May 21, 2025
Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford
Online & In-Person Business Meeting Minutes
Date:
May 21, 2025
The May 21, 2025 meeting of the Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford was called to order over Zoom at 7:32 PM by President Markiewicz. There were 19 people in attendance. 7 people were in the community center and 12 were online.
Tonight’s speaker was the recipient of the Charles Hammond Memorial Award for Excellence in Astronomy or Astro-Physics from the Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford, Allison Valji. Allison is a Senior from Darien. Her topic, Confirming Exoplanet Candidates. Her method used transit photometry using transit photometry & searching for multi-planetary systems using transit timing variables. Her targets were TOI-3856, 1858 & 1832. (TOI – Test Objects of Interest). Her talk was very well received, generating several questions and compliments.
Her talk was recorded with her permission. You may see her talk on the ASGH YouTube Channel here: https://youtu.be/GNPfAvMkpik
New Members:
There were no new members present.
Secretary’s Report:
The Secretary’s report was post to the members section of the ASGH website. A motion to approve was made and seconded. The report was unanimously approved.
Van Vleck Observatory:
This month’s observing is scheduled for this Saturday, May 24th from 9 – 11 PM. This session will be rain or shine as we are supporting the Van Vleck Observatory for Wesleyan University’s Commencement Weekend! We are listed in their program so we expect a lot of visitors, which will include alum, family, graduates and students as well as the public we invite every month. It is our most widely attended event of the year! (Sec’y note: We had over 100 visitors come through the observatory!).
NASA Solar System Ambassador & Night Sky Network: J. Sillasen reported we will be receiving a new ‘mini-toolkit’ on Solar Astronomy. J. Sillasen assisted a very knowledgeable Astronomy student, Katie, in sharing views of the Moon after the Sturm Memorial Lecture during the reception post lecture at the Van Vleck Observatory.
Van Vleck Observatory:
This month’s observing is scheduled for this Saturday, April 19th from 9 – 11 PM.
Nomination Committee:
J. Sillasen announced that nominations for offices are still open and may be submitted from the floor. Receiving no further nominations, he then asked and received approval to close nominations so elections could be held.
Nominations for Office:
President: Christopher, Chris, Markiewicz
Vice President: Dean Kavalkovich
Secretary: Jeff Benoit
Treasurer: Cyndi Barron
Webmaster: William, Bill, DeNio
The President then asked the Secretary to cast a single ballot for all those running unopposed.
The Secretary then stated – Vote so cast!
President, Christopher Markiewicz then congratulated all those elected and thanked them for their service to the organization. He then thanked those who held office for so long, thanking them for all the contributions they made and for those who continue to hold their office.
Those elected take their position immediately following the election. Secretary elect, Jeff Benoit noted he had not been taking copious notes thus far and Past Secretary Sillasen offered to finish his office duties with the minutes and offered to train Secretary Benoit on how the Webmaster preferred to formats to receive the minutes. He also offered to host a Zoom session to handle transition more effectively. He stated he would transition Zoom to the new Secretary and make him a Moderator on Groups.io so ownership would remain with Sillasen as it is not the duty of the Secretary other than to add and welcome new members over Groups.io.
Treasurer’s Report:
Treasurer, C. Barron reports the balances in the accounts are:
Checking account: $6,223.19. Savings account: $7,082.70. She states that Treasury Bonds are coming due next month and will be reinvested. The Treasurer report was unanimously approved by all members in attendance.
Webmaster’s Report:
VP M. Ollenschleger reported that both the May NASA Night Sky Network Articles would be post to the Website shortly. They can be found here: https://asgh.org/articles/nsnpartnerarticles/
Outreach:
Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre – Spring Festival, Old Wethersfield, CT May 24th 10 AM – 3 PM. Solar Observing with Rick Bates of SoVerA. J. Sillasen, C. Markiewicz & D. Mozzer were planning to attend. (Sec’y note: Intense cloud cover and multiple rain showers marred the event and would impact the solar mounts from performing at all and withdrew from participating. D. Mozzer joined R. Bates of SoVerA to share few views of the Sun through white light filters. Mozzer also demonstrated how magnetic fields on the Sun work. The activity was well received.).
Talcott Mtn Sc Ctr – June 20th. General public astronomy viewing on their equipment.
Booth & Dimock Library – Coventry, CT August 9th. General talk on Astronomy. C. Markiewicz.
Ellington Trails – Meteor Shower/Star Gazing. August 12th. C. Markiewicz, J. Allen, J. Sillasen and others.
Rocky Hill Cub Scouts – Merit Badge Astronomy – Fall
Suffield Middle School – Astronomy viewing – October 2025 date TBD. J. Sillasen, C. Markiewicz, L. Branco and others. Indoor activities if cloudy.
Vernon Senior Center – TBD – Talk topic TBD.
A request form the Middlesex Land Trust to observe either at their Portland or Haddam Neck locations will be made again. TBD.
New Business:
Rocky Hill Community Center meeting space rental for year 2025-2026 at reduced rates due to C. Markiewicz performing talks for reduction in rates to $405 for months of September to May.
Unanimously approved. Motion carries as approved.
Speaker Honorarium to be offered once again now that we have some funds. $100 per non-member speaker to be offered plus travel over 20 miles at current Federal Travel Rate.
Snacks to be provided with a $50 limit for clinics on a non-speaker meeting night.
Approved with 1 dissent.
Old Business:
None
For the Good of the Organization:
See what’s in the night sky this month – NASA’s What’s in the Sky is an outstanding resource and part of our Night Sky Network to have with us for our use and needs.
Bookmark this site if you will. It’s got resources from text to YouTube for what’s in the night sky the current month – from NASA and of course your Night Sky Network!
Astronomy Eductional Clinics to begin in January for those with new equipment that are having trouble understanding how to use them.
Cosmic Cultures II Funding has been approved. ASGH funding anticpated shortly.
Stellafane will be July 24-27, 2025
Meeting adjourned at 9:07:40 PM