April 2022 Meeting Notes

Bartlesville Astronomical Society Meeting Minutes

April 4, 2022

• Opening and Welcome

• Thank you to Denise Gregg for Zoom setup

• Nine people in attendance—seven in person and two on Zoom. We had two visitors in person this evening!

• Announcements

• Abby is a presenter at the ‘Women in Tech Summit’ in Paris May 31-June 1

• Gary Nealis is making presentations of his days at NASA mission control.

• Sundays at 10:00 at Bambino’s

• Observing and Imaging Reports

• Planets in close alignment in the morning

• Astronomical News and Events

• John Blaesi and John Grismore

• James Webb Telescope update: The 18 mirrors are now deployed!

• Upcoming astronomical events:

• Lyrid meteor shower peaks night April 21 into April 22. Up to 10-20/hr. The Moon will be 70% illuminated this night, although it won’t rise until after midnight

• April 30 partial solar eclipse (not here)

• April will have 2 new moons (Black Moons) in the same month, April 1 and 30

• Constellation of the Month: Leo, which has Messier objects 65, 66, 95, 96 and 105, and NGC 3628

• Eta Aquarids meteor shower peak May 4-5

• May 15-16 total lunar eclipse

• June 24—view six planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus)

• If you wish to know when solar and lunar ISS transits are coming, look at https://transit-finder.com

• Kalamazoo Astronomical Society

• “Flights of Exploration on an Exotic Ocean World” - Dr. Melissa Trainer - NASA Goddard

• April 8 7:00 EST

• Astrophotography SIG - “Let the Earth Turn” - Eric Schreur

• April 15 8:00 EST

• Business

• Minutes of previous meeting are posted online by Denise Gregg - Approved

• Treasurer’s Report - Evan Zorn

• Ending balance Feb. 28, 2022: $9917.98

• Deposit from Amazon Smile $7.10

• Payment to Oklahoma Secretary of State for Club renewal $15.00

• Dues payments $185.00

• Dues payments $75.00

• Ending balance March 31, 2022: $10170.08

• Dues

• Committee Reports

• Astronomical League news and activities - Denise Gregg:

• Denise has sent emails from MSRAL and AlCon about upcoming conventions to Club members

• Youth club (BYA) news - Rick Bryant—Rick was not in attendance this evening

• Library Display

• Meet at Our Savior’s Church on April 9 at 11:00 for layout. We will bring in pizza or go get pizza afterward. Thanks to Bob Young for arranging for us to have access to the Church this day!

• New Business

• Jo Allyn Lowe Park

• Mowing

• Insurance

• Government Tort Claim Compliance

• Thanks to Evan, Craig, John Grismore, John Blaesi and Denise for working on this, and providing feedback.

• The City did put in new parking lot lights last year.

• FCC may be donating the building to the city

• Need a committee to track this and explore other storage options. Rick Buck and Evan have offered to work on this.

• Star Party at Jo Allyn Lowe Saturday, April 9, at sunset at 8 pm; plan to arrive earlier to set up equipment. Will meet in the mowed grassy area right to the north of the parking lot on the south side of the park.

• Tonight’s Program

• “Clouds and Atmospheric Phenomena” - Denise Gregg. Topics included the layers of the atmosphere; the magnetosphere; clouds; lightning; rain, hail, frost, ice and snow; and atmospheric and optical effects.

• Adjournment

• Next meeting - May 2 at library, topic TBD

• Ice cream at Braum’s!!! Starting this month, we’re not going to do virtual Braum’s since we’re now starting to meet in person.