September 21, 2022
Astronomical Society of Greater Hartford
Online Business Meeting Minutes
Date: September 21, 2022
This meeting was recorded with the permission of the speaker. It is available now on Vimeo here: https://vimeo.com/753224147
The September ASGH Business meeting was brought to order at 7:35 PM EST by President Markiewicz. There were 13 attendees present online over Zoom which included invited speakers and members of their famillies. There were no new members present.
Our featured speaker for the evening was Litchfield Hills Amateur Astronomy Club member, Peter Kandefer, a past ASGH member and officer. His topic of EXOPLANET DISCOVERY was well received and enjoyed by all in attendance.
Secretary’s Report:
The Secretary’s report of the May 2022 Minutes was approved as posted.
Public Observing at the Van Vleck Observatory, Wesleyan University:
Chairman, J. Sillasen reports that in a very surprising turn of events, the Observatory reached out to him and asked if he would like to begin hosting Public Observing outreach events but under the University’s and Departments strict Covid-19 Restrictions and Guidelines for visitors on campus. Of course he said yes and working with a diminished team over the summer with work, time off and illnesses, he managed to get 2 dates firmed and 2 dates proposed. That quickly turned into 3 firm dates as the Observatory asked if he would be willing to host another International Observe the Moon Night, (IOTMN). Naturally, he agreed. So far, 2 successful dates have been completed without any member of the public balking at providing proof of Covid-19 Vaccination and wearing of masks inside the Observatory building. It has narrow hallways with no ventilation other than through classroom windows – which we were not using at all. The next Public Night is in fact IOTMN on October 1 from 8-10 PM. Following that, the November date is the 5th – which is the Saturday of Wesleyan University’s Homecoming and Reunion weekend. A traditionally very busy weekend Saturday for us!
Treasurer’s Report:
Treasurer, C. Barron reports that the current account balances are as follows: $314.88 in Checking & $25,026.11 in Savings. She has a few checks on hand to be deposited. The transition in banking systems from Peoples Bank to M&T is due to the acquisition of Peoples Bank. Access to accounts is not working properly and impacts all members not just the ASGH. As of the date of the meeting, no Credit/Debit card had yet been issued to her. In the next coming week or so, she will go into her branch to assess what can be corrected while in person. The prior report was accepted by the membership as given.
Webmasters Report:
Web Developer, M. Ollenschleger reports he has a few updates to make and plans to get to them in the next couple of weeks. J. Sillasen asked R. Zywno if he would author an About ASGH Page showing where the CCAA came from. Sillasen reports he has been repoeatedly asked about it from new members and would like to see it off the main page and added to a history page. He notes it isn’t even a clickable item. Ray liked that but to keep the page and history cleaner, Sillasen asks if it can be just in a history page.
Outreach Events:
October 1, 6:00pm-10:00pm – CANCELED DUE TO STORM
Cub Scout Pack 33, Peckham Park, Middlefield, CT. Stargazing outreach during Cub Scout campout. ~50-60+ cub scouts and adults leaders
Contact:
ASGH Member(s): Marty Ollenschleger, Al Johnson
October 4, 7:00pm-9:30pm
Cora Belden Library, Rocky Hill, Chester, CT. Short presentation on stargazing followed by stargazing. ~30+ adults and youths expected.
Contact: Shannon Schooley, Lindsay Delligan
ASGH Member(s): Chris Markiewicz, John Sillasen
October 15, 7:00pm-10:00pm
Cub Scout Pack 13, Gay City State Park, Hebron, CT. Stargazing outreach during Cub Scout campout. ~10-15 cub scouts and adults leaders.
Contact: Jared Ramsdell
ASGH Member(s): Chris Markiewicz, John Sillasen
October 21, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Talcott Mountain Science Center, Avon, CT. Stargazing using the Center’s telescope equipment
~20-30 adults and youths expected. Contact: Hannah Marye.
ASGH Member(s): Chris Markiewicz, MORE STAFF NEEDED.
November 17, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Talcott Mountain Science Center, Avon, CT. Stargazing using the Center’s telescope equipment
~20-30 adults and youths expected. Contact: Hannah Marye.
ASGH Member(s): Chris Markiewicz, MORE STAFF NEEDED.
December 8, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Talcott Mountain Science Center, Avon, CT. Stargazing using the Center’s telescope equipment
~20-30 adults and youths expected. Contact: Hannah Marye.
ASGH Member(s): Chris Markiewicz, MORE STAFF NEEDED.
Seasonal dates TBD: Nathan Hale Homestead (Stargazing Event) Behind schedule. (Stargazing Event). Unable to staff at this time.
Outreach Events Completed:
May 2, 6:00pm-7:00pm
Windsor Public Library, Windsor, CT. Lecture & hands-on activities based on the NSN.JPL ‘Space Rocks’ material. ~11 children grades 3-6, with parents/adult companions.
Contact: Alexandra Remy, Youth Library Coordinator
ASGH Member(s): Chris Markiewicz
May 23, noon-1:30pm
Waterbury Senior Center, Waterbury, CT. Noon ‘Lunch & Learn’ astronomy-related presentation, on ancient astronomy. ~35 seniors in attendance.
Contact: Debra Perugini, Senior Center Coordinator
ASGH Member(s): Chris Markiewicz
June 27, 10:30am-6:00pm
Hall Memorial Library, Ellington, CT. The library has assembled around about two dozen kits for patrons to borrow, ranging from cooking to bocce to stargazing with a library-owned telescope. Chris was on hand to demo the telescope to interested patrons. ~30 library patrons during course of the day.
Contact: Francie Berger, Library Outreach Coordinator
ASGH Member(s): Chris Markiewicz
August 3, 9:00-11:00
Ellington Trails Committee, Ellington, CT. Stargazing & Field Demo of Ellington Hall Library Telescope. ~ 30-40 attendees of varying ages.
Contacts: Linda Anderson, France Berger
ASGH Member(s): Chris Markiewicz, John Sillasen
August 16, 8:00-9:30
Tolland Library, Tolland, CT. Presentation on the James Webb Space Telescope
Unable to follow-up with planned stargazing due to sky conditions. ~12 adults in attendance
Contact: Barbara Pettijohn, Library Event Coordinator
ASGH Member(s): Chris Markiewicz
September 16, 7:30pm-9:30pm
Chester Public Library, Chester, CT. Short presentation on stargazing followed by stargazing
~20+ adults and several youths.
Contact: Stephanie Romano, Library Director
ASGH Member(s): Chris Markiewicz, John Sillasen
September 19, 2:00pm-3:30pm
F.N.Manross Public Library, Bristol Library, CT. Presentation on the James Webb Space Telescope. ~20 adults in attendance.
Contact: Teresa Goulden, Supervisor of Branch Services
ASGH Member(s): Chris Markiewicz
For the Good of the Organization:
Member Observing Reports:
R. Zywno reported that he got a new scope with GoTo for the 1st time. A Meade 102 Achromatic Refractor. He has been enjoying seeing the planets with it and other than the chromatic aberration associated with an achromatic doublet, he is having fun with it.
J. Sillasen mentioned that Baader has a Semi-Apo visual filter that would be worth a try. He saw that they did but noted they were rather expensive. Sillasen suggested he let him try his and it would save him from making a mistake in purchasing something that doesn’t work if the test fails. If it works and improves his viewing it would be money very well spent.
(Follow up – J. Sillasen met up with R. Zywno at the Connecticut Star Party the weekend after this meeting. He lent Ray his 2″ Baader Semi-Apo and IR cut off filter. Ray was looking for a 1.25″ filter. John suggessted he thread it on to the back of his 2″ star diagonal and that way he could use any 1.25″ eyepiece without fear of hitting the filter threaded on to the back of a 2″ to 1.25″ eyepiece adapter. I am looking forward to hearing future reports on his success or failure).
G. Shanos shared some of the upcoming excitement about the DART mission that will crash the probe into 1 of the 2 asteroids in a rare 2 body system. Dimorphos is the intended target while Didymos is the larger body it orbits around. J. Sillasen reminded the members that they could watch it happen live on Monday at 8:15 PM ET with coverage beginning at 6 PM ET on NASA TV or the NASA YouTube Channel.
Upcoming Meeting Speaker/Topic:
Greg Shanos, PharmD, a NASA Solar System Ambassador, will be our featured speaker for October and November. J. Sillasen asked Greg if he would be able to switch his November to December should a planned NASA speaker be unable to make our planned December date. Greg is amenable to the change should it be necessary. Greg will be speaking at out next meeting on observing Mars visually in this years’ opposition. His November talk is part 2 of a Mars Opposition talk focusing on Imaging Mars and on using appropriate filters. He will talk about equipment used by the amateur that would seem to be out of date and amateurish by today’s standards. This is the progress that has been made in just 20 years!
New Business:
None
Old Business:
None
Meeting adjourned at 9:52 PM.