Observer Awards - 2023-2024

AAVSO 113th Annual Meeting, Huntsville, Alabama, November 8-10, 2024

Notes: All Observer Awards are now presented at the Annual Meeting.  2019-2020 was the first year for which Spectroscopy awards were presented. 2020-2021 was the first year for which Exoplanet awards were presented. Solar Awards are on a separate webpage.

AAVSO Observer Awards recognizing milestones through September 2024 for the following categories:
     Variable Stars: Visual observations and Photometry
     Variable Stars: Spectroscopy
     Exoplanets  

  Name     Country Years* Total*  
  Variable Stars - Visual observations and Photometry  
  OVER 400,000 VISUAL OBSERVATIONS*  
  Rod   Stubbings Australia 1996-2024 411,208  
               
  OVER 5,000 VISUAL OBSERVATIONS*  
03 Elek   Illés Hungary 1986-2024 7,714  
  David   Smales United Kingdom 2013-2024 6,878  
  Attila   Vicze Hungary 2022-2024 6,829  
  Bernard   Candela France 1978-2024 6,213  
  Edward   Sawyer Canada 2013-2024 5,858  
25 Noriaki   Onodera Japan 2009-2024 5,543  
  Phil   Plante USA 1997-2024 5,308  
               
  OVER 1,000 VISUAL OBSERVATIONS*  
06 Miguel   Rodriguez Marco Spain 1992-2024 2,405  
  Carmine   Marra Canada 2021-2024 1,362  
  Mark   Ellison USA 2022-2024 1,276  
  Brian   Scott USA 1997-2024 1,037  
  Tom   Axelsen Germany 2019-2024 1,005  
  Michael   Hessom USA 2007-2024 1,001  
               
  OVER 100 VISUAL OBSERVATIONS*  
  Bradley   Kulbaba Canada 2003-2024 810  
  Dmitriy   Mukhaylovich Russia 2023-2024 467  
  Marc   Eichenberger Switzerland 2004-2024 448  
  Khalid Salih Alburaidi Saudi Arabia 2023-2024 187  
  Byron   Papadopoulos Greece 2023-2024 177  
  Brian   Kirshner USA 1992-2024 172  
  Pete   Hermes USA 2022-2024 164  
  Rick   Burton USA 2023-2024 139  
  Scott   Cadwallader   2021-2024 126  
18 Fabio   Salvaggio Italy 1999-2024 125  
  Yuri V. Solomonov Russia 2016-2024 123  
  David   Wheeler Australia 2024-2024 123  
  Dean   Herring USA 2024-2024 119  
  Julián   Simón López-Villalta Spain 2023-2024 112  
27 Richard   Wagner Canada 2008-2024 109  
  Attila   Forgács Hungary 2019-2024 104  
  André   Gerolamo Brazil 2022-2024 103  
               
  OVER 10 MILLION CCD OBSERVATIONS*  
05 Franz-Josef (Josch)   Hambsch Belgium 2002-2024 10,789,341  
               
  OVER 1 MILLION CCD OBSERVATIONS*  
  Libert (Berto) A. G. Monard South Africa 1991-2024 2,992,165  
  Teófilo   Arranz Spain 2005-2024 2,396,373  
  Shawn   Dvorak USA 1981-2024 2,153,535  
  Gerard   Samolyk USA 1975-2024 1,439,513  
  Ray   Tomlin USA 1989-2024 1,171,809  
               
  OVER 900,000 CCD OBSERVATIONS*  
  David   Cejudo Fernandez Spain 2010-2024 951,732  
               
  OVER 700,000 CCD OBSERVATIONS*  
  Gordon   Myers USA 2007-2024 701,612  
               
  OVER 500,000 CCD OBSERVATIONS*  
  Joe   Ulowetz USA 2010-2024 502,978  
               
  OVER 400,000 CCD OBSERVATIONS*  
05 Sjoerd   Dufoer Belgium 2001-2024 489,808  
               
  OVER 300,000 CCD OBSERVATIONS*  
  James R. Foster USA 2002-2024 301,557  
               
  OVER 200,000 CCD OBSERVATIONS*  
  Dieter   Husar Germany 1998-2024 218,866  
  Peter   Nelson Australia 1968-2024 204,833  
               
  OVER 100,000 CCD OBSERVATIONS*  
  Charles H. Cynamon USA 2017-2024 123,727  
20 David S. Conner United Kingdom 1987-2024 107,240  
27 Damien   Lemay Canada 1973-2024 104,541  
  Laurent   Corp France 1997-2024 102,203  
19 Magnus   Larsson Sweden 2005-2024 102,119  
  Donald F. Collins USA 2007-2024 100,160  
               
  OVER 50,000 CCD OBSERVATIONS*  
  Michel   Michaud Canada 2021-2024 95,675  
  Gary   Hawkins USA 2021-2024 91,351  
  David P. Messier USA 2003-2024 87,765  
  Robert   Stephens USA 1983-2024 73,411  
  Ian D. Sharp United Kingdom 2019-2024 53,517  
               
  OVER 10,000 CCD OBSERVATIONS*  
  William K. Kowalczyk USA 2023-2024 21,407  
  Nikola N. Antonov Bulgaria 2022-2024 19,476  
  Aengus   O'Fearghail Ireland 1997-2024 19,404  
  Ari   Siqueira Brazil 2023-2024 18,834  
17 Jorma   Ryske Finland 2021-2024 17,690  
  Brad   Young USA 2003-2024 14,435  
20 Tony   Vale United Kingdom 2014-2024 13,557  
  Penko G. Jordanov Bulgaria 1999-2024 13,524  
  Jean-Bruno   Desrosiers Canada 2016-2024 11,248  
  David G. Iadevaia USA 1978-2024 11,232  
  Stephen C. Percy United Kingdom 2018-2024 10,864  
  W. Allen Gilchrist USA 1988-2024 10,396  
  Mike   Shade USA 2023-2024 10,036  
               
  OVER 1,000 CCD OBSERVATIONS*  
20 Daniel   Kustrin United Kingdom 2023-2024 9,743  
20 Horst   Meyerdierks Germany 2023-2024 7,331  
05 Tim   Polfliet Belgium 2023-2024 6,649  
  Eric   Fabrigat France 2019-2024 4,955  
  Pat   Devine none 2024-2024 4,270  
  Stefan C. Keller Australia 2024-2024 3,885  
37 Eric   Martins Marques Brazil 2021-2024 3,694  
02 Volker   Wickert Germany 2022-2024 3,613  
  Michael   Primm USA 2024-2024 3,539  
  Tommaso   Dittadi Italy 2024-2024 3,213  
  Orlando   Benítez Sánchez Spain 2024-2024 2,917  
  Ferdinand   none USA 2024-2024 2,469  
  Andrew   Corkill USA 2021-2024 2,429  
  Dipankar   Maitra USA 2015-2024 2,369  
  Leonardo   Quaggiotto none 2024-2024 2,329  
  Daniel   Judge Australia 2024-2024 2,244  
02 Matthias   Kolb Germany 2019-2024 2,036  
29 Roy A. Axelsen Australia 2002-2024 2,014  
  Domenico   Licchelli Italy 2021-2024 1,969  
  Pat   Browne Canada 2023-2024 1,883  
20 Kevin   West United Kingdom 1989-2024 1,816  
  Jiarui   Xiong China 2024-2024 1,758  
  Simonluca   Landi Italy 2023-2024 1,575  
  Alexandrea   Moreno none 2024-2024 1,499  
  Pierre   Fleurant USA 2021-2024 1,448  
  Hugues   Meunier France 2022-2024 1,387  
  Daniel   Bailey USA 2007-2024 1,377  
  Steve   Lantz USA 2022-2024 1,320  
  Dmitry   Mukhortov USA 2024-2024 1,263  
  Sauro   Gaudenzi Italy 2024-2024 1,236  
20 Paul   Bouchier United Kingdom 2021-2024 1,214  
27 Scott D. Young Canada 1997-2024 1,211  
  Krzysztof   Scigalski Poland 2021-2024 1,182  
  Douglas M. Slauson USA 1980-2024 1,173  
  Raymund   Ang USA 2009-2024 1,092  
  Mike E. Wiles USA 2022-2024 1,076  
  Kristopher   Hultner USA 2023-2024 1,073  
  Eugene   Romas Russia 2009-2024 1,068  
  Francis P. Wilkin USA 1984-2024 1,063  
03 Tamas   Zalezsak Hungary 1980-2024 1,051  
               
  OVER 27,500 PEP OBSERVATIONS*  
  Gerald   Persha USA 2013-2024 29,096  
               
  OVER 2,500 PEP OBSERVATIONS*  
  Javier   De Elías Spain 2018-2024 3,090  
               
  OVER 1,000 PEP OBSERVATIONS*  
04 Erwin   van Ballegoij Netherlands 1984-2024 1,022  
               
  OVER 10,000 DSLR OBSERVATIONS*  
  Christophe   Marlot France 2014-2024 23,127  
               
  OVER 1,000 DSLR OBSERVATIONS*  
02 Mario   Ennes Germany 2022-2024 2,649  
  Francois   de Oliveira Santos France 2021-2024 2,425  
  Steven   Smith USA 2020-2024 1,151  
               
  OVER 500 DSLR OBSERVATIONS*  
05 Tim   Polfliet Belgium 2023-2024 805  
16 Evgeny   Krotkov Russia 2017-2024 645  
  Nikolaj   Delev Bulgaria 2022-2024 583  
  Sergey   Kuznetsov Russia 2004-2024 524  
               
  OVER 100 DSLR OBSERVATIONS*  
  Matt   Finch United Kingdom 2024-2024 487  
  Andrzej   Balcerek Poland 2024-2024 355  
  Wayne   Buck USA 2023-2024 140  
  Riyadh Jemal Abdulkadir Ethiopia 2020-2024 107  
               
  Variable Stars - Spectroscopy  
  OVER 2,500 SPECTROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS*  
  James R. Foster USA 2002-2024 2,800  
               
  OVER 500 SPECTROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS*  
  David   Cejudo Spain 2010-2024 590  
               
  OVER 100 SPECTROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS*  
  David   Mohrbacher USA 1975-2024 136  
  Richard   Brown USA 2021-2024 124  
  Keith   Shank USA 2020-2024 117  
               
  Exoplanets  
  OVER 575 EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS*  
  Andre   de Oliveira Kovacs Brazil 2016-2024 579  
               
  OVER 375 EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS*  
  Alessandro   Odasso Italy 2019-2024 379  
               
  OVER 325 EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS*  
  Bryan E. Martin USA 2021-2024 336  
               
  OVER 225 EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS*  
20 Martin   Fowler United Kingdom 2013-2024 227  
               
  OVER 175 EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS*  
  Heath   Rhoades   2024-2024 192  
               
  OVER 150 EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS*  
  Phil H. Coombes South Africa 2011-2024 173  
  Michael   Primm USA 2015-2024 152  
               
  OVER 125 EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS*  
  Anthony   Norris USA 2011-2024 125  
               
  OVER 100 EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS*  
  Manoli   Seco Mansito Spain 2011-2024 121  
01 Jean-Pascal   Vignes France 2020-2024 116  
  Ira   Bell USA 2024-2024 108  
  Sauro   Gaudenzi Italy 2010-2024 103  
               
  OVER 50 EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS*  
  Erick Jasmir   Aguilera USA 2011-2024 70  
  John   Collins United Kingdom 2013-2024 66  
  Cledison   Marcos da Silva Brazil 2011-2024 57  
  Ken   Mason USA 2024-2024 52  
               
  OVER 25 EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS*  
  Ahmad   Jabbarian Germany 2024-2024 46  
  Allen   Lee USA 2014-2024 45  
  Kevin B. Alton USA 2005-2024 40  
  Kara   Roberts USA 2013-2024 40  
  Nikola N. Antonov Bulgaria 2023-2024 38  
  Marianne L. Padgett USA 2018-2024 30  
  Steven   Timmons USA 2024-2024 30  
  Kenneth   Menzies USA 1967-2024 29  
  Jeff   Nee USA 2012-2024 29  
  Douglas J. Lalla USA 2024-2024 28  
  Nick   Leiner USA 2024-2024 28  
  Penko G. Jordanov Bulgaria 1999-2024 27  
  Lizaveta   Nikitsenka Chile 2010-2024 27  
  Magdalena   Szkudlarek Poland 2023-2024 26  
  John   Mayall   2024-2024 25  
               
  OVER 10 EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS*  
  Scott   Dixon USA 2020-2024 23  
  Taj   Entabi USA 2024-2024 22  
  R. Dan   Nafe USA 2024-2024 22  
  Gerold   Holtkamp Germany 2021-2024 21  
  Varun   Pritmani USA 2012-2024 21  
  Vivek   Vijayakumar USA 2021-2024 20  
  Amanda   Austin   2024-2024 19  
  Giuseppe   Conzo Italy 2023-2024 19  
  Jeffrey   DeVries Canada 2024-2024 18  
  Jacob   Garza   2012-2024 17  
  Bruno   Guillet France 2024-2024 17  
  Pradip   Karmakar India 2013-2024 17  
  George   Iwaszek USA 2003-2024 15  
  Joshua   Oskwarek   2024-2024 15  
  Steven   Hoffman USA 2023-2024 13  
  Dan   van der Burg Canada 2024-2024 13  
  Mark   Foreman   2024-2024 12  
  Hasan Arda   Güler Turkey 2024-2024 12  
  Jeffrey   Haynes USA 2022-2024 12  
  James   Armstrong USA 2024-2024 10  
  Bradley   Hutson   2018-2024 10  
               
  OVER 5 EXOPLANET OBSERVATIONS*  
  Maiya   Qiu USA 2018-2024 8  
  Kalée   Tock USA 2024-2024 8  
  Bruce D. Parker USA 2024-2024 6  
  Dinesh   Shetty USA 2024-2024 6  
  Bob   Tracy USA 2017-2024 6  
  Maria   Stratigou-Psarra   2024-2024 5  

* Years include the total AAVSO observing interval (not only the years covering the category of award).
   Total includes only the type of observations covered by the award.

** Years include spectroscopy observations only.
*** Years include exoplanet observations only.

A number preceding a name indicates the observer is also affiliated with the group below:

| 01 | Association Française des Observateurs d'Étoiles Variables (AFOEV)
| 02 | Bundesdeutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Veränderliche Sterne e.V.(Germany) (BAV)
| 03 | Magyar Csillagászati Egyesület, Változócsillag Szakcsoport (Hungary) (MCSE)
| 05 | Vereniging Voor Sterrenkunde, Werkgroep Veranderlijke Sterren (Belgium)  (VVS)
| 06 | Madrid Asronomical Association M1 (Spain)
| 16 | Association of Variable Star Observers - Pleione (Russia)
| 17 | URSA Astronomical Association, Variable Star Section (Finland)
| 19 | Svensk Amator Astronomisk Forening, variabelsektionen (Sweden) (SAAF)
| 20 | British Astronomical Association, Variable Star Section (BAA-VSS)
| 25 | Variable Star Observers League in Japan (VSOLJ)
| 27 | Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC)
| 29 | Variable Stars South (New Zealand)
| 37 | Clube De Astronomia De Sao Paulo (Brazil)