Murison pretty much spent the month working on two dynamical projects. First, he has successfully implemented the Genetic Algorithms search technique in finding two-orbit parameters that maximize the number of stationary points of the (2-dimensional) function that describes the distance between the orbiting bodies. The numerical program is extremely efficient, and he has spent the past couple of weeks running large searches on two fast PCs, accumulating data. It's looking like the maximum number is twelve, despite the theoretical upper bound of sixteen. There are also interesting geometrical configurations associated with the 12-solution orbits. He will give a paper on the results of this work at the Division on Dynamical Astronomy meeting April 10-14.

Second, Murison has implemented Efroimsky's equations of motion for the node, pericenter, and inclination of a satellite orbit around an oblate, precessing planet. The equations in all their gory parts turned out to be fairly complex, as can be seen in this PDF document (3 MB). He is in the final stages of getting the numerical program, which integrates these equations, up and running. This work will be part of Efroimsky's paper, also being given at the DDA meeting.

Additionally, Murison spent a lot of time (1) working on the upcoming DDA meeting, in his role as both Secretary and member of the meeting organizing committee, and (2) conducting the 2005 DDA Officer elections. He was asked to referee a PASP paper but declined due to time constraints.