Category Archives: Sidereal Times

Lunar Eclipse — November 19, 2021

Posted on December 3, 2021 by ST Editors

by Robert Vanderbei I’m teaching a Freshman Seminar this fall called Sizing Up The Universe. There are 12 students in the class. A few weeks before the eclipse, I told my students that the eclipse was an upcoming event and … Continue reading →

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Check out Comet Leonard this month from your backyard!

Posted on December 3, 2021 by ST Editors

by Surabhi Agarwal Discovered on January 3, 2021 by Astronomer Gregory J. Leonard, comet C/2021 A1 (Leonard) is heading inward toward its January 3, 2022, perihelion. It has the potential to become the brightest comet of 2021! It is currently in Ursa … Continue reading →

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The Future of Astronomy

Posted on December 3, 2021 by ST Editors

by S. Prasad Ganti Every decade, a survey is conducted in the US to check for the trends in astronomy so that recommendations can be made for projects like building new telescopes. It is called the decadal survey. For this … Continue reading →

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Astrophotography Adapters

Posted on December 3, 2021 by ST Editors

by Rich Sherman I recently learned about a company that builds custom astrophotography adapters, including replacement focusers and custom focuser extension tubes. The company is based in Miami, FL, and is named PreciseParts. Their tagline is: “Your online astro machine … Continue reading →

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Snippets

Posted on December 3, 2021 by ST Editors

compiled by Arlene & David Kaplan James Webb: Hubble telescope successor faces ‘two weeks of terror’Engineers like to describe the process of landing a rover on Mars as the “seven minutes of terror”. But when it comes to the James … Continue reading →

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From The Director

Posted on November 2, 2021 by ST Editors

by Rex Parker, PhD  director@princetonastronomy.org Finding Evidence of Life beyond Earth, Part 2 of AAAP Discussion.  NASA first developed a major program to search for life on other planets and moons in the mid-1990’s.  In 1996, NASA chief Dan Goldin expanded … Continue reading →

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From the Program Chair

Posted on November 2, 2021 by ST Editors

By Victor Davis The November 2021 meeting of the AAAP will take place (virtually) on Tuesday, November 9th at 7:30 PM. (See How to Join the November Meeting below for details). This meeting is open to AAAP members and the general public. … Continue reading →

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Extension of our Friday Night Public Observing Season

Posted on November 2, 2021 by ST Editors

by Dave and Jennifer Skitt, Observatory Chairperson(s) The AAAP Board has voted to extend the Friday night public season until the last Friday in November.  We felt that the delayed season start due to pandemic restrictions and poor weather warranted giving … Continue reading →

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Minutes of the October 12th, 2021 AAAP Members General Meeting (online)

Posted on November 2, 2021 by ST Editors

by John Miller, Secretary ●  The October meeting convened at 7:30 PM via Zoom and Yahoo (online).  There were initially about 45 online attendees. ●   As of this date, there are 169 members in the Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton. … Continue reading →

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AAAP Merchandise

Posted on November 2, 2021 by ST Editors

by Rich Sherman Hello AAAP members,   I’m fellow member Rich Sherman, and I’m helping the AAAP update its merchandise program. We developed a simple 5 question survey that takes about one minute to complete. Your input is valuable and … Continue reading →

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Book Review

Posted on November 2, 2021 by ST Editors

by Richard Sherman The Smallest Lights in the Universe by Sara Seager   Published 2021   Grade:  A-  Paperback $14.99 on Amazon   336 pages  A brilliant young scientist begins her career that will take her to the elite echelons of exoplanet … Continue reading →

Posted in November 2021, Sidereal Times | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Lucky Lucy?

Posted on November 2, 2021 by ST Editors

by S. Prasad Ganti The “Lucy” spacecraft was launched recently on a twelve year mission to visit asteroids. Asteroids are left over remnants from the sculpting of the solar system about four and half billion years ago. Spacecraft in the … Continue reading →

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