IOTA Awards

IOTA Annual and Lifetime Achievement Awards

IOTA considers it important to recognize the achievements of those contributing to the field of occultation science.

The Homer F. DaBoll Award is presented annually to recognize significant contributions to the field of occultation science and to the work of IOTA.

The David E. Laird Award is presented on a regular basis to recognize those who, more than 15 years ago, made significant contributions to occultation science and to the work of the IOTA.

The IOTA Lifetime Achievement Award is given, as needed, to recognize outstanding contributions to the science of occultations and to the work of the International Occultation and Timing Association over an extended period of the recipient’s lifetime.

For more information on any of these awards and to see past recipients, please refer to the following webpage:

IOTA Awards

W.J. Merline Award for Discovery of an Asteroid Moon by Occultation

The W. J. Merline Award for Discovery of an Asteroid Moon by Occultation (MADAMO) is to be presented to the first amateur occultation observer who is credited with the discovery of a new natural satellite of a minor planet.  It is open to any amateur astronomer who is also an IOTA member.  The award is named in honor of W. J. Merline, a discoverer of a number of binary asteroids through the use of adaptive optics imaging techniques. The award is partly in recognition of his efforts to foster collaboration between amateur occultation observers and professional asteroid observers.

The MADAMO award will be a one-time award with a monetary prize of US$4,000. The occultation discoverer(s) will receive the monetary award; the occultation discoverer(s) and the confirming institution will each receive a certificate.

For more information on this award, please refer to the following website:

W.J. Merline Award

Other Observer Recognitions

A list of occultation observers honored with an asteroid named for them is available here. While these honors are not done by or for IOTA, they are highly valued recognitions of observer contributions.