via CCD 100 Distinct Stars in 100 Days!

ANDRZEJ ARMINSKI (AAM) of Poland has observed 128 distinct stars, via CCD, in 100 days.

ETIENNE MORELLE (MEV) of France has observed 331 distinct stars, via CCD, in 100 days.

KENNETH MENZIES (MZK) of USA has observed 178 distinct stars, via CCD, in 100 days.

People Who Have Observed 100 Distinct Stars, Visually, in 100 Days

ALEXANDRE AMORIM (AAX) of Brazil has observed 113 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

Carlos Adib (ACN) of BRAZIL has observed 270 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

Chris Allen (ACO) of Sweden has observed 122 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

DOUGLAS BARRETT (BPO) of France has observed 148 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

JOHN BORTLE (BRJ) of USA has observed 102 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

BRIAN CUDNIK (CKB) of USA has observed 117 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

PAVOL DUBOVSKY (DPV) of SLOVAKIA has observed 182 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

MIROSLAV KOMOROUS (KMA) of CANADA has observed 107 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

Roger Kolman (KRS) of USA has observed 214 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

THOMAS LLOYD EVANS (LTE) of UK has observed 129 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

Warren Morrison (MOW) of CANADA has observed 185 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

Tony Markham (MTON) of UK has observed 172 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

GARY POYNER (PYG) of UK has observed 220 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

STEVEN SHARPE (SHS) of Canada has observed 117 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

LARRY SHOTTER (SLH) of USA has observed 137 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

Robert Stine (SRB) of USA has observed 143 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

Michael Simonsen (SXN) of USA has observed 109 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

PAUL VEDRENNE (VED) of FRANCE has observed 127 distinct stars, visually, in 100 days.

Everyone who completes the challenge will be given a certificate. These will be awarded at the fall 2011 meeting in Woburn, Mass. Those observers will have another reason to come to the fall meeting now!

Centennial T-Shirts

Sales of Centennial T-Shirts has reached the 25% level. Remember, this is a fundraiser. Your $50.00 donation in exchange for a t-shirt will help pay for all the special events and activities associated with this once in a lifetime event. You can purchase them for friends, or simply send in a donation for several t-shirts and let the AAVSO distribute them as door prizes and promotional materials. Get them while there are still shirts in your size! http://www.aavso.org/centennial-t-shirt-fundraiser

Centennial Trivia Contest

http://www.aavso.org/aavso-trivia-contest

This contest has turned into a hotly contested matter, with Jeremy Shears fiercely holding onto his early lead, in spite of several late-comers who have been giving a high percentage of correct answers. The current overall leaders are listed below (March 16, 2011)

1 JEREMY SHEARS (SFY) UK 43

2 TIMOTHY CRAWFORD (CTX) USA 39

3 LAURENT CORP (CLZ) France 35

4 KEVIN PAXSON (PKV) USA 33

5 WALTER MACDONALD (MDW) Canada 33

6 JOHN BORTLE (BRJ) USA 32

7 THOMAS BRETL (BTB) USA 28

8 RICHARD CAMPBELL (CMP) USA 26

9 DEE SHARPLES (SDP) USA 23

10 RONALD ZISSELL (ZRE) USA 15

New Logo Contest

Break out your art programs, paintbrushes or crayons, folks. There is still time for you to submit your ideas. Submissions for the AAVSO new logo contest are due in by July 1, 2001. Artists may submit more than one design. So far we have three submissions.

We have suggested some guidelines:

It should have a variable star theme
Limit it to 2-3 colors
It should be very easy to read
Keep the artwork simple and clean

Please submit your artwork at 300dpi, using vector graphics.
For more details and contest rules see: http://www.aavso.org/logo-contest

AAVSO Sightings

We would like AAVSO'ers to post pictures of themselves with a piece of AAVSO memorabilia (wearing a hat, a T-shirt, holding a mug, with your member certificate, etc.) in an interesting location. Pictures in famous places are great, but you can also post picture of a location that you personally find interesting (a local town sign, local astronomy club meeting place, your observatory, etc.)
http://www.aavso.org/forums/aavso-sightings

Star Party Talks

The schedule of 2011 events featuring AAVSO staff presentations has filled out nicely, with speaking engagements beginning April 14, at the Northeast Astro Imaging Conference in Suffern, NY and the RASC Toronto Centre, April 20. AAVSO staff will also be featured speakers at the Nebraska, Texas, Table Mountain, Stellafane and Saskatechwan star parties this year.

For the calendar of events featuring AAVSO staff see:
http://www.aavso.org/star-parties-and-astronomical-events-2011

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