November 15, 2023
Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford
Hybrid Online/In Person Business Meeting Minutes
Date: November 15, 2023
The November 15, 2023 meeting of our new Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford was called to order over Zoom and in person from the Rocky Hill Community Center in Room 1C, at 7:34 PM by President Markiewicz. There were 22 people in attendance. 6 were in the room at the Rocky Hill Community Center and 16 were online over Zoom.
Tonight’s featured speaker was ASGH Member, Gregory Shanos, PharmD and NASA Solar System Ambassador. Greg was our featured December speaker but our Goddard Space Flight Center speaker, Donya Douglas-Bradshaw had to postpone due to illness. Greg was asked if he could move his talk forward and replied within minutes that he would do it! He sent out a PDF of his Powerpoint so members could follow along with all the information early. His talk, OSIRIS-REX & Hayabusa 2, was well received by all and generated some love for Brian May, PhD. One guest, Alison Bentley from New Hampshire, showed her book, Bang, co-authored by May, Sir Patrick Moore & Chris Lintott. Bang was used in a course in Astronomy she took at Oxford University.
If you didn’t make the meeting, you should look this one up on the ASGH YouTube Channel for sure! Link to replay on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9D2TS2EEf8&t=554s
New members in attendance are Josh Sawtelle & Mike Simmons. Mike is from Manchester and has been interested in astronomy for quite some time. We had 3 guests online. 2 in Vermont and one in New Hampshire. All were in attendance to hear the presentation as they received the notice the planned speaker was unable to attend and Greg Shanos was speaking instead. One of the new members asked about dark sky observing locations as they all do. Some suggestions included speaking to local parks and recs department leaders about using their resources after dark. Marty Ollenschleger suggested White Memorial Park in Thomaston as a solid resource. The Litchfield Hills Amateur Astronomy Club has observatory domes there and observe there regularly. The question about the observatory at Wesleyan University. 100 years ago the site atop Foss Hil was quite dark. 100 years later, the town of Middletown grew up all around it and lights spread. This led to putting the Public Observing Report for the Van Vleck Observatory up next.
Public Observing at the Van Vleck Observatory:
The last session at the Van Vleck Observatory was a combination International Observe The Moon Night, IOTMN, for the Public and Wesleyan University’s Homecoming! Chris Tian, an undergraduate astronomy major (a Junior in the program) and a couple of his friends, offered to operate the Observatory’s 24″ PlaneWave telescope for us. We provided him radio support so there would be uniform traffic up and down the single path circular ladder to the second-floor observatory. We operated the 20″ Clark and had a telescope outside to help with the traffic overflow. We estimated 150+ visitors got to observe successfully under clear skies. It started to cloud up at the end but each observer still waited it out and got a very nice view of the Moon.
Our next session is this Saturday, November 18th from 8 – 10 PM following the time change earlier this month. There will be no Moon out as this is a planetary viewing event. As long as the skies remain clear we can do it. If it clouds up, at least we had the Moon to try to see past clouds and during breaks in the clouds. That’s much harder to control with planetary viewing. Fingers crossed.
Secretary’s Report:
J. Sillasen reports the October meeting minutes were approved as posted by the membership in attendance. Minutes were posted in a timely fashion.
Treasurer’s Report:
C. Barron reported the ASGH Checking account has a balance of $2,438.13. The Savings account balance is $20,388.91. ASGH has $20,000 invested or pending investments in Treasury Bills. A $5,000 8 week Treasury Bill, T-Bill, was purchased on November 14, 2023. In addition, 2 – $5000 T-Bills will be invested November 16th for terms of 13 weeks and 26 weeks. A final T-Bill follows for an additional $5000 investment on November 30, 2023 for 52 weeks.
WebMasters Report:
M. Ollenschleger reports that all speakers for meetings and outreach events are up to date on the website.
Solar Observing Committee:
M. Ollenschleger suggested that having received feedback from only one member and it was positive other than spelling errors, he called for a motion to have the ASGH overturn the Presidential ban on public solar observing by the ASGH and institute the rules and guidelines documented by the Solar Observing Committee. He further suggested that the motion formalize an ASGH Solar Observing Committee to oversee the progress of such a program.
R, Zwyno motioned the Solar Observing Committee recommendations be adopted and the public solar observing ban be formally overturned thereby instituting a formal Solar Observing Committee. The motion was seconded by D. Allen and passed with no member descending or abstaining. ASGH members were asked if additional members would like to join the Solar Observing Committee, currently chaired by Dave Allen. Ray Zwyno indicated he wished to join. The committee currently stands as D. Allen, Chair, M. Ollenschleger, W. J. Denio, J. Sillasen and R. Zwyno.
Outreach:
October 28: Bloomfield Public Library, IOTMN. Small attendance. Performed by Hanif Girach and Lucas.
October 26: Windsor Public Library (Childrens’ Library), Halloween-themed talk on “alien life” or “constellations”. Chris did the event, estimated 20 attendees.
November 10: Talcott Mtn – Assist w/Telescopes at facility. Staffed by Chris and Lucas. New staff hired and the observatory telescopes were not performing and could not be used.
December 13: Rocky Hill Public Library – Chris to handle
December TBD: Glastonbury Wellness Committee, Talk on “Stargazing and Wellness/Mindfullness” has been postponed until December. Chris will handle. Topic is not known but a talk is already being authored by Chris.
Old Business:
NONE
New Business:
NONE
Telescope remains out of stock to support the Tolland Public Libraries desire to establish a telescope loaner program and observing. This item to remain until stock has been re-established. J. Sillasen noted the quality of some of the features he learned about in the Sky-Watcher USA’s What’s Up Webcast the Friday before this meeting. It featured Sky-Watchers’s Table Top Dobs. They seem to have more features with a better build quality than those being purchased. Only one of the libraries in our program had received a Sky-Watcher collapsible Table Top Dob. Chris to learn how they are finding it’s build quality and reliability.
Good of the Organization:
(Note Bene: At the board meeting, J. Sillasen noted all the events in the minutes for observing reports, upcoming events are all part of the For the Good of the Organization section and should all be included as such – such as they are here today.)
Please search your heart to see if the spirit moves you to run for an office. A list of current officers and committee chairs can be found at
https://asgh.org/about-asgh-2/officers-and-committee-chairs/.
Please consider volunteering for a meeting presentation.
J. Sillasen, ASGH’s NASA Night Sky Network Coordinator asked the membership for help. The other people listed for support are already too busy to assist. Duties would include assist with outreach scheduling data entry and reporting on the outreach events. Sillasen made a document for what is required for data entry. C. Markiewicz has a copy for his outreach events performed recently.
Upcoming Speakers:
Donya Douglas-Brahshaw’s talk for tonight’s meeting will be rescheduled but no definitive date has been established at this time.
January 2024 – Leonard Specht, Past and future director of the Gengras Planetarium & for Part II. Leonard was a long-time director of The Gengras Planetarium at the West Hartford Childrens’ Museum. He designed and put on many of the laser/music/astronomy shows that the Planetarium became famous for. Leonard is presenting a plan to build a new ‘world-class’ Gengras Planetarium in the Hartford area in partnership with area organizations, including ASGH.
February 2024 – Brendan Hall SpaceX Passenger, TBD.
Meeting adjourned at 9:08 PM.