January 2022 Meeting Notes

Bartlesville Astronomical Society Minutes

January 6, 2022

• Opening and Welcome

• Thank you to Denise Gregg for Zoom setup and to John Blaesi for hosting the Zoom this evening.

• This was our first Club meeting in person at the library since March 2020!

• Six members were in attendance this evening, four in person at the library and two via Zoom

• Tonight’s Program

• “A Year’s Worth of Meteor Showers” - Denise Gregg

• Her presentation included a discussion of major meteor showers during the year as well as some more minor ones that were seen at Club events during the past year. She also reviewed the science behind meteor showers; colors of meteors; how meteor showers have been viewed through history; and a discussion of some meteorite events.

• Observing and Imaging Reports

• Denise showed some images she took in December of Comet Leonard

• Astronomical News and Events

• John Blaesi presented a slide show that he and John Grismore had put together on recent events and upcoming astronomical events that we can view.

• The James Webb Telescope launched on December 25, after years of delay, and its sun shield has already unfolded; next to deploy are 18 hexagonal gold-coated mirrors. The James Webb will eventually orbit the Sun a million miles from Earth, at what is known as the second Lagrange point, or L2. This orbit will let the James Webb stay in line with Earth as the Earth revolves around the Sun. The James Webb will capture six times the amount of light that Hubble has been able to capture.

• There will be a close pass of asteroid 7482 (1994 PC1) on January 18 that we may be able to see with telescopes; this will be the closest pass of an asteroid to Earth for the next 200 years.

• John also reviewed eclipses and other special events we may be able to see later on this year!

• Kalamazoo Astronomical Society Zoom meetings - kasonline.org

• Meeting is January 7 at 6pm CDT via zoom

• “Psyche: Journey to a Metal World” - Dr. David Williams

• Remote telescope viewing on January 29 - 8:30pm CDT

• Introduction to Amateur Astronomy - January 15 12:00-2:00 CST

• Great class - Register now!

• https://www.kasonline.org/amastro.html

• 900 people registered last year

• Business

• Minutes of previous meeting are posted online by Denise Gregg were approved

• Treasurer’s Report - Evan Zorn

• Beginning balance November 30, 2021: $7475.67

• Expenditure Apple Sky Safari 9.99

• Ending balance December 31, 2021: $7465.68

• Dues are due this month. We don’t yet have PayPal working on our new website, but you can mail checks to:

Bartlesville Astronomical Society

P.O. Box 302

Bartlesville OK 74005

• Dues are: $25.00/year for single adult membership, $30.00/year for family of two (one vote per family), $40.00/year for family of three or more (one vote per family). Student membership is $10.00/year for age 13 through high school, or age 18 or older and enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution, with no vote.

• Evan has just received a Phillips 66 Volunteer Grant for 2021 John Blaesi for $1262.00. Thanks to John for his many contributions to our Club!

• Committee Reports

• Astronomical League news and activities – Denise Gregg. No Astronomical League news this month. Denise has forwarded emails to Club members about the annual Texas Star Party, for which applications are due by January 15.

• Youth club (BYA) news – Rick Bryant – Rick was not in attendance this evening.

• Library Display – May 2022

• Coordinator – Denise

• Zoom meeting on Saturday at 10:30

• Need ideas for our library display!

• New Business

• First Christian Church may be donating the building to the city.

• The city council has agreed to a Letter of Intent.

• Our storage at the FCC may be affected. Craig and Denise went to the City Council meeting on January 3 and Craig spoke with Alan Gentges, Mike Bailey and Ken Armstrong with the FCC to explain our needs and what we do for the people in Bartlesville, including public star parties in various locations; star parties for the Girl Scouts and schools; and our telescope donation to the library.

• Need a committee to talk with Mike Bailey and investigate alternative storage options

• Need Astronomical League coordinator – Kristi Herrman

• Denise Gregg is filling in

• Need web wizard and social media wrangler – Derek Herrman

• Denise Gregg is filling in

• Need someone with Facebook and Twitter skills

• Club Events

• Meteor showers—peak for the January Quadrantids has passed; no major showers for the remainder of January and early February

• Upcoming astronomical events—Near-Earth asteroid pass January 18

• Adjournment

• Next meeting - February 7 at library

• Volunteers needed for upcoming meetings - Bob Young

• We decided not to do Braum’s (virtual or in person) this evening as few would be able to attend.

• Motion to adjourn