Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton

by Gene Allen, Secretary

Minutes of the February Meeting

Due to the closing of the University in anticipation of snow, the meeting was convened on Zoom by Director Rex Parker at 1930. Following a brief opening introduction, Program Chair Victor Davis introduced speaker Dr. David Helfand, who gave us a presentation based on his book, The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom. Sadly, the intended book signing was denied to us, but his book is available online and at Labyrinth Books in Princeton. A ten minute question session ended at 2100 and was followed by a five minute break. Signed in on Zoom were 59.

The business meeting opened at 2105.

***********IMPORTANTCHANGES***************************************************

Due to most of the AAAP leadership traveling for the April 8 eclipse, it was decided that:
● The 2024 observatory season will be delayed for two weeks. The first Public Night will be on April 19.
● There will be no hosted, live eclipse event at the observatory. Folks will be referred to online coverage.
● The April meeting is cancelled.

Obscuration in the Princeton area will be 85-90%, still dramatically different from totality. Glasses or filters will be needed throughout the event.

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Member Bob Vanderbie shared some astrophotos.

Member Nick Mellis pitched an in-person Virtual Moon event at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing on February 17 at 1300. He introduced Manny Pimenta, CEO and Founder of the Virtual Moon experience, who will be attending the event and added details about his project. Three sets of virtual reality goggles will be available at the event to enable a virtual walk on the Moon, exploring Apollo landing sites or whatever. If you have VR goggles you can experience it at home from < https://virtualmoon.space/ > .

Outreach Chair Bill Murray attended the Winter Star Party, organized by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society on Big Pine Key from February 5-11. Sky conditions are typically Bortle 3, SQM 21.76, but this year it was unpleasantly cold and much too windy. Limited accommodations are rustic but three meals are provided and a food truck is available all night. Bill showed many astrophotos that were captured with his little Seestar S50, which did better in the conditions this year than his three bigger imaging rigs. < https://www.scas.org/winter-star-party/ >

Rex presented images and video of Jupiter and issued a Jupiter Video Challenge to capture moon shadows crossing the planet. He reminded us that his Lunar South Pole Challenge is still unanswered.

Member John Chase shared a photo of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot that he captured on film when the Hastings was being stored in his garage.

A scope that was recently donated was sold for $450. The loaner scopes we already have are not being adequately utilized and storage is a critical issue. Discussion ensued about our need for a storage shed and that revived the extremely onerous requirements of the state because of our park location. The possibility of installing a structure small enough to not count as a building was suggested. Observatory Co-Chair Dave Skitt proposed acquiring a steel shipping container that might be installed on a bed of gravel. Astroimaging Chair Mike DeMario suggested that we might consider enclosing the piers to gain simple and inexpensive additional space.

Astroimaging Chair Mike DeMario reported that the New Website Design Team has updated the website requirements. He explained that the new website would be built alongside the existing one, and only when we were satisfied with it would it be swapped over.

Outreach Chair Bill Murray thanked Members Bob Vanderbie, Prashant Joshi, and Gene Allen for taking scopes to the stargazing outreach event at the Plainsboro Reserve on February 9. Special thanks go to new Member Cody Pedersen who added his astronomical knowledge and enthusiasm and greatly helped hosting nearly a hundred people. Cars kept coming in all evening, and it was good that closing was scheduled for 2100.

Observatory Co-Chair Dave Skitt reported that the top of a pine tree had broken off on its own, improving our southern horizon a bit. A draft version of the Keyholder Roster and Schedule has been distributed and bears some changes from last year. While we will not be holding any formal eclipse event, we do have something like 250 eclipse glasses that could be handed out in the soccer fields if some members were interested in doing that.

The meeting was adjourned at 2222.

Membership currently numbers 206, with 9 having joined in 2024. There have been 17 renewals 5 have allowed their membership to expire, giving us a 77% retention rate.

by Gene Allen, Secretary

Minutes of the January Board of Directors Meeting

The meeting was convened at 1934 on Zoom by Director Rex Parker with the agenda for the evening. All other board officers were present: Assistant Director Larry Kane, Treasurer Michael Mitrano, Program Chair Victor Davis, Observatory Co-Chairs Dave & Jennifer Skitt, Outreach Chair Bill Murray, and Secretary Gene Allen. Other leaders in attendance were Editor Surabhi Agarwal, Promotions Chair Debbie Mayes, member Bob Vanderbie, and former Program Chair Ira Polans.

Impending Reverse Snowbirding Brings Changes for Rex Parker

In order to be closer to family for part of the year he will be residing in Indiana from before Thanksgiving through February and will be unable to attend the December, January, and February meetings in person. Ongoing health challenges make Larry Kane unable to commit to standing in for those meetings. He will complete this term and not seek reelection. Graciously, Bob Vanderbie has agreed to stand for election to Assistant Director.

New Ideas and Energy Contributed by Bob Vanderbie

He suggests that members audit classes and proposes seeking greater involvement of Princeton University students and faculty. Debbie asked about seeking permission to post meeting flyers in Peyton, and Bob responded that he expects more student interest in observing opportunities than in attending meetings. The Astrophysics Department will be moving to a new building with more than twice the space of Peyton and it will have an adjacent grassy area. He suggests that members bring scopes for student observing sessions, perhaps in conjunction with the Astrophysics Social held every Friday.

Meeting Configuration Discussion

Consensus continues to favor hybrid meetings that include in-person as well as virtual attendance. The point was made that we need a deeper tech team to provide backup capability. More people need to be able to host Zoom, operate the A/V hardware in Peyton, stream and record the meeting on YouTube, and edit recordings. This is not due to any existing deficiencies, just an effort to avoid complications.

The April 9th Meeting is Cancelled

Given that many, even most of the AAAP leadership will be traveling for the April 8^th eclipse the Board formally voted to cancel the meeting scheduled for April 9. It was also decided that no opening of the observatory or other outreach effort would be made to host the public for the eclipse. Instead, on our website we will post links to reputable live streaming sites.

Eclipse Accommodations Are Being Offered by Surabhi Agarwal

She has prepaid rooms in the Dallas area for 12 people for April 6-10 and for 7 for April 5-10. Members can contact her to sublet the rooms.

General Financial Condition Reported by Michael Mitrano

Michael announced the AAAP balance as “something like $25,000.” He noted that we had been concerned about the cost of the major repair needed at the observatory, but it had been completely funded by additional donations and had no impact on the treasury. He also pointed out that our lease on the observatory site in Washington Crossing State Park is on year 37 of our first lease with a 20 year extension. There is no provision for another extension and although we do not anticipate any reason for the state to refuse us, it is possible that regulations have changed and will not permit it. He will begin inquiries about another extension but suggests that we consider possible relocation. In the discussion that ensued, dedication to the history of the site was reported. While it would require a major expenditure of effort and capital, another site could well offer us better access, parking, and storage. No action was decided.

Revisions to Our Trifold Brochure Are Being Finalized by Debbie Mayes

She distributed the latest version to the Board before the meeting and asked that any corrections or additions be submitted promptly so that the design can be finalized and sent for printing.

New Website Requirements and Recommendations Shared by Debbie Mayes

She distributed the team document to the Board before the meeting for their information. Surabhi confessed that she had not had any time to work with the team and still had a major software installation impending. She committed to looking into the team’s recommendations and providing the team with the server credentials so they could explore what is already available there. Rex and Surabhi invited Gene to join the team, who will now be awaiting Surabhi’s review. Ira again reported that NSN invites organizations to use their website which offers considerable functionality for little effort.

Outreach Update and Changes for Bill Murray

Bill reported that the January 22 event was a success because of Ira’s presentation, but the observing session was clouded out. Since he will be attending the Winter Star Party in the Keys, the February 9^th observing event at the Plainsboro Reserve will be coordinated by Bob. It still needs more telescopes. Gene will be coordinating the April 24^th daytime observing event at the school in Sergeantsville. He has Tom Swords and Victor bringing solar scopes and Debbie contributing brochures, enthusiasm, and crowd control.

He also reported that he will be retiring from the planetarium on July 1, 2024. The June meeting at the planetarium is secure for this year but perhaps not thereafter. For the first time in 40 years the AAAP will have no primary contact with the planetarium. He intends to spend summers and early fall in Massachusetts.

Observatory Update by Dave Skitt

He reported that carpet is still on the agenda. The need for additional storage for loaner scopes, other scopes, and supplies is becoming increasingly urgent. In the hope of avoiding similar complications to those experienced in dealing with the state over the observatory repairs, he is proposing acquiring an 8’ x 20’ shipping container for $1200-$200 and installing it on a bed of gravel. Below some certain size, a construction does not qualify as a building. The discussion which followed was inconclusive.

The meeting was adjourned at 2150.