honors

The Nova/Supernova Award

At the Annual Meeting in October, 1928, a Nova Award Medal was instituted to encourage and recognize the visual discoverers of novae. The Medal was not restricted to members of the AAVSO, but it would be awarded to the original discoverer of a nova by direct visual methods. Initially, the medals were made of gold and were donated by AAVSO member and jeweler, David B. Pickering. The Nova Award Medal was discontinued, and the Nova Award Plaque was awarded in its place on subsequent occasions. This award is also awarded to the visual discoverer of supernova.

Solar Observer Awards

In order to recognize the contributions of AAVSO Solar Section contributors, the AAVSO Solar Observer Awards (sunspots only) were initiated at the 1999 Annual Meeting. Sunspot awards are presented to solar observers who have reached milestones of 100, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, or subsequent increments of 500 sunspot observations by September of a given year. In 2004 a SID awards program was implemented to give equal recognition to SID observers.