by Gene Allen, Secretary

Director Rex Parker opened the meeting remotely on Zoom at 1930 while Assistant Director Bob Vanderbie presided in Peyton. There were 33 attending in the auditorium and 20-some online. Rex noted that Jupiter was in opposition just three days ago, so imaging opportunities are still great. He also acknowledged that the Artemis 2 mission launch is approaching. It will send four astronauts in a large orbit around the Moon, farther from Earth than any earthlings have ever been.

Program Chair Victor Davis remotely introduced our speaker for tonight, Dr Jamie Rankin, Research Scholar and Lecturer at Princeton University. Her talk was titled How Our Sun Interacts With the Interstellar Medium. She chronicled the data that the Voyager 1 and 2 missions have and continue to contribute, now 15 and 13 billion miles away. Their data will be  supplemented by instruments on the IMAP spacecraft currently orbiting at L1. One of the ten packages on IMAP is Solar Wind and Pickup Ion (SWAPI), built by Dr Rankin and her team at Princeton University and for which she is the Instrument Lead.

After the question period Bob continued the meeting without a break. There were 16 remaining in the auditorium as he explained that he had convinced Princeton University to acquire eight Seestar S30 robotic telescopes in support of the astronomy course he teaches for freshmen. They were enthusiastic and successful in capturing some great images that he shared.

Rex followed with his Unjournal Presentation about dark matter and the newly discovered Cloud 9 near M94.

Outreach Chair Bill Murray reported that no one has volunteered to support the requested Boy Scout outreach event on the 20th so it had to be cancelled. The only volunteers for an event in Montgomery on February 1 are our student members, and we need some adult coverage. He will also be trying to find volunteers for an event for a Hamilton Cub Scout pack on February 20.

Secretary Gene Allen reported that the new AAAP website has more capability than originally planned which means some final tweaks are being made so the switchover has been delayed one more month.

The meeting was adjourned at 2152.

As of January 11, we have 206 active members. So far in CY2026, renewals number 3 and expirations number 4, giving us a 43% retention rate. We have added 2 new members.

Submitted by Secretary Gene Allen
January 18, 2026