by Gene Allen, Secretary

Director Rex Parker opened the meeting in Peyton Hall at 1931. There were 36 attending and 23 online. He introduced Nomination Chair Dan Opdyke who reported that no additional nominations had been submitted and he called for a vote for the slate. Hands of 27 members were counted in person and an additional 7 online exceeded the required quorum of 32. Those elected for a one year term are:

Director: Rex Parker
Assistant Director: Bob Vanderbei
Treasurer: Ira Polans
Secretary: Gene Allen
Program Chair: Victor Davis
Observatory Co-Chairs: Jennifer & Dave Skitt
Outreach Chair: Bill Murray

Program Chair Victor Davis introduced our speaker for tonight, James Stone, Professor Emeritus at Princeton University and Member of the Institute of Advanced Study. His talk was entitled Accreting Black Holes

Twenty minutes of questions and a break followed the talk.

At 2102 Member Maiya Qui gave an Unjournal Presentation about Variable Stars: RR Lyraes & More. Maiya’s presentation would have been impressive if presented by a professor, and was even moreso when one realizes that she is a high school sophomore.

Rex convened the business meeting at 2113 with 25 attending in Peyton Hall.

Treasurer Ira Polans reported that 22 members have responded with interest in a field trip to the National Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport. They chose to self-drive and stop at the Franklin Institute on the return. Details will be worked out for a date in September.

Rex reported on an April 16 New York Times article Astronomers Detect a Possible Signature of Life on a Distant Planet ( https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/science/astronomy-exoplanets-habitable-k218b.html ). Hycean world K2-18b has an atmosphere of hydrogen and methane and exists at a distance that would permit liquid water on its surface. A large amount of dimethyl sulfide was detected in its atmosphere, and on Earth it is only produced by life. Please see his article in the May issue of Sidereal Times on the AAAP website for more detail. Rex concluded his report with a pitch to join the American Astronomical Society, “a community of astronomers and advocates for science.”

The AAS publishes multiple scientific journals as well as Sky & Telescope magazine. Membership in the AAAP qualifies you to join as an Amateur Affiliate member ($56 dues for 2025). In the current environment where science is being shunned and critically defunded, those of us who respect science need to support such organizations. < https://aas.org/join/classes-membership-and-affiliation >

Observatory Co-Chair Dave Skitt and Member Michael Mitrano reported that we are still awaiting the state permit to replace the failed service lateral to the observatory. The electrical contractor selected to do the replacement has received some questions from the state, an encouraging indication of some action. Until the repair can be completed a generator will be supporting Public Nights. For now, Keyholder Training has been suspended.

Outreach Chair Bill Murray reported that a group will be coming from the planetarium to the observatory on Friday, May 23, so additional member scopes are needed. He reported that 10 members have volunteered to bring scopes to Mercer Meadows on June 7 but there is plenty of room for more.

Dave Skitt reported that he has received a donated 8” Dobsonian with a Star Sense appliance that uses a smartphone to give it push-to guidance.

Rex reminded everyone that the June meeting will be held in the Planetarium of the NJ State Museum in Trenton.

The meeting was adjourned at 2148.

As of May 12, we have 211 active members. So far in CY2025, renewals number 46 and expirations number 26, giving us a 64% retention rate. We have added 17 new members.

Submitted by Secretary Gene Allen, May 20, 2025