Bill Aquino (The Search for Gamma-ray Burst Afterglows) is an avid CCD enthusiast from the Buffalo Astronomical Association and an active member of the AAVSO GRB Network.

The AAVSO has recently teamed with astronomers from NASA to search for and monitor the optical afterglows of distant gamma-ray bursts. CCD equipped amateurs from around the globe have been organized into a quick-response network in an effort to provide the earliest possible detection of these elusive optical transients. The results of this program may help to solve one of astronomy's biggest mysteries: "what exactly causes these titanic releases of energy?"

On March 4 Bill and other members of the BAA were able to detect the faint afterglow from a gamma-ray burst. Bill will talk about the equipment and techniques they used to capture this image, the AAVSO GRB Network and how you can get involved in this exciting project.