Gordon Myers Amateur Achievement Award

The Gordon Myers Amateur Achievement Award, known until 2018 as the Amateur Achievement Award of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, is one of nine annual astronomical awards managed by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. It recognizes "significant contributions to astronomy or amateur astronomy by those not employed in the field of astronomy in a professional capacity."[1] The contributions can be done in the fields of both observational astronomy or astronomical technologies.[2] The award has been given to amateur astronomers from various countries since 1979 and has become one of the most geographically diverse astronomical awards.[3]

Gordon Myers Amateur Achievement Award
Awarded forSignificant contributions to astronomy or amateur astronomy
Presented byAstronomical Society of the Pacific
First awarded1979
Websiteastrosociety.org

Award winners receive a commemorative plaque, which is presented at the Annual Meeting Awards Banquet. The monetary value of the award is US$500. Candidates can be nominated by any member of the astronomical community (with the exception of the nominees themselves and their families) and the nominations should be accompanied by other letters of support. All the nominations have to be delivered to the Astronomical Society of the Pacific by December 15 of the nominating year and remain valid for three years. The winners are selected by the Awards Committee appointed by the Board of Directors. The committee have the right not to award any of the nominees if they do not consider their achievements exceptional enough,[1] which has already happened several times.[4]

Winners

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Recipients of the award have been: [5]

David Levy, the 1993 awardee
Nik Szymanek, the 2004 awardee
Kamil Hornoch, the 2006 awardee
Year Name Nationality Field Notes
1979 James McMahon   Occultations [3]
1980 Frank Bateson   Variable stars [6]
1981 George Alcock   Novae/Comets [7]
1982 Ben Mayer   Problicom [8][9]
1983 J. U. Gunter   Asteroids [10][11]
1984 Russell Genet   Photoelectric photometry [12]
1985 Gregg Thompson & Robert Evans   Supernovae [13][14]
1986 Jean Meeus   Computational astronomy [15][16]
1987 Clinton B. Ford   Variable stars [17]
1988 Jack B. Newton   Astrophotography [18]
1989 Paul Baize   Double stars [19]
1990 Oscar Monnig   Meteorites [20]
1991 Otto Kippes   Asteroid orbits [21]
1992 Richard Lines &
Helen Lines
  Photoelectric photometry of variable stars [22]
1993 David H. Levy  /  Comets [23]
1994 Walter H. Haas   ALPO founder [4]
1995 Donald Parker   Planetary imaging [4]
1996 M. Daniel Overbeek   Variable stars [24]
1997 Edward A. Halbach   Variable stars/occultations [25]
1998 Albert F. A. L. Jones   Variable stars/comets [26]
1999 Warren Offutt   Trans-Neptunian objects [27]
2000 Paul Boltwood   Deep-sky imaging/Comet Hyakutake [28]
2001 Syuichi Nakano   Computing comet orbits [29]
2002 No award
2003 Kyle E. Smalley   Near-Earth asteroids [30]
2004 Nik Szymanek   Imaging and image processing [31]
2005 Tim Hunter   Light pollution [32]
2006 Kamil Hornoch   Visual and CCD observations of variable stars/comets [33]
2007 Peter Francis Williams   R Coronae Borealis stars/variable star monitoring [34]
2008 Steve Mandel   CCD imaging [35]
2009 Thomas Droege   Developing CCD instrumentation and a worldwide sky survey program [36]
2010 Allan Rahill   Adapted Canadian Meteorological Centre forecast products for the purpose of planning observing sessions with highly accurate high resolution point forecasts of cloud cover, transparency, seeing, darkness, wind, temperature and humidity over North and Central America [37]
2011 Kevin Apps   Advancing the fields of extra-solar planet research and stellar astrophysics [38]
2012 Jeffrey L. Hopkins   Photoelectric photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy [39]
2013 No award
2014 Rod Stubbings   Instrumental in helping redefine the Z Cam sub-type of dwarf novae, and discovered the recurrent nova V745 Sco in outburst in the morning sky, triggering an AAVSO Alert Notice and significant attention from the astronomical community [40]
2015 No award
2016 No award
2017 Gao Xing   Supernovae/Comets [41]
2018 Thiam-Guan Tan   Exoplanets [42]

See also

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Other Astronomical Society of the Pacific awards:

Other amateur astronomy awards:

Notes

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  1. ^ a b "Amateur Achievement Award of Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on July 13, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2007.
  2. ^ "2008 ASP Award Recipients Press Release" (Press release). Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on May 7, 2009. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Bracher, Katherine (September–October 1989), "16. New People, New Awards, New Approaches" (PDF), Centennial History of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (PDF), Astronomical Society of the Pacific, p. 34, retrieved November 21, 2009
  4. ^ a b c "Past Amateur Achievement Winners". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on July 13, 2007. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  5. ^ "Past recipients". Astronomica Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  6. ^ Kuhi, L.; A. Fraknoi (1980). "Frank Bateson received the Amateur Achievement Award". Mercury. 9. Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 162. Bibcode:1980Mercu...9..162K.
  7. ^ Arp, H. C.; A. Fraknoi (1981). "George E. D. Alcock received the Amateur Achievement Award". Mercury. 10. Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 186–189. Bibcode:1981Mercu..10..186A.
  8. ^ Arp, H. C.; A. Fraknoi (1982). "1982 A.S.P. Amateur Achievement Award – Mayer, Ben". Mercury. 11. Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 156. Bibcode:1982Mercu..11..156A.
  9. ^ "Ben Mayer received the Amateur Achievement Award". Physics Today. 35 (11). American Institute of Physics: 83. 1982. Bibcode:1982PhT....35...83.. doi:10.1063/1.2914861.
  10. ^ Morrison, D.; A. Fraknoi (1983). "Jay U. Gunter received the Amateur Achievement Award 1983 of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Mercury. 6 (6). Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 186. Bibcode:1983Mercu..12Q.186M.
  11. ^ "Jay Gunter received the Amateur Achievement Award 1983 of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Physics Today. 37 (3). American Institute of Physics: 113. 1984. Bibcode:1984PhT....37c.113.. doi:10.1063/1.2916126.
  12. ^ Arp, H. C.; A. Fraknoi (December 1984). "Russel M. Genet received the Amateur Achievement Award 1984 of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Mercury. 13 (6). Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 168. Bibcode:1984Mercu..13..168W.
  13. ^ Hesser, J. E.; A. Fraknoi (1985). "Gregg Thompson and Robert Evans received the Amateur Achievement Award of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Mercury. 14 (2). Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 44–45. Bibcode:1985Mercu..14S..44H.
  14. ^ "Gregg Thompson and Robert Evans received the Amateur Achievement Award of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Physics Today. 38 (6). American Institute of Physics: 90. 1985. Bibcode:1985PhT....38T..90.. doi:10.1063/1.2814606.
  15. ^ Wolff, S.; A. Fraknoi (June 1986). "Jean Meeus received the Amateur Achievement Award of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Mercury. 15 (5). Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 142–143. Bibcode:1986Mercu..15R.142W.
  16. ^ "Jean Meeus Wins Award" (PDF). National Newsletter. 80 (4). Royal Astronomical Society of Canada: L53. August 1986. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 28, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  17. ^ Hesser, J. E.; A. Fraknoi (September 1987). "Clinton B. Ford received the Amateur Achievement Award 1987 of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Mercury. 16 (5). Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 148. Bibcode:1987Mercu..16..148H.
  18. ^ Hesser, J. E.; A. Fraknoi (1988). "Jack Newton received the Amateur Achievement Award 1988 of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Mercury. 27 (6). Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 189–190. Bibcode:1988Mercu..17R.189H.
  19. ^ Morrison, N. D. (December 1989). "Paul Baize received the Amateur Achievement Award 1989 of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Mercury. 18 (3). Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 206. Bibcode:1989Mercu..18..203M.
  20. ^ Morrison, N. D.; A. Fraknoi (December 1990). "Oscar Monnig received the Amateur Achievement Award 1990 of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Mercury. 19 (6). Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 186–187. Bibcode:1990Mercu..19..186M.
  21. ^ Morrison, N. D. (December 1991). "Otto Kippes received the Amateur Achievement Award 1991 of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Mercury. 20 (6). Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 188–189. Bibcode:1991Mercu..20..188M.
  22. ^ Genet, R. (December 1992). "Richard and Helen Lines received the Amateur Achievement Award 1992 of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Mercury. 21 (6). Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 199–200. Bibcode:1992Mercu..21..199G.
  23. ^ Ferris, T. (August 1993). "David Levy received the Amateur Achievement Award 1993 of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Mercury. 22 (4). Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 125–126. Bibcode:1993Mercu..22..125F.
  24. ^ "ASP Amateur Achievement Award to Danie Overbeek". Monthly Notes of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa. 56. Astronomical Society of Southern Africa: 2. 1997. Bibcode:1997MNSSA..56....2.
  25. ^ Mattei, J. A. (June 1997). "Edward A. Halbach received the Amateur Achievement Award 1997 of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Mercury. 26 (3). Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 6. Bibcode:1997Mercu..26c...6M.
  26. ^ "Awards Received" (PDF). AAVSO Newsletter (21). The American Association of Variable Star Observers: 2. December 1998. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 25, 2006. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  27. ^ Mattei, J. A. (June 1999). "Warren Offutt received the Amateur Achievement Award 1999 of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific". Mercury. 28 (3). Astronomical Society of the Pacific: 5. Bibcode:1999Mercu..28c...5M.
  28. ^ "2000 ASP Annual Award Winners". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  29. ^ "2001 ASP Award Winners Press Release". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on November 7, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  30. ^ "2003 ASP Award Winners Press Release". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  31. ^ "2004 ASP Award Recipients Press Release". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on November 9, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  32. ^ "2005 ASP Annual Award Winners – Amateur Achievement Award – Tim Hunter". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  33. ^ "2006 ASP Annual Award Winners – Amateur Achievement Award – Kamil Hornoch". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  34. ^ "2007 ASP Annual Award Winners – Amateur Achievement Award – Peter Francis Williams". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  35. ^ "2008 ASP Annual Award Winners – Amateur Achievement Award – Stevel Mandel". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  36. ^ "2009 ASP Award Recipients Press Release". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on October 16, 2009. Retrieved November 21, 2009.
  37. ^ "2010 ASP Award Recipients Press Release". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  38. ^ "2011 ASP Award Recipients Press Release". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  39. ^ "The Astronomical Society of the Pacific Announces 2012 Award Recipients in Astronomy Research and Education". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2012.
  40. ^ "Annual Awards". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  41. ^ "The Astronomical Society of the Pacific Announces Its 2017 Award Recipients for Astronomy Research and Education". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on October 7, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  42. ^ "The Astronomical Society of the Pacific Announces Its 2018 Award Recipients for Astronomy Research and Education". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Archived from the original on January 28, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.

References

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