
by Rex Parker, PhD director@princetonastronomy.org
April 14 Meeting at Peyton Hall. With the warmer temperatures I will traipse across a blooming campus to Peyton Hall once more for the AAAP meeting on April 14. While walking I look up into the night sky to see the changing constellations, and realize the newcomers signal the start of galaxy season. The brightest and greatest concentration of the northern hemisphere’s galaxies move into good telescope observing position (at hours not causing sleep deprivation) in April. During spring, Earth’s night-side faces away from the populated Milky Way center, allowing clear views of other galaxies in the constellations Virgo, Leo, and Ursa Major. Indeed, clusters of galaxies emerging in the spring.
I hope you will join me in person April 14, as Peyton Hall will become unavailable to us for a while with reconstruction on the building starting this summer. And unexpectedly we have been pre-empted for our May 12 meeting by exam scheduling that evening. So, the May 12 meeting will be held in Sherrerd Hall, a newer building easily accessed with street level parking close by (thanks to Bob V. for arranging this). A campus/parking map will be provided next month in Sidereal Times. And if you haven’t yet, I insist upon you watching the new movie Project Hail Mary adapted from Andy Weir’s sci-fi book. See yourself in those situations calling on MacGyver-like skills to respond to challenges. These are some of the abilities we aspire to as amateur astronomers!
Program Chair Victor’s section below describes our guest speaker for April 14. This will be a good opportunity to learn about the latest approaches being taken in the search for intelligent life outside our planet, SETI. With the encouraging signs of spring, let’s have a great member turnout at Peyton Hall April 14. Of course, if you cannot be there in person please join our meeting by Zoom. The updated Zoom link will be sent by e-mail a few days before each meeting and posted on the newly redesigned website.
AAAP Board Election in May. As directed by the by-laws, each May we hold the election of officers (aka the Board) for a 1-year term. Michael Mitrano has agreed to serve as the temporary Nominations Chair for the election. The basic duties involved for each position are provided on the website, https://www.princetonastronomy.org/about/board. If you are interested in helping AAAP as an officer (this or perhaps a future year), feel free to contact Michael at nominations@princetonastronomy.org. He will report on a slate of candidates at the April meeting.
A Full Moon on the Day of Artemis 2 Launch (April 1). An unexpected flyby occurred by the upper edge of the moon seen through the clouds in this image, from my 12.5” reflector telescope in central NJ.





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