If you haven’t completed the survey regarding the proposed trip to the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum near DC yet, please take a few minutes to do so!
Here is the link to the survey:
Survey for Udvar-Hazy (Air & Space) Museum Trip
Please complete the survey no later than May 11
by Rex Parker, PhD
director@princetonastronomy.org
Treasure on Earth Created by Kilonova. My long winter sojourn in the midwest ended a few weeks ago. Upon return I am inspired by nature with the changing of seasons and the imminence of budburst in the forests and meadows around Princeton and central Jersey. Looking out into the night sky this month I’m grateful for the changing constellations which now bring galaxies beyond count into favored position for our telescopes. With the warmer temperatures I anticipate the walk across a blooming campus to Peyton Hall for our next AAAP meeting on April 8.
The guest speaker, Eliot Quataert, is the Charles Young Professor of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton (Charles Young is a famed astronomer from Princeton’s past, in the 1870’s). Professor Quataert will delve into some of the most energetic processes in the cosmos which underly the alchemy of the heavy elements. The heaviest elements found on earth, such as gold, platinum, and uranium, are formed in the violent processes of supernovae and neutron star mergers. The extreme processes unleashed by the merging of two neutron stars is now being scientifically termed a “kilonova”. At the atomic physics level, energetic neutrons are “captured” by other nuclei, releasing almost unimaginable amounts of energy and resulting in the generation of gravitational waves by neutron star mergers. This deep dive into neutron stars will extend our education from February’s LIGO presentation from Hanford, WA, where we learned about the origin of gravitational waves from neutron star mergers. See Program Chair Victor Davis’s section below for more on the speaker. With the encouraging sign of spring, let’s have a great member turnout at Peyton Hall, face to face. Of course, if you just cannot be there in person on April 8, do join us by Zoom (updated Zoom link is sent a few days before each meeting, and also posted on the website on page 2 under “Guest Speaker”).
National Academy of Science “Space Science Week 2025”, March 31-April 4. The past year has been amazing for space exploration. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope discovered the most distant galaxy ever observed, Artemis II is preparing to send astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years, and three U.S. commercial landers have touched down on the Moon. These discoveries and much more are being reviewed with a focus on the future by the US National Academy of Sciences from March 31 to April 4, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
This is a joint meeting of the Space Studies Board of the U.S. National Academies in collaboration with the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, and Board on Physics and Astronomy. During the sessions, the oversight committees discuss upcoming advances and challenges in space and Earth science and exploration. Several of these sessions can be joined remotely by those interested, at this link: https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/03-24-2025/space-science-week-2025
The “Un-journal Club” Wants You. After each month’s featured guest speaker, our monthly meetings provide opportunities to highlight club activities and member conversations. The Un-journal Club, a fun term evoking (provoking?) the journal clubs common in science grad school programs, is one such opportunity. For AAAP the Unjournal Club is a brief informal presentation given in the second half of the meeting by members. These don’t need scholarly journal-like topics, but merely engage members with what you care about in astronomy. You can use PowerPoint slides, JPEG’s, astro-images, travel pictures (e.g., bring on a USB memory stick), book reviews, whatever you want including simply your voice. A great example is last month’s presentation and excellent photography by member Rich Sherman of his recent trip to Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson AZ. To get onto the schedule for the April or other future meeting, please contact me or program chair Victor Davis.
AAAP Board Election Coming Up May 13. As directed by the by-laws, each May we hold the election of officers (the Board) for a one year term. I have asked member Dan Opdyke to be the Nominations Chair to identify candidates for the upcoming election. Below is a brief description of the duties involved for each position. If you are interested in helping AAAP as an officer (this or perhaps a future year), please contact Dan at nominations@princetopnastronomy.org. Dan will report on a slate of candidates at the April meeting.
Duties of the Officers
Director – The Director shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Trustees and at all general membership meetings. He or she shall appoint such committees as may be necessary to further the operations of AAAP. He or she shall be eligible to vote on all items of business that may be transacted at any meeting.
Assistant Director – The Assistant Director shall assist the Director in his or her duties, and shall act in his or her place in the absence of the Director.
Secretary – The Secretary shall maintain minutes of all meetings of the Board of Trustees and of the general membership, shall keep a record of the membership, and shall notify members of meeting dates. The Secretary may delegate such of these duties as may be appropriate, in consultation with the Director.
Treasurer – The Treasurer shall keep a record of all financial transactions of AAAP. He or she shall be responsible for the handling, safekeeping, and disbursal of all funds. In case of absence of the Treasurer, the Director shall act in the foregoing capacities.
Program Chair – The Program Chair shall select a Program Committee, over which he or she shall preside. The Program Committee shall be responsible for arranging suitable astronomy related programs at general meetings.
Observatory Chair – The Observatory Chair shall oversee and guide the operation of the AAAP’s observatory facilities and shall, with the assistance of others, make sure they are in good working order and up-to-date.
Outreach Chair – The Outreach Chair shall receive and respond to requests from educators and other community leaders for astronomy outreach and shall coordinate the assistance of AAAP members in responding to these requests.
by Victor Davis, Program Chair
Going for Gold
The April, 2025 meeting of the AAAP will take place in Peyton Hall on the campus of Princeton University on Tuesday, April 8th at 7:30 PM. As usual, the meeting is open to AAAP members and the public. Participants can join the meeting in-person at Peyton Hall or log in to the Zoom session as early as 7:00 pm to chat informally before the meeting begins. The evening’s guest speaker is Eliot Quataert, Professor of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University. His talk is entitled “Cosmic Gold: Neutron Star Mergers, Gravitational Waves, and the Origin of the Heavy Elements”
Options for Attending the Meeting
You may choose to attend the meeting in person or participate via Zoom or YouTube as we’ve been doing for the past few years. (See How to Participate below for details). Due to security concerns, if you log in before the host has set up internet connectivity in Peyton Hall, you may need to wait in the Waiting Room for a few minutes until the host is prepared to admit you into the meeting. You’ll need to unmute yourself to make comments or ask questions. It’s polite, though not required, for you to enable your camera so other participants can see you.
Meet the Speaker Dinner
Join us at Winberie’s for our traditional fête. Reservation as usual is for 5:45 pm. Those who wish to participate should contact me at program@princetonastronomers.org to let me know you’re coming.
Here’s the anticipated agenda for April 2025’s monthly meeting of the AAAP:
Getting to Peyton Hall
The parking lots across the street (Ivy Lane) from Peyton Hall are now construction sites, unavailable for parking. We’ve been advised by the administration of the astrophysics department that we should park in the new enclosed parking garage off Fitzrandolph street and walk around the stadium and athletic fields. Here’s a map of the campus and walking routes from the parking garage to Peyton Hall. The map shows the recently completed East Garage. Not shown is an access road Sweet Gum that connects from Faculty Road to an entrance at the lower left corner of the garage. Stadium Road connects from Fitzrandolph Road to another entrance at the opposite corner (and higher level) of the garage. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk from the parking garage to Peyton Hall.
Professor of Astrophysical Sciences
Princeton University
“Cosmic Gold: Neutron Star Mergers, Gravitational Waves, and the Origin of the Heavy Elements”
Cosmic Gold: Neutron Star Mergers, Gravitational Waves, and the Origin of the Heavy Elements
Scientists have recently developed a new way to `see’ the universe, using gravitational waves predicted by Einstein over a century ago. These waves can teach us about some of the most exotic objects known, including black holes and neutron stars. Remarkably, they have also helped solve a longstanding puzzle about where in the Universe some of the elements we know and love here on Earth are produced, including gold, platinum and uranium Eliot Quataert will describe the exciting and remarkable new results coming out of our first steps into the gravitational wave era.
Eliot Quataert is a Professor of Astrophysical Sciences and the Charles A. Young Professor of Astronomy at Princeton University. He is an astrophysics theorist who works on a wide range of topics, including stars and black holes, accretion theory, plasma astrophysics, and how galaxies form. His research utilizes both analytic calculations and numerical simulations. He teaches undergraduates and graduate students and also enjoys giving non-technical talks to the public on astronomical topics.
Prof. Quataert earned his undergraduate degree at MIT, his PhD from Harvard, and was a postdoc at the Institute for Advanced Study. He joined the faculty at UC Berkeley before moving to Princeton in 2020.
How to Participate (Links)
Zoom & YouTube Live
Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: April 2025 AAAP Meeting-Eliot Quataert, Professor Princeton U, Cosmic Gold: Neutron Star Mergers, Gravitational Waves, and the Origin of the Heavy Elements
Time: Apr 8, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 811 7384 9436
Passcode: 252509
Click the above icons for Zoom and YouTube
| Date | Featured Speaker | Topic | |
| May 13, 2025 | James Stone Emeritus Professor of Astrophysical Sciences and Emeritus Lyman Spitzer, Jr. Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics Princeton University jstone@astro.princeton.edu  | TBA | |
| June 10, 2025 | Jacob Hamer Assistant Curator NJ State Museum Planetarium Jacob.Hamer@sos.nj.gov  | Dr. Hamer has expressed his intention to continue AAAP’s tradition to host the June meeting at the planetarium of the NJ State Museum in Trenton. The meeting will feature a presentation of the planetarium’s current sky show, a live planetarium tour of the night sky, and a guest speaker presentation. | |
| July-August | No monthly meetings | ||
| Sept. 9, 2025 | Edwin L. Turner Emeritus Professor of Astrophysical Sciences Princeton University elt@astro.princeton.edu  | TBA | |
| Oct. 14, 2025 | Becka Phillipson Assistant Professor in Physics Villanova University rebecca.phillipson@villanova.edu  | TBA Thanks to Bill Thomas for suggesting this speaker. | |
| Nov. 11, 2025 | Romain Teyssier Professor of Astrophysical Sciences and Applied and Computational Mathematics Princeton University teyssier@princeton.edu  | TBA |
As always, members’ comments and suggestions are gratefully accepted and much appreciated. Thanks to Ira Polans and Dave Skitt for setting up the online links and connecting the meeting to the world outside Peyton Hall.
victor.davis@verizon.net
program@princetonastronomers.org
(908) 581-1780 cell
by Gene Allen, Secretary
Director Rex Parker opened the meeting remotely via Zoom at 1930. There were 23 attending in Peyton Hall. He shared an astrophoto of Omega Centauri that he captured from a remote telescope he operates in Chile and pointed out the recent lunar landings of the Athena and Blue Ghost probes. While it fell over and died, the Athena probe landed closest yet to the south pole at 84.6◦S, just 62 miles from the pole, and he reminded us of the Lunar South Pole Observing Challenge, still ongoing since 2023. Launched on the same rocket as Athena, the Lunar Trailblazer orbiter lost communication with controllers the day after.
Program Chair Victor Davis introduced our speaker for tonight, J. Richard Gott III, Emeritus Professor of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University. His talk, Journey to the Cosmic Web and Back to Earth, was delivered remotely via Zoom. It included a brief presentation of much of the material in his books The Cosmic Web and Welcome to the Universe in 3D which he co-authored with our Assistant Director Bob Vanderbei.
Fifteen minutes of questions and a break followed the talk.
At 2102 Merchandise Facilitator Rich Sherman gave an Unjournal Presentation about his trip to visit the Kitt Peak National Observatory an hour south of Tucson. Rich shared what he saw on the most complete five hour, three-scope daytime tour.
Rex convened the business meeting at 2115 with 13 attending in Peyton Hall.
Outreach Chair Bill Murray reported on completed outreach events at the Plainsboro Reserve and Montgomery High School. Rex added his thanks for those who supported the Sky Gazing event at the IAS. Bill reminded us of the total lunar eclipse before dawn this Friday and the partial solar eclipse on March 29. Bill also reported that the proof of insurance document needed to reopen the AAAP observatory at the UACNJ facility at jenny jump had stil not been received from Treasurer Michael Mitrano.
A field trip to the National Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport is under development.
An appeal was made for a member to organize the upcoming election of officers, and an immediate volunteer was appointed on the spot. Nomination Chair Dan Opdyke will serve in that role for 2025.
Observatory Co-Chair Dave Skitt reported that Alistair Adcroft and Josh Koslove have earned their keys and the 2025 Team Assignments will be adjusted soon. It seems that one leg of the power to the observatory has failed so that only half the circuits are poweredbut a request for service has been issued.
Victor Davis displayed the donated UniStellar eVscope 2 and described his experience with it to date. It is intended to become available in our telescope loaner program that is still awaiting someone to volunteer to organize it.
Rex asked us to be sure to see his article in Sidereal Times about Albert Michelson and the amazing accuracy of his calculation of the speed of light in 1879. He subsequently invented interferometry, which is the basis for radio astronomy today.
The meeting was adjourned at 2140.
As of March 9, we have 212 active members. So far in CY2025, renewals number 27 and expirations number 15, giving us a 64% retention rate. We have added 6 new members.
Submitted by Secretary Gene Allen March 14,
by Michael DiMario
Title: Is Earth Exceptional? The Quest For Cosmic Life
Authors: Mario Livio & Jack Szostak
Publisher: Basic Books, New York, NY
Publication Date: 2024
Total Pages: 336
The origins of life on Earth may serve as a template for the beginning of life elsewhere in our solar system, newly discovered exoplanets, and the far reaches of the universe. However, the authors astrophysicist Mario Livio and Nobel Prize laureate Jack Szostak discuss in detail the complexities of life originating on Earth. The authors describe in technical detail how life’s building block of RNA to amino acids and cells may have emerged from the primordial Earth and as the result of the many consequences of geologic events. A few of the book chapters describe chemical and biologic processes promoting the origin of life in detail and maybe too technical for the less scientific reader. However, it is this basic understanding that is required to appreciate the intricate processes of the origin of life on Earth as well as the possibility elsewhere in our solar system and the universe.
I have found this book more comprehensive than others on this topic due to its amount of detail and explanation of the impact of external forces and the consequences on chemical and biologic processes. The references and suggestions for further reading is welcoming.
by James Peck
I logged in to the March 11th meeting late so didn’t really understand too much of the first part of Richard Gott’s talk. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the map projection discussion. My father was a navigator in the Air Force and used what we would now call primitive tools to direct his pilot around the skies. On some occasions he mentioned the great circle route to me and at the age of eleven I sort of understood it but didn’t really have the knowledge of how Euclidian geometry was transformed by a third dimension.
I have always been a map lover and in the past have used the AAA maps and books on many a cross country trip. Now and again I think that if my father was still alive how amazed he would be by our current GPS system and things like Google Maps. Almost all of my practical experience with maps covers such small areas that there is no concern of how they are distorted when displayed on flat surfaces.
But I still have an interest in how the different projections of a globe onto a flat surface produce different distortions and was enthralled by Gott’s talk on this subject. His double sided circular map minimizes distortion but does allow you to only see half of the surface at a time; although that is what you see when looking at a globe. His map is quite ingenious!
I was browsing the internet looking for more information on this map when I came across the following link: https://vanderbei.princeton.edu/planets_webgl/GottPlanets.html This shows an interactive Gott map with the circles side by side and allows you to set it spinning or pause it. You can also click anywhere and have that spot move to the center of the circle in either hemisphere; then you can hit reset and pick any other spot. You can also use a menu to pick other places to map like the Moon, Mars or Jupiter.
While Gott was speaking he mentioned his book, _Welcome to the Universe in 3D,_ so I went to Amazon while still listening to him and ordered it; the book arrived the next afternoon. The full Moon looks flat to us because our eyes are too close together relative to the distance to the Moon to get a stereo effect. With the 3D stereo viewer built into the book you can see the moon, and all the other images in amazing 3D. The book shows the varying distances of the stars that make up some of the constellations that we normally see as flat, and so much more.
My favorite image in the book is “Earthrise”, the famous Apollo 8 picture taken in 1968 by astronaut Bill Anders. It is one of the 20th centuries most icon images as it changed our understanding of our place in the Universe (as Time Magazine put it). I think Apollo 8 is underrated as it was the first mission to circle the Moon and return and showed that it could be done. The following link is a video that simulates the part of the Apollo 8 mission when the picture was taken.
I’ll end with one short funny story my father told me. In the 1950s he was a navigator for the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) flying out of Wheelus Air Base in Tripoli, Libya where our whole family lived. He was flying over the desert with a brand new Lieutenant that he was training. My father took a nap and told the Lieutenant to keep track of where they were. After a short while the Lieutenant shook my dad in a panic and said, “Peck, Peck, wake up I’ve lost track of where we are!” My dad, having flown the same route many times and was thus very familiar with the surrounding terrain, lifted his head, looked out the window, pointed to a place on the map, and said, “We’re right here.”
Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton 