BA Sidewalk Astronomer

Youth Awards

Nominate the deserving young astronomer!
If you don't, no one else will.

Think back to one particular clear night many years ago. You likely gazed at the starry sky and, although you may not have realized it, it changed your life. Perhaps you were a teenager who visited a public event hosted by the local astronomy club. After standing expectantly in line, you peered for the first time through a quality telescope at M42 with its stellar sprinklings embedded throughout its wispy regions, and its four closely packed Trapezium stars shining in the central glow, sharply bordered by dark nebulae.

What an awesome sight for a young person to experience!

The Astronomical League wants to make sure that curious young people today have that same experience that leads to that same sense of discovery, and results in that same sense of wonder. We want to make sure that the young observer stays in the hobby long after that first enticing celestial sight.

When you entered the hobby, wouldn’t it have been great to have been acknowledged in some manner for your active interest in astronomy? Imagine how that might have affected your future, not just regarding astronomy, but your life in general. Now, think of how the right recognition might influence an enthusiastic young person today.

The Astronomical League now annually offers ten – yes, ten! – paths to acknowledge young people’s desire to learn more about this incredible universe: the National Young Astronomer and Horkheimer Youth Awards.

Know of a deserving young person? Nominate that girl or boy! They won’t do it themselves.

The purpose of this awards program is not simply to encourage students to become professional astronomers. No, it is much more than that.
It is to open young minds to examine where their futures may lead.
It is to open young hearts to a lifelong love of the night sky.
It is to show that amateurs across the country respect the activities of young observers, letting them know that amateur astronomy is a worthwhile avocation.

For details, please visit: https://www.astroleague.org/astronomical-league-awards/

The star clusters NGC 869 and 884 are in the northeast as night falls, in Perseus. Together, they are known as the Double Cluster. Under dark skies, they are visible to the eye alone as a hazy smudge of light. Binoculars reveal two sparkling balls of stars.

AL LIVE!
Friday October 30, 2026
7:00 pm EDT

host Terry Mann
featured speaker: Dr. Shane Larson, "Zombie and Vampire Stars: Tales from the Stellar Graveyard"

also with
Chuck Allen
John Goss
Laurie Ansorge and
Scott Roberts

The stars of the Summer Triangle remain in good view in the western evening sky. The brightest member of the trio is Vega, which is high in the west in mid evening. Altair stands well to its left, with Deneb highest in the sky.

The Draconids meteor shower, known for being brief but intense, peaks this evening. The shower has been known to develop into a meteor storm, which is when more than 1,000 meteors fall in an hour.

Hi, skywatchers! Don't miss the moon near Jupiter 🌘

The was fabulous near in the eastern predawn sky this morning. And you’ll have another chance tomorrow and Thursday. Shortly before sunrise, the moon will glow below Jupiter and , the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion.

For more sky events, visit EarthSky’s night sky guide:
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury/

📸 Chart via EarthSky.org.

There is a YUGE virtual exhibit on the walls of a pedestrian tunnel in Florence, Italy. Over 500 slots available in various sizes and I booked for three pieces but 4 slots.

But with me prepping to leave for a Star party and presentation this week I just wasn’t able to successfully figure out the cropping and stretching software to fit the slot spaces and pack a trailer to leave in 24 hours.

So I notified and thanked the coordinator and explained my schedule and pressure and that I would pass on this opportunity this time.

The coordinator who accepts artwork only after reviewing your website and pieces, said he really wanted me to stay in the show and graciously bailed me out and rallied to get my works done.

So I am happy to report that….

The total lunar eclipse will be in a large slot on the ceiling of course.

The tornado on a medium slot on a wall.

And I got two mediums to fit the landscape.

It’s very surreal! And exciting that I may not have a lot of viewers here but I do in Italy the heart of the Renaissance!!!

This next post is pretty epic.

So you apply for the opportunity to be in this book by submitting your website For them to review.

And I was to send a piece with a brief description so I sent in “An Eagles Eye View of the Milky Way”

They tell you that they will review and get back with you. If I remember there are. 3 or 4 judges.

I got an email yesterday asking about my painting on fabric and on my frames. So I sent that in see below.

This morning I am told CONGRATULATIONS you have been accepted to be in the book!

I paid the entry fee and was Apple to buy 2 more pages which I did!

Book is due out in April!

Some one pinch me!

But not too hard!