Dr. Mario Motta

Cardiologist, Former President of the AAVSO

December 12, 2023

Autumn at Peyton Hall

The December, 2023 meeting of the AAAP will take place in Peyton Hall (on the campus of Princeton University) on Tuesday, December 12th at 7:30 PM. As usual, the meeting is open to AAAP members and the public. Participants can join the meeting in-person at Peyton Hall or log in to the Zoom session as early as 7:00 pm to chat informally before the meeting begins. This evening’s guest speaker is Mario Motta. Dr. Motta will present talk about building his telescope and the observations he makes with it.

Options for Attending the December Meeting

You may choose to attend the meeting in person or participate via Zoom or YouTube as we’ve been doing for the past few years. (See How to Participate below for details.) Due to security concerns, if you log in before the host has set up internet connectivity in Peyton Hall, you may need to wait in the Waiting Room for a few minutes until the host is prepared to admit you into the meeting. You’ll need to unmute yourself to make comments or ask questions. It’s polite, though not required, for you to enable your camera so other participants can see you.

Dr. Mario Motta

[biography pending]

How To Participate:

In Person

The parking lots across the street (Ivy Lane) from Peyton Hall are now construction sites, unavailable for parking. We’ve been advised by the administration of the astrophysics department that we should park in the new enclosed parking garage off Fitzrandolph street and walk around the stadium and athletic fields. Here’s a map of the campus and walking routes from the parking garage to Peyton Hall. The map shows the recently completed East Garage. Not shown is an access road Sweet Gum that connects from Faculty Road to an entrance at the lower left corner of the garage. Stadium Road connects from Fitzrandolph Road to another entrance at the opposite corner (and higher level) of the garage. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk from the parking garage to Peyton Hall.

Zoom

Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: AAAP-December 2203 Meeting-Dr. Mario Motta, [title]
Time: Dec 12, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86111412467?pwd=BcYgjixdFqRXvhqA82cXoM9QiR3u83.1

YouTube

AAAP-December Meeting-Dr. Mario Motta-Title

A look ahead at future guest speakers:

Date	Featured Speaker(s)	Topic
January 9, 2024	Erika Hoffman, graduate student, University of Maryland	Erika will describe her research using high-resolution x-ray spectroscopy to investigate ionized outflows from active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Suggested by Bill Thomas.
February 13, 2024	Prof. David John Helfand, Columbia University	The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom By utilizing the basic building blocks of matter as imperturbable little clocks, we are now able to reconstruct in quantitative detail a remarkable range of human and natural events. From detecting art forgeries to dating archeological sites, and from laying out a detailed history of human diet and the Earth's climate to revealing the events surrounding the origin of life, of the Solar System and of the Universe itself, atoms provide us with a precise chronology from the beginning of time to the moment humans emerge to contemplate such questions. Copies of Prof. Helfand’s book will be for sale and he’ll be available to sign them.
March 12, 2024	(Hopefully) Dennis Overbye, Cosmos Reporter for the New York Times	This is only a provisional recruitment. I’m a fan of his writing, and his book, “Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos” is excellent, and I’ll try to arrange a book signing if he agrees to come.
April 9, 2024	Eclipse Observations	Since this meeting will take place the day after the Total Solar Eclipse of 08 April 2024, and many members will be out of town or returning from their trips, I’m suggesting that we host an online roundup of eclipse observations, with members (and perhaps others) Zooming in to share their experiences.
May 14, 2024	Dr. Tea Temim	Dr. Temim will describe her research using JWST imagery to study supernova remnants. Suggested by Gene Allen.
June 11, 2024	AAAP Outreach chair and staffer at the NJ State Planetarium Bill Murray, and Jacob Hamer, the planetarium's Assistant Curator	AAAP’s traditional annual pilgrimage to the NJ State Museum planetarium in Trenton, where members will experience a presentation and a preview of the planetarium’s latest sky show.

As always, members’ comments and suggestions are gratefully accepted and much appreciated.