Minutes of July 9, 2013 Board Meeting

Posted on July 19, 2013 by ST Editors

Attendees:
Jeff Bernardis, Director
Larry Kane, Assistant Director
Michael Mitrano, Treasurer
Kate Otto, Program Chair
Michael Wright, Secretary
James Poinsett
David Letcher
Gene Ramsey
John Church
Bill Murray
Jennifer Skitt
David Skitt
John Giles
Arshad Jilani

1. StarQuest
Director Jeff Bernardis reported that Ludy D’Angelo polled the members regarding their interest in attending StarQuest at Hope Conference Center, September 6, 7 and 8. Eleven members replied affirmatively. Jeff thought twelve was the minimum number. The group agreed that we should go ahead with StarQuest; however, no one was willing to lead the effort. Jeff said he would discuss the decision further with Ludy.

2. Picnic
Jeff asked for a volunteer to organize the picnic. No one volunteered.

3. Simpson Observatory
Observatory Chair Gene Ramsey thanked Rex Parker, Dave Zahler, David Skitt and Michael Mitrano for quickly replacing the burned out circuit board in the Paramount. He reported on recent improvements at the observatory by himself and David and Jennifer Skitt such as fixing the roof flap, restocking the first aid kit, replacing the defective switch in the Telrad, and creating a guest log.

Gene reviewed the access and parking procedures on public nights, which have not changed since they were reported at the last AAAP meeting. Gene suggested that members and visitors could leave via the soccer fields if there are no campers in the park. Gene has bought a new water resistant lock for the Brick Yard Road gate, which he is going to offer to the park administration to share with the antique farm equipment group.

The alarm needs a new backup battery. David Skitt volunteered to look into it.

John Giles reported that the Gemini mount has been repaired and is ready for installation. A work party will be scheduled to install it under the refractor in November after the public observing season is over.

The merits of surge protection and lightning protection for the observatory were discussed. It was agreed that installation of inexpensive surge suppressors, preferably inside the outlet boxes, would be prudent to protect the computer, mounts and other electronics from transient spikes while they are being used. We should continue our current practice of unplugging all electronics when closing down the observatory.

4. Treasurer’s Report
Michael Mitrano hahttps://princetonastronomy.wordpress.com/wp-admin/users.phpnded out copies AAAP’s Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2013 and Profit and Loss Statement for FY2013. He requested that anyone holding receipts for reimbursable club expenses should submit them to him right away. The club is in sound financial condition to undertake the new observatory construction.

5. New Observatory
Michael Mitrano reported:

  • The donation is still available. The owner is anxious for AAAP to take possession. The storage fees have used up the cash reserve.
  • NJDEP is ready to approve the observatory, but they would like AAAP to obtain building permits first.
  • Two quotes have been obtained from masons for an octagonal block structure. Michael distributed sketches, a scope of work and the quotes. The preferred quote from H. Kurt Seiferth Contracting, Inc. for option A is $9,700. It does not include electrical work, topsoil and seeding, the ring for mounting the dome on the structure and painting. Members could do this work; however, an electrician will probably be required to run two circuits from the panel board in the existing observatory.
    The group had a long discussion about the details of the plan, potential construction issues, and transportation and storage of the dome and equipment. Michael made a motion, seconded by Secretary Michael Wright, that the Board approve and recommend to the membership that $12,000 of AAAP’s reserves be appropriated for construction of the structure including electrical work and permit fees. The Board passed the motion unanimously. It will be published in Sidereal Times and voted on by the membership at the September meeting.

6. UACNJ
Delegate Bill Murray reported on the last UACNJ meeting that he attended as follows:

  • The annual symposium is scheduled for October 5.
  • UACNJ asked for more AAAP brochures. Arshad Jilani and Jennifer Skitt volunteered to update the existing brochure, which Jeff will obtain from Ludy.
  • UACNJ would like AAAP to repair the observatory at Jenny Jump. If AAAP no longer wants it, we can remove the scope, and UACNJ will take over the observatory. AAAP can remain a member even if we decide to abandon the observatory. Bill will try to organize a work party when the summer is over.
  • A question came up about AAAP’s insurance coverage at Jenny Jump. Treasurer Michael Mitrano reported that the policy would cover AAAP if anyone is injured at either of our observatories. Michael will research further.

7. Outreach
David Letcher announced that AAAP has been invited to participate in the Perseid meteor watch sponsored by the D&R Greenway Trust on the evening of Monday, August 12 at St. Michaels Farm Preserve in Hopewell Township. The event will begin at 10:00 p.m. David is looking for volunteers to bring telescopes to the event for public viewing.

David will be conducting his backyard astronomy seminar for pre-teens to adults at the W-C Nature Center beginning on September 20, 7:30-8:30 p.m. After each lecture, participants will visit the observatory for viewing. Those who complete the four sessions will receive a certificate. Anyone interested should register with the Nature Center.

8. Publicity
Gene Ramsey congratulated Jeff on the recent article in the US 1 paper about the club. This was great publicity for the club. Jeff said the reported paraphrased his quotes, but overall her writing was accurate.

Michael Wright said he would like to open a free Mail Chimp account to use for emailing the membership. He said that the existing mail server would still be used for press releases and other internal communications. Jeff asked whether “princetonastronomy.org” would appear in the “From” address. Mike will verify. There was no objection. Also, Michael has updated the observatory information on the Washington-Crossing Park Wikipedia page. He will create a Wikipedia page for the AAAP.

9. Dues Policy for Couples and Families
Michael Wright asked about the dues policy for couples and families. Michael Mitrano explained that there is no written policy; however, in practice if both members of a couple are active members (i.e. officers, keyholders), both should pay dues. If only one is a member, the spouse can attend lectures and public observing nights because they are open to the public anyway. Also, children do not have to become members; however, a parent must join if a minor is going to be an active member.

10. Sidereal Times
July 15 is the deadline for mid-summer edition.

Submitted by Michael Wright, Secretary

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Appropriation for New Observatory

Posted on July 19, 2013 by ST Editors

by Michael Wright, Secretary

At the July 9, 2013 Board meeting, the Board unanimously approved the following motion:

The Board of Trustees recommends that $12,000 of AAAP’s reserves be appropriated for construction of the new observatory structure at Washington-Crossing State Park including electrical work and permit fees.

For more information on the plans for the new observatory, see the July 9, 2013 Board meeting minutes above. A vote on this motion will be taken at the September 10, 2013 business meeting following the monthly lecture. According to AAAP’s by-laws, this expenditure must be approved by a majority of the votes cast and not less than 30% of the paid membership. The Board urges all members to attend and vote affirmatively on the recommendation.

Posted in Mid-Summer 2013, Sidereal Times | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Messier M15

Posted on July 19, 2013 by ST Editors

by Robert Vanderbei

I find it amazing how accurate the Clear Sky website is at predicting in advance the quality of an observing session. I am signed up for their email alerts. A few days ago, I started getting alerts that last night would be a good night. In fact, the seeing was predicted to be “excellent” (5/5). In my experience, nights of excellent seeing only come a few times a year usually in the hot months of July, August, or September, and they are not to be missed. Excellent seeing is especially critical for viewing/imaging planets and star clusters. Since no planets were in good viewing position late last night, I decided to do globular
cluster M15, which culminated about 3:00 a.m. The seeing was indeed excellent. I took 20 second unguided images.

M15 - A Globular Cluster in Pegasus

M15 – A Globular Cluster in Pegasus


In the best 60 out of 90 luminance frames, the FWHM varied from 1.06 arc seconds to 1.41 arc seconds. That’s pretty amazing given that the diffraction-limited resolution (defined as 1.28 Lambda/D) for my 10″ RC is 0.51 arc seconds (in green light). Here’s the best picture that I took…

More are on my website. The stars are amazingly sharp. But, my new image doesn’t go as deep as some of my earlier images of M15. This is consistent with the fact that the transparency wasn’t that great. There was a thin layer of fog/haze. Of course, transparency is often inversely correlated with seeing.

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Spectacular Night Launch from NASA Wallops Studies Early Universe

Posted on July 19, 2013 by ST Editors

by Dr. Ken Kremer

Night launch of NASA Black Brant XII and CIBER. Credit: Ken Kremer

Night launch of NASA Black Brant XII and CIBER. Credit: Ken Kremer

The spectacular night time launch of a powerful Black Brant XII suborbital rocket from NASA’s launch range at the Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore at 11:05 p.m. June 5 turned darkness into day as the rocket swiftly streaked skyward with the Cosmic Infrared Background ExpeRiment (CIBER) on a NASA mission to shine a bright beacon on star and galaxy formation in the early Universe.

A very loud explosive boom that shook the local launch area at ignition was heard by local residents and tourists over 10 miles away. The four stage Black Brant XII is the most powerful sounding rocket in America’s arsenal for scientific research.

“The data looks good so far,” Jamie Bock, CIBER principal investigator from the California Institute of Technology, told me in an exclusive post-launch interview inside Mission Control at NASA Wallops. “I’m very happy.”

The first massive stars to form in the universe produced copious ultraviolet light that ionized gas from neutral hydrogen. CIBER observes in the near infrared because the expansion of the universe stretched the original short ultraviolet wavelengths to long near-infrared wavelengths. It investigates two tell tale signatures of first star formation — the total brightness of the sky after subtracting all foregrounds, and a distinctive pattern of spatial variations, says Bock.

Read more about science launches from NASA Wallops here: CIBER and Daytime Dynamo Ken’s panoramic mosaic of NASA’s Curiosity rover conducting the first rock drilling on another planet was featured in the July issue of Popular Mechanics magazine, see p. 89.

Astronomy Outreach by Dr. Ken Kremer
Rittenhouse Astronomical Society: Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA:
Oct. 9, 8 PM, “Curiosity and the Search for Life on Mars (3-D).

Dr. Ken Kremer: Universe Today & AAAP
Please contact Ken for more info, science outreach presentations and his space photos.
Email: kremerken@yahoo.com website: www.kenkremer.com
http://www.universetoday.com/author/ken-kremer/

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From the Director

Posted on June 12, 2013 by ST Editors

Jeff Bernardis, Director

So here I am with my first newsletter article as Director.  I have to start by thanking Ludy for his past 3 years serving as director, and for the several years of other board positions prior to that.  His is going to be a tough act to follow.

I also want to thank everyone for all the support I received during the nomination/election process.  The votes of confidence were well received.  Of course I can’t do this alone, and the make-up of the rest of the board was instrumental in my final decision to accept the nomination; I look forward to leading the club into its second half century.

And finally I cannot go any further without recognizing the hard work put in by Kate, Surabhi, Bob, John, and the many others planning the 50th anniversary celebration.  The only blemish on the whole evening was the fact that the weather did not cooperate, but even that had a silver lining as it allowed more time for other items.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself, as I’m sure everyone did.

Now to the business of the club.

If nothing else happens during my tenure, I am hopeful that we can increase participation in our outreach efforts.  This is a very important part of the club’s identity.  You can only get out of any relationship what you put into it, and I think too many members are not seeing fully what the club can give to them.

When I first joined the AAAP back in 2006, I thought I was just joining a group of people who shared my enthusiasm for this hobby.  While all of that is true, it has become more and more apparent to me the prestige associated with this club.  We are in the midst of some of the world’s greatest minds in the field, and they do not just co-exist with us.   They are very involved with the club and several of them are even members.  I think we have a great symbiosis.  We definitely benefit from the proximity to the University and the IAS; conversely, the University, the IAS, and the community at large, benefit from our many outreach programs.

This is all why I want to encourage members to get involved with outreach.  Respond to Dave’s requests for help; Come out to the super science weekend, or to communiversity; become a keyholder.

The evening events at local schools – what we have come to call “star parties” – is perhaps the easiest way to get involved.  Even without a telescope there are things that can be pointed out, constellations can be identified, planets, etc.  When I first joined the club, I did not immediately participate in these programs.  I’m not sure what made be decide to go to my first one, but I’m glad I did.  I volunteer for many of them today, and – I won’t lie, there are evenings I hope it rains so I don’t have to go out, but – I never fail to be rewarded.  And it’s not just the kids; the parents we see are just as much stunned by some of the things we show them.

As we enter into the summer season, this is normally the time when things slow down a bit.  But even during this “off season” there are things to which anyone can contribute.

  • The new observatory committee is still moving forward with their agenda.  If anything, this should speed up during the summer as this is the season when things can actually get done.  Hands are always welcome here.
  • The observatory is in full swing during the summer and there are several issues to be taken care of.  I’m sure Gene would welcome a volunteer or two.
  • Outreach efforts continue.  Let’s not forget Dave Letcher still has requests coming in.  In my experience, summer was always a tough time to find volunteers, but although the needs are less, they are still there.
  • The item I am most concerned about is Starquest.  Our  “planned” date for Starquest is in early September – before our first meeting of the new year.  I need someone to step forward to take responsibility for seeing the planning through and making sure the event happens.
  • And of course, Kate Otto will be working to line up our speakers for next year.  Kate does a fantastic job at what everyone considers to be the toughest position on the board.   Despite having talent for doing this, she is happy to accept help.  If you have anybody who you think would be a good speaker, let her (or me – or any board member) know, and we will see what can be done.

The list goes on.  I’m sure there are things I am not thinking of right now, but if there is something you’re interested in that I’ve not thought of, contact me, or bring it up at a meeting.

Posted in June 2013, Sidereal Times | Tagged , | Leave a comment

From the Program Chair

Posted on June 12, 2013 by ST Editors

Kate Otto, Program Chair

AAAP member Bill Murray will once again host the Club’s last program the second Tuesday, June 11th at the New Jersey State Museum Planetarium. The Club will gather at 7:30 for a brief business meeting followed by a live Star Talk by Bill and the new Planetarium Exhibit “To Space and Back” at 8:00pm. Free parking and easy access to the Planetarium is available. Please check the AAAP website for details.

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Treasurer’s Report

Posted on June 12, 2013 by ST Editors

by Michael Mitrano, Treasurer

Our anniversary celebration was the big financial event for May.  Not all expenses have been finalized and a significant sponsorship that had been pledged has not yet been received.  The fundraising effort was tremendously successful, however, and based on sponsor and guest payments received less expense invoices in hand, the event has a deficit of about $600.  This is well under the $2,500 limit approved for the event so it is likely that we will end up within that limit — but revenues and costs are not final.  Expenses in hand (paid or to be paid) for the event total about $10 thousand, which is more than double what the Association usually spends on all other activities for a year.

If any members incurred reimbursable expenses for the Anniversary and have not gotten the receipts for me for reimbursement, please do so right away.

Membership hit the 100 mark in May, which surpasses our count for the previous three years. Non-Anniversary expenses were modest.

With the event as it now stands and all other activities combined, our fiscal year-to-date results show a surplus of about $400.

On a cumulative basis, our surplus remains about $23 thousand.

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2013 Annual Meeting Minutes

Posted on June 12, 2013 by ST Editors

Submitted by Michael Wright, Secretary

Director Ludy D’Angelo called the annual meeting to order.[1]  He announced that the only item of business is the election of the 2013-14 Board of Trustees.

Ludy announced the slate of candidates, which was presented by the nominating committee chair at the April 9, 2013 meeting and published in Sidereal Times:

Director – Jeff Bernardis
Assistant Director – Larry Kane
Treasurer – Michael Mitrano
Secretary – Michael Wright
Program Chair – Kathleen Otto

Ludy asked for any nominations from the floor, to which there was no response.  Ludy moved acceptance of the slate, which was seconded by Saul Moroz.  By voice vote, the members present approved the 2013-14 Board of Trustees.

Ludy adjourned the meeting.

[1] The Annual Meeting was conducted at the 50th Anniversary Celebration, which over 100 members and guests attended.

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Photos from 50th Anniversary Celebration, May 11, 2013

Posted on June 12, 2013 by ST Editors

This gallery contains 72 photos.

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50th Anniversary Celebration Poetry Contest Winning Entries

Posted on June 12, 2013 by ST Editors

Elementary Category Winner
Middle School Category
high

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Random Thoughts From A Novice

Posted on June 12, 2013 by ST Editors

by S. Prasad Ganti 

The 50th anniversary celebration of AAAP was a unique experience for me.  I enjoyed first the talk by Freeman Dyson on small science by amateurs followed by an interesting group discussion on whether there is anyone out there in the Universe.  Fermi was quoted as asking, “Where are the aliens?”  Dr. Richard Gott replied that they might be on their home planets like we are!   This made me think and pull out my earlier notes of my thoughts on this topic.

Sure, as per Drake’s equation, there is a likelihood of life elsewhere in this Universe, which has billions of galaxies; each galaxy with billions of stars; and each stars with several planets and moons.  Add to this parallel universes and higher dimensions as predicted by the string theory.  Our universe might be just one of the many floating in higher dimensions.  Despite such good possibilities of life elsewhere, it is not easy to find because of our hubris that we are intelligent, of the assumptions we make and they may be farther away from us.  To assume that every life is carbon based and looks and behaves like us may not be the right assumption to make.

Detecting aliens might be like detecting oil.  Oil was always there on earth for millions of years. Only recently did we develop technologies to detect and exploit oil.  The natives of Papua New Guinea were always there.  We did not find them until Europeans landed on their island in the 1930s.  With aliens it is lot more complicated than finding oil or natives. The timelines of various civilizations may not coincide.  Like stars form and die, evolution and civilizations may also follow this cyclical path.  Different civilizations may be evolving in different parts of the universe at different times, and some others may be perishing at this instant.  Only recently did our species acquire technology, which lets us explore beyond the confines of our earth.

Life might have existed millions of years ago in our neighborhood and might exist millions of years henceforth.  Neither the planets nor the stars last forever.  It is possible that life becomes extinct in some parts of the universe and takes birth in some other parts of the universe.  Life may not be in the same shape or size, or at the same level of advancement at the same time all over.  For example, on earth life was under the oceans in the microbial form of Cyanobacteria for three billion years, which oxygenated the planet and made life possible on the surface.

In spite of our recent technology, still we are not capable of looking farther and recent. The farther we look into space, the farther we are looking back into time.  We cannot look at recent events from afar because we are limited by the speed of light. As per Einstein’s theory of relativity, nothing in the Universe can travel faster than the speed of light. In the future, we might find short cuts across the universe.

Besides, human species may not represent the pinnacle of intelligent life forms.  Evolution on earth is still happening.  In a million years, which is not a major timeline from evolution’s perspective, there could be higher forms of life than us.  We might still be work in progress.

Our tools of detection may be primitive.  Our signals sent out may not be detectable by aliens. What is data for us may be gibberish for them.  After all, compressed data looks like noise. Data interpretation to a large extent depends on how it was codified.  The string of 1s and 0s on a DVD are useless unless there is an algorithm to interpret them.

All reported alien encounters so far and the presumption of presence of aliens amongst us has no substantiation.  If history is any indication, it does not serve to be too pessimistic about finding alien life.  The Kepler satellite is discovering more and more habitable planets in our own galaxy.  We might encounter aliens some day.  Till then, they will be science fiction.

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Moon, a photo by Bob Vanderbei

Posted on June 12, 2013 by ST Editors
Moon. Photo taken by Bob Vanderbei at 5:41am, May31, 2013, 8 minutes after sunrise (5:32am).

Moon. Photo taken by Bob Vanderbei at 5:41am, May31, 2013, 8 minutes after sunrise (5:32am).

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