by Gene Allen, Secretary

Minutes of the February Meeting

Due to the closing of the University in anticipation of snow, the meeting was convened on Zoom by Director Rex Parker at 1930. Following a brief opening introduction, Program Chair Victor Davis introduced speaker Dr. David Helfand, who gave us a presentation based on his book, The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom. Sadly, the intended book signing was denied to us, but his book is available online and at Labyrinth Books in Princeton. A ten minute question session ended at 2100 and was followed by a five minute break. Signed in on Zoom were 59.

The business meeting opened at 2105.

***********IMPORTANTCHANGES***************************************************

Due to most of the AAAP leadership traveling for the April 8 eclipse, it was decided that:
● The 2024 observatory season will be delayed for two weeks. The first Public Night will be on April 19.
● There will be no hosted, live eclipse event at the observatory. Folks will be referred to online coverage.
● The April meeting is cancelled.

Obscuration in the Princeton area will be 85-90%, still dramatically different from totality. Glasses or filters will be needed throughout the event.

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Member Bob Vanderbie shared some astrophotos.

Member Nick Mellis pitched an in-person Virtual Moon event at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing on February 17 at 1300. He introduced Manny Pimenta, CEO and Founder of the Virtual Moon experience, who will be attending the event and added details about his project. Three sets of virtual reality goggles will be available at the event to enable a virtual walk on the Moon, exploring Apollo landing sites or whatever. If you have VR goggles you can experience it at home from < https://virtualmoon.space/ > .

Outreach Chair Bill Murray attended the Winter Star Party, organized by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society on Big Pine Key from February 5-11. Sky conditions are typically Bortle 3, SQM 21.76, but this year it was unpleasantly cold and much too windy. Limited accommodations are rustic but three meals are provided and a food truck is available all night. Bill showed many astrophotos that were captured with his little Seestar S50, which did better in the conditions this year than his three bigger imaging rigs. < https://www.scas.org/winter-star-party/ >

Rex presented images and video of Jupiter and issued a Jupiter Video Challenge to capture moon shadows crossing the planet. He reminded us that his Lunar South Pole Challenge is still unanswered.

Member John Chase shared a photo of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot that he captured on film when the Hastings was being stored in his garage.

A scope that was recently donated was sold for $450. The loaner scopes we already have are not being adequately utilized and storage is a critical issue. Discussion ensued about our need for a storage shed and that revived the extremely onerous requirements of the state because of our park location. The possibility of installing a structure small enough to not count as a building was suggested. Observatory Co-Chair Dave Skitt proposed acquiring a steel shipping container that might be installed on a bed of gravel. Astroimaging Chair Mike DeMario suggested that we might consider enclosing the piers to gain simple and inexpensive additional space.

Astroimaging Chair Mike DeMario reported that the New Website Design Team has updated the website requirements. He explained that the new website would be built alongside the existing one, and only when we were satisfied with it would it be swapped over.

Outreach Chair Bill Murray thanked Members Bob Vanderbie, Prashant Joshi, and Gene Allen for taking scopes to the stargazing outreach event at the Plainsboro Reserve on February 9. Special thanks go to new Member Cody Pedersen who added his astronomical knowledge and enthusiasm and greatly helped hosting nearly a hundred people. Cars kept coming in all evening, and it was good that closing was scheduled for 2100.

Observatory Co-Chair Dave Skitt reported that the top of a pine tree had broken off on its own, improving our southern horizon a bit. A draft version of the Keyholder Roster and Schedule has been distributed and bears some changes from last year. While we will not be holding any formal eclipse event, we do have something like 250 eclipse glasses that could be handed out in the soccer fields if some members were interested in doing that.

The meeting was adjourned at 2222.

Membership currently numbers 206, with 9 having joined in 2024. There have been 17 renewals 5 have allowed their membership to expire, giving us a 77% retention rate.