by Gene Allen, Secretary

Director Rex Parker opened the meeting in Peyton Hall and on Zoom at 1938. There were 41 in attendance.

Rex noted views and images of comet C/2023 A3 and the unusual sighting of the aurora borealis here in central New Jersey. Spiral galaxy M33 transits (is at its highest point in the sky) tonight at 2200 and is perfectly positioned for imaging. The Pleiades, M45, are also well positioned for viewing naked eye or with binoculars but in a telescope need a super wide field of view.

Program Chair Victor Davis introduced Dr Manuel Cuesta, a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University. His lecture was “Remote Observations of Solar Dynamics and Results from the Parker Solar Probe.”

Questions and a break followed his talk.

The meeting reconvened with an Unjournal Presentation by Member David Ackerman describing the spectroheliograph he built and the images it has yielded.

The question period had run long and technical challenges starting the lengthy Unjournal Presentation left little time for general discussion without unduly delaying a Board of Directors meeting that needed to follow.

The meeting was adjourned at 2155.

As of November 11, we have 214 active members. So far in CY2024, renewals number 114 and expirations number 48, giving us a 70% retention rate.