by Gene Allen, Secretary

Director Rex Parker opened the meeting remotely on Zoom at 1934 while Assistant Director Bob Vanderbie presided in Peyton. There were 29 attending in the auditorium, in spite of a cold 30 degree walk from the Stadium Garage, and 20 online. Rex recommended the DemystifySci Podcast, available on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify. He noted that billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman had been re-nominated to head NASA and called our attention to the upcoming Geminid meteor shower peaking on December 13-14. He reported that development of a new AAAP website is on track to swap over from the current one in January. Bob showed the walking route from what may be a closer parking location in the PU North Garage and suggested it could be substantially reduced by cutting through the new engineering building behind Peyton. He shared some aurora images and noted the public observing session held in Peyton each month, with the next in just two days.

Program Chair Victor Davis introduced our speaker for tonight, Jiaxuan Li, who is pursuing a PhD in astrophysics at Princeton University. He spoke about finding a dwarf planet candidate, a trans-Neptunian object that challenges the possibility of a 9th planet. The first 35 minutes of his presentation detailed the history of planetary discovery. His hour long talk was followed by 12 minutes of questions.

Rex continued the meeting at 2105 without a break so 26 were still attending in Peyton. Student Member Hasan Hafiz gave an Unjournal Presentation about creating a light curve from 3 observations of a variable star.

The business meeting convened at 2131 with 12 remaining in the auditorium. Rex noted that the Geminid count could reach 200 an hour

Outreach Chair Bill Murray reported that an appeal for volunteers would be issued in January for a star gazing request from a Boy Scout troop on the 20th.

Observatory Co-Chair Dave Skitt reported that the Washington Crossing Park personnel had invited the AAAP to staff a table and bring solar scopes at a park event on Dec 14 but the Board had not responded. He congratulated new Keyholders Maggie Rao and Hasan Hafiz.

The meeting was adjourned at 2147.

As of December 6, we have 214 active members. So far in CY2025, renewals number 126 and expirations number 51, giving us a 71% retention rate. We have added 43 new members.

Submitted by Secretary Gene Allen December 21, 2025