October 15, 2025

Meeting Minutes

The Oct 15, 2025, meeting of the Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford (ASGH) was called to order over Zoom at 7:39 PM by President Chris Markiewicz.
There were seventeen people in attendance. Seven people were in the Rocky Hill Community Center and ten were online.

The meeting speakers were Lucas Branco and Chris Markiewicz

Lucas’s presentation was “ASGH Service Project – ‘Orphan’ Telescope Refurbishment for Area Schools, Project Compiled and Headed by Lucas Branco.” Lucas spoke about a service project he is doing which consists of refurbishing ‘orphan’ telescopes to get them into an acceptable condition to donate to area schools and possibly other worthy recipients such as ASGH members that need a scope and would get good use of out of it. Lucas currently has these telescopes stored at his residence. Of the approximate 21 total telescopes that Lucas has for this project, 11 are complete 4-inch Dynamax scopes. Initial target for completion of this project is early 2026. Next steps include review of list of scopes, parts and work needed and then perhaps an initial work meeting of interested club members and Lucas. Expect follow up email communications and updates at club meetings as appropriate.

The second speaker was our ASGH Club President, Chris Markiewicz, who gave a talk titled “Vera C. Rubin Observatory overview.” “Located on a mountaintop in Chile, the nearly-complete Vera C. Rubin Observatory will capture the cosmosin exquisite detail. Using the largest camera ever built, Rubin will repeatedly scan the sky for 10 years and create an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition time-lapse record of our Universe.” (from https://rubinobservatory.org/). Chris presented slides summarizing the status and capabilities of this exciting new observatory. Noted that this observatory in Chile has seen first light this past spring and is just now really gearing up for full operation. Noted that one of the main tasks of this observatory will be detection of new supernovae and send quick real time notice of these to allow more detailed examination of them by other observatories. Another main purpose will be early detection of asteroids. Example shown of the Vera Rubin Observatory discovering 2104 new asteroids, including seven near earth objects (NEO), in a 10 hour period. See article on this observatory in December Sky & Telescope magazine (https://skyandtelescope.org/).

Lucas’s and Chris’s talks were recorded with their permission. You may see their talks on the
ASGH YouTube Channel at this link: https://youtu.be/0qLWsBB9Kf4
Talks from prior ASGH meetings can be found on the ASGH YouTube Channel here:
Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford – YouTube,
<https://www.youtube.com/@ASGH_CT>

New Members: There were no new members present.

Secretary’s Report: The Secretary’s report for the September 2025 ASGH meeting was previously posted to the members section of the ASGH website. A motion to accept the minutes was made and seconded. The report was unanimously approved.

Van Vleck Observatory: There are currently no new observing dates. Noted that they had requested support for IOTMN (International Observe the Moon Night – Moon: NASA Science) but this request came in close to the date and after ASGH resources were already committed at other event locations.

NASA Night Sky Network – many things on hold due to budget cuts. So, no more free shipping on kits or other materials such as the pins for people who do outreach. Will need to discuss at future meeting what ASGH wishes to fund for outreach.

COSMIC Connections discussion – John Sillasen noted that this group will work on developing functionality on how clubs can contact each other to share speakers.

Webmaster’s Report: New Webmaster, Bill DeNio, reported that he is coming up to speed on the workflow from his predecessor, Marty Ollenschleger. Chris M will send outreach list to Bill D to post on the website.

Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer, C. Barron reports the balances in the accounts are:
Checking account: $2032.25. Savings account: $5629.48.

Cyndi also stated that the club has $30,000 in treasury bills and will be reinvested as they mature (one in Nov, one in 6 months, one in a year).

As previously noted, ASGH club dues were due in September and can be paid using instructions on the club website, ASGH.org. No objections were raised, but there was not a formal vote to accept the Treasurer’s report.

Outreach: Chris M will send outreach list to Bill D to post on the website.

Stargazing South Windsor Public Library, South Windsor, CT <— Chris M., John S,
Talk/Lecture followed by Stargazing for up to 50 participants
Thursday 11/6-time TBD (ending by 7:45pm)
Rain Date Thursday 11/13

Stargazing Suffield Middle School, Suffield, CT <— Chris M., John S., Lucas B, Jeff B.
Presentation by ASGH followed by stargazing. ASGH will need to bring scopes.
Monday 11/17 6:00pm

Skygazing – Talcott Mountain Science Center, Avon, CT ç Lucas B., Chris M.
Stargazing on TMSC telescopes.
Private Event for TMSC Alumni.
Thursday 11/21. Proposed arrival for ASGH for observing setup at 6:15pm (but arrival later for setup ok, since start of observing is scheduled for 7:40pm).

Tiger Cub ‘Sky is the Limit’, West Hartford, CT <— Chris M.
West Hartford Tiger Den 161
Activities/Stargazing to fulfill Cub Scout ‘Sky is the Limit’ Patch Requirements
Two dates TBD, Time(s) TBD

Stargazing (multiple evening) Auer Farm, Bloomfield, CT ç ?? Lucas B. could support.
Stargazing requested for select group on 1 or 2 evenings in the fall
One or Two Dates TBD, Time(s) TBD – Chris M will get more information.

Observing/News:

Club supported couple nights of IOTM.

Lucas did a IOTM event at Auer Farm Bloomfield Oct 4^th. About 40 people showed up.

Haddam at Brainard Memorial Library on Oct 5^th. Approximately 30 people attended. Lucas gave a short talk on history of the moon and then group did observing. Chris M was there in Haddam as well. Also saw Saturn.

Observing opportunities recent/until next meeting:

Two comets in sky visible with help (C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) and C/2025 R2 (Swan)), and one may be visible soon (late October) by naked eye. Sky & Telescope Magazine article available at https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/two-bright-comets-converge-on-northern-hemisphere-skies. Information on future comets available at Visual Comets in the Future (Northern Hemisphere); and on current bright comets available at Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2025 Oct. 25: North). Information from Ray Zywno.

Check out https://in-the-sky.org/ for a list of observable objects/events in your area.

Old Business: None

New Business:

Good of the Organization:

Club 17.5 inch Dobsonian is available to a club member for use. Al Johnsons offered the club’s 17.5 inch Dobsonian to any club member who would like to take it and use it and perhaps bring to events. Need to move in a van or similar due to size and weight. Al will no longer be able to use it much so offering it someone else in the club.

Planned speaker for November meeting – Frank Reed, whose topic will be Celestial Navigation and New England history. Frank Reed was a “celestial navigation and astronomy consultant on the team that found Shackleton’s “Endurance” in 2022. Also a recent guest expert in celestial navigation on Neil deGrasse Tyson’s StarTalk on The National Geographic Channel.” More information on Frank Reed and celestial navigation, including upcoming course offerings, can be found on reednavigation.com.

Telescope Workshop – Astronomy Equipment Beginners Clinic – to be held at the January 2026 ASGH meeting. Dean K. will set up ticketing mechanism to keep track of attendees and ensure that there will be enough room for everyone in Rocky Hill location. Dean will provide a link to the Eventbrite page that he will set up. Discussed challenges of any remote viewing/ participation. Suggestion of trying to record some of the help sessions or perhaps an interview with a person or two who were helped by it (TBD).

Meeting adjourned at 8:57 PM

Minutes respectfully submitted by Jeff Benoit, Secretary