by Gene Allen, Secretary

Assistant Director Bob Vanderbei opened the meeting in Peyton Hall and on Zoom at 1934. There were 33 attending in person and 41 online.

Bob discussed the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant also known as M1, Messier object #1. He showed two astrophotos he took of the nebula in 2006 and 2019 using the same equipment. He blinked between them to point out that the nebula had expanded in the intervening years. He carefully measured the expansion and used that rate to estimate the date that it had gone supernova. He calculated 1045, and the actual date was recorded by multiple cultures as 1054. Pretty impressive that he was able to come within 9 years, less than a 1% error.

Program Chair Victor Davis introduced Dr Jesse Christiansen, the Chief Scientist at NASA’s Exoplanet Science Institute at Caltech. Her lecture was “The Search for Earth 2.0: Why We Think It Exists and How We’re Going to Find It.” She was a highly animated, fun speaker whose enthusiasm for her research was readily conveyed.

Questions and a break followed her talk.

The meeting reconvened at 2122 with an Unjournal Presentation by Director Rex Parker describing the multiple sources of evidence for the existence of dark matter.

The business meeting proceeded at 2140 with Outreach Chair Bill Murray reporting a Girl Scout troop request for a star gazing evening at Montgomery Township High School on January 6, with a cloud date of February 3.

It was noted that speakers for January and February are remote, which brings up the question of whether or not to gather in Peyton Hall for those meetings. The June meeting is expected to continue the tradition of gathering in the NJ State Museum Planetarium.

Bob Vanderbei will be giving a talk about his astrophotography at the Planetarium on December 14 at 1615.

Victor Davis reported that the Gene Ramsey Memorial Plaque should be ready for a ceremony in the spring.

Bob Vanderbei also mentioned that he, along with Secretary Gene Allen and Member Seraphine Allen met with Eve Mendel, Director of Programs and Outreach for the Historical Society of Princeton at their museum site at 354 Quaker Road. She is planning a star party in the spring and considering making it an annual event. The site looks excellent. The intended observing field has a low southern horizon and is shielded from the parking lot lighting by a large barn that can also house displays and activities.

The meeting was adjourned at 2152.

As of December 16, we have 217 active members. So far in CY2024, renewals number 127 and expirations number 52, giving us a 71% retention rate. We have added 67 new members.

Submitted by Secretary Gene Allen
December 16, 2024