Calendar
Astronomy Events in Northern California
AANC Calendar is now served by: AANC on Meetup and Night Sky Network (NSN) Calendar (in left column of the NSN calendar, change zip/location and change format from calendar to list)
Eastbay Astronomical Society Calendar (compiled by Kenneth Lum):
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Tuesday, 05/07/24 3:30 PM
In-person
Earth and Marine Sciences Building
UC Santa Cruz
Room A340
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Production and Characterization of Carbonaceous Laboratory Analogs of Planetary Atmospheric Aerosols, Surface Materials, and Cosmic Grains
Speaker: Ella M. Sciamma-O'Brien, UC Santa Cruz
Website: https://eps.ucsc.edu/news-events/whole-earth-seminars/spring-2024.html
Cost: Free
==============================
Thursday, 05/09/24
05:00 PM - 07:00 PM
In-person
The Dutch Goose
3567 Alameda de las Pulgas
Menlo Park, CA 94025
SLAC on Tap: Shocking to the Core: Adventures in Earth Science
Double your pressure, double your fun! Join us at the Dutch Goose for SLAC on Tap on May 9, when SLAC scientist and rock star Arianna Gleason will share the amazing secrets scientists are trying to squeeze from the depths of Earth and other celestial bodies, from the origin of life to the future of clean energy. Feel the heat and let yourself be impacted by the mysteries of our home planet! It’ll rock your world. Have a drink, learn about planetary science and stick around after the talk for some trivia, giveaways and the chance to make silly putty.
Register at weblink to attend
Speaker: Arianna Gleason, SLAC
Website: https://www6.slac.stanford.edu/events/2024-05-09-shocking-core-adventures-earth-science
Cost: Free
==============================
Friday, 05/10/24 7PM
In-person
Telescope Makers Workshop
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619-245
The Chabot Telescope Maker's workshop reopens! Chabot's TMW is one of only a handful of regularly scheduled telescope making workshops in the U.S., and probably the world; it meets every Friday evening throughout the year, except Memorial Day weekend. It has been in operation since December of 1930, founded by Franklin B. Wright, and is currently run by Eastbay Astronomical Society member Rich Ozer, with help from other EAS members, Dave Barosso, Barry Leska, and others. The price of admission is FREE. All you have to do is show up, buy a mirror blank and a "tool" (typically around $100 - $200 depending on the size of the mirror) and start "pushin' glass!" We supply you with instruction, the various grits you'll need to first grind, and then polish and figure your mirror, and all the testing equipment needed. With a small bit of luck, you could wind up with a telescope that costs 1/3 or 1/4 the cost of a store-bought telescope, that is yet optically superior! It does take time - depending on how much time you put in on it, and other factors, it could take a few months.. But, it's a fun project, great for kids, and at the end you get a great telescope!
Enter from the main loading dock behind the main building.
If you have a project, bring it with you so we can assess next steps.
You can also bring any other equipment or literature you may have
questions about.
For more information call or email Richard Ozer at richozer1@... or phone (510) 406-1914.
=============================
Friday, 05/10/2024 9PM-11PM for night observing and Saturday 05/11/2024
10AM-12 Noon for solar observing
In-person
Foothill Observatory
12345 El Monte Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Foothill Observatory now Open EVERY clear Friday night and Saturday morning
The Foothill College Astronomy Department and Peninsula Astronomical Society (PAS) have reopened public viewing programs at Foothill College Observatory on:
· Every clear Friday night from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. for star gazing
· Every clear Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to noon for solar viewing
ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
COVID vaccination and masks no longer required on the Foothill College campus.
Websites: https://foothill.edu/astronomy/observatory.html
=============================
Friday, 05/10/2024 and Saturday 5/11/2024
07:30 PM - 10:00 PM
In-person
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd
Oakland, CA 94619
Free Telescope Viewings
Join Chabot astronomers on the Observatory Deck for a free telescope viewing! Weather permitting, this is a chance to explore stars, planets and more through Chabot’s historic telescopes. Chabot’s three large historic telescopes offer a unique way to experience the awe and wonder of the Universe. Our observatory deck offers breathtaking views 1,500 feet above the Bay. Three observatory domes house the Center’s 8-inch (Leah, 1883) and 20-inch (Rachel, 1916) refracting telescopes, along with a 36-inch reflecting telescope (Nellie, 2003).
Are the skies clear for viewing tonight? Viewing can be impacted by rain, clouds, humidity and other weather conditions. Conditions can be unique to Chabot because of its unique location in Joaquin Miller Park. Before your visit, check out the Weather Station to see the current conditions at Chabot.
https://chabotspace.org/weather-station/
Website: https://chabotspace.org/events/events-listing/
==============================
Saturday, 05/11/24
07:30 PM - 10:30 PM
In-person
San Francisco Amateur Astronomers
Rock Spring Trailhead
West Ridgecrest Blvd
Mt. Tamalpais State Park
Mill Valley, CA 94970
Mt. Tam Star Party
San Francisco Amateur Astronomers will give us a tour of the springtime constellations and offer telescope viewing.
We will observe the crescent Moon, the Beehive and Coma star clusters, double stars like Castor and Algieba, and distant galaxies in Virgo, Leo, and Ursa Major.
Please dress warmly and bring binoculars and a dim red flashlight if you have one. We will keep the observing area as dark as possible so we can see the stars, and faint galaxies through the telescopes.
Parents please ensure children are supervised around delicate optical equipment. See the weblink for more information from the Friends of Mount Tam and to register. Capacity is limited.
Location: Rock Spring Trailhead Parking Area at Mount Tamalpais
Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mt-tam-star-party-tickets-869513166287
Cost: Free
==============================
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Sunset: 8:08 PM
In-person
San Mateo Co. Astronomical Society
Crestview Park
1000 Crestview Drive
San Carlos, CA
Public Star Parties at Crestview Park in San Carlos
SMCAS and the City of San Carlos Parks Department host a public star party at Crestview Park in San Carlos twice a month when there is a new moon. Members set up telescopes and let the public view and share their knowledge of the night sky all for Free. All ages are welcome. If you have kids interested in space or science, bring them here for a real time view of planets, nebula, star clusters, and galaxies.
If you are a Non-member and own a telescope, bring it to share! Experts are available if you need assistance or have questions about buying a telescope.
Telescope setup begins at sunset and observing starts one hour after sunset. In the event of inclement weather (rain, clouds, fog, or high winds) the star party will be cancelled. Because each astronomer makes his or her own decision about bringing their telescope, there is no official cancellation notice.
Crestview Park is located at 1000 Crestview Drive in San Carlos
Website: https://smcas.net/events/star-parties/crestview-park/
==============================
Saturday, 05/11/24
08:30 PM - 10:30 PM
In-person
College of San Mateo Bldg 36
1700 W Hillsdale Rd
San Mateo, CA 94402
Jazz Under the Stars
Jazz Under the Stars is a FREE monthly public stargazing event! Occurring on the Saturday nearest the 1st quarter moon (check our Events Page), join us in building 36 on the 4th floor observatory for a night of smooth jazz, bright stars, and a lot of fun! We play our jazz from CSM's own KCSM 91.1. Founded in 1964, KCSM has grown to become one of the top 35 most listened to non-commercial stations in the US. With their help, the Astronomy department at CSM opens its observatory doors and balcony, for a night of science and fun! We operate for public viewing 8” dobsonian telescopes, prefect for viewing the planets Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. We also have a 140mm refractor, with which we view the craters on the moon. Finally, our 11’ schmidt-cassegrain is for our deep sky needs. It can peer deep into globular clusters, and nebulae. Occasionally we even have the chance to image galaxies on our 20" telescope. Our astronomers will also be available for questions and conversation, which you wouldn’t get anywhere else! Feel free to ask us your questions about the cosmos. Don't miss out, join us at our next Jazz Under the Stars!!
Weather in the bay area is notoriously hard to predict, and often the sources we use don't get it correct. Before leaving you home, be sure to check this webpage. If we are to cancel it will be posted here at least a few hours before the start of the event.
Website: https://collegeofsanmateo.edu/astronomy/observatory.asp
Cost: Free
==============================
Sunday, 05/12/24
02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
In-person
San Jose Astronomical Association
Houge Park
3972 Twilight Drive
San Jose, CA 95124
Solar Observing
It’s there for us year round, lighting our days and providing energy for our lives, so maybe it’s time to give it a closer look. Join SJAA for amazing and detailed views of the Sun, and be assured that we’ll be using special telescopes that will keep your eyeballs perfectly safe.
We’ll have white-light telescopes with dense solar filters that reveal sunspots. Further, we’ll show you hydrogen-alpha telescopes that isolate a very specific color of red that reveals prominences (often thought of as solar flares) and intricate texture within the Sun’s chromosphere (its atmosphere).
We can also share with you a little about how the Sun works and how complex magnetic fields drive the number of sunspots and prominences that we’ll see on a given day.
Around 2:15, we'll have a short, informal introductory talk, and at other times, you can enjoy the views and ask questions about the Sun, telescopes, or astronomy in general.
We're also planning station for your get a better feel for a huge scale of our solar system! And you'll get a solar system you can fold up and carry in your pocket.
Website: https://www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy/events/298550642/
Cost: Free
==============================
Monday, 05/13/24
03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Attend in person or online
Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC) Colloquium Series
2575 Sand Hill Rd, Building 51
Kavli Auditorium
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Zoom: https://stanford.zoom.us/j/99767234029?pwd=NjNsOXJNU3REaW42ZVJhNFd3Y3NYQT09#success
Update on SLAC’s Science & Technology Strategy
In this talk we will present an update on the Lab’s science and technology strategy, which has been under development for the past few months. This strategy was recently presented to SLAC’s Board of Oversight Science & Technology Committee and will form the basis for the upcoming Annual Lab Plan as well as the Lab Agenda. In addition to describing the strategic framework, the talk will include an initial perspective on next steps and implementation. The goal of the presentation is to initiate a broader discussion of the strategy and to seek staff engagement in next steps.
Speaker: John Sarrao, SLAC Director
Website: https://colloquium.slac.stanford.edu/events/2024-05-01-update-slacs-science-technology-strategy
Cost: Free
==============================
Monday, 05/13/24
07:30 PM - 09:00 PM
In-person
Benjamin Dean Astronomy Lecture
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Dr.
San Francisco, CA 94118
Unraveling the Mysteries of Black Holes and Neutron Stars
The most powerful cosmic engines in our universe are fueled by compact objects such as black holes and neutron stars. These cosmic engines consume large amounts of material and expel matter in the form of jets travelling at near the speed of light. Recent groundbreaking discoveries of gravitational waves from systems harboring compact objects and the direct imaging of the black hole shadows with the Event Horizon Telescope, represent major steps forward in our understanding of such systems. However, there exists a huge population of compact objects in our own galaxy which provides much more ideal laboratories, offering a real-time view of the behavior of these compact objects and their dynamic environments. In this talk, Dr. Tetarenko will discuss new experiments leveraging the capabilities of today's state-of-the-art telescopes to observe repetitive, (somewhat) predictable, energetic surges of radiation that allow us to track the path of material from inflow to outflow in these galactic systems.
Speaker: Alexandra Tetaranko, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, CA
Cost: $15 General, $12 Members & Seniors
==============================
Tuesday, 05/14/24
03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Livestream
Commonwealth Club
Exploring Quanta and Fields - Livestream
Arguably, quantum field theory (QFT) presents humanity's deepest insights into the rules of reality, i.e., into the laws of existence. QFT allows us to describe - with remarkable accuracy - the particles and forces that animate the cosmos, including the stuff of mind and body. Note that calling QFT a theory pays the highest scientific compliment: QFT has vast scope, and QFT is supported by an extraordinary amount of evidence.
Wonderfest and the Commonwealth Club present physicist Sean Carroll to discuss key ideas in his latest book, The Biggest Ideas In the Universe: Quanta and Fields. As in his first Biggest Ideas book (Space, Time, and Motion), Dr. Carroll goes beyond analogies to show how physicists really think about nature's underlying principles.
Speaker: Sean Carroll, John Hopkins University
Use code WONDERFESTPROMO during registration for free admission
Website: https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2024-05-14/sean-carroll-exploring-quanta-and-fields
Cost: $10 (free with code)
==============================
Tuesday, 05/14/24 3:30 PM
In-person
Hewlett Teaching Center
370 Jane Stanford Way, Room 201
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305
Cosmology from the First Year DESI BAO Measurements
Over a five-year period, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) will spectroscopically classify nearly 40 million galaxies and quasars over 1/3 of the sky and to redshifts z < 3.5. The DESI collaboration recently completed the measurement of the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) feature in seven distinct redshift intervals using data from the first year of observation. In this talk, I will present those BAO measurements and their implications for our understanding of the cosmological model. In particular, I will discuss the constraints on the Hubble Constant, dark energy equation of state, curvature, and summed mass of the three neutrino mass eigenstates. In doing so, I will discuss the new and future DESI measurements with respect to the hints of tension that have been reported in the Hubble Constant and with LCDM in general.
Speaker: Kyle Dawson, Stanford University
Cost: Free
==============================
Tuesday, 05/14/24 3:30 PM
In-person
Earth and Marine Sciences Building
UC Santa Cruz
Room A340
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Life and death by hydrothermal system: phosphate on ocean moons and ignimbrite remobilization at Mt. Pinatubo
Speaker: Noah Randolph-Flagg
Website: https://eps.ucsc.edu/news-events/whole-earth-seminars/spring-2024.html
Cost: Free
==============================
Thursday, 05/16/24
06:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Attend in person or online
SETI Institute
Computer History Museum
1401 N Shoreline Blvd
Mountain View, CA 94043
2024 Drake Awards
We’re excited to celebrate all things SETI and astrobiology! The SETI Institute’s annual event has a new venue (the Computer History Museum) and a new format (a seated dinner)!
Join us as we honor groundbreaking achievements in the search for life beyond Earth.
Three awards will be presented - Carl Sagan Center Director's Award, SETI Forward Award for undergrads, and most importantly - the 2024 Drake Award. Reserve your seat today, and share your evening with prominent scientists, leaders in space sciences, and SETI Institute fans and supporters like you!
Award recipients include Dr. Andrew Siemion (Drake Award), Dr. Franck Marchis (Carl Sagan Center Director's Award), Dana Yaptangco and Róza Okón (SETI Forward).
Website: https://www.seti.org/event/2024-drake-awards
Cost: $100 General, $20 Youth in person, $15 online
==============================
Wednesday, 05/15/24
07:00 PM - 08:00 PM
in person or online
Hewlett Teaching Center
370 Jane Stanford Way, Room 200
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305
Supermassive Black Holes: Monsters Lurking in the Hearts of Galaxies
Black holes are some of the most exotic and extreme objects in the Universe. Though they may sound like the stuff of science fiction, they are real and much more common than you may think; every galaxy has one lurking at its center! In this talk, we will explore exactly what a supermassive black hole is and how we can find them. I will share how the latest data from an array of telescopes across the Earth and in space are revealing what is happening to material in its final moments before it plunges through the event horizon. From these observations, we are learning how material falling into supermassive black holes powers some of the most spectacular celestial light shows, so powerful that they have a profound effect on the development of structure in the Universe as we see it today.
Speaker: Dan Wilkins, Kavli Institute, Stanford University
Register at weblink to attend in person or online
Website: https://kipac.stanford.edu/events/supermassive-black-holes-monsters-lurking-hearts-galaxies-0
Register:
Cost: Free
==============================
Friday, 05/17/24
12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
In-person
Earth and Marine Sciences Building
UC Santa Cruz
Room A340
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Serpent Lights in the Night: Mars' Enigmatic Aurora
Speaker: Rob Lillis, UC Santa Cruz
Website: Chttps://eps.ucsc.edu/news-events/igpp-seminar/spring-2024.html
Cost: Free
==============================
Friday, 05/17/24 7PM
In-person
Telescope Makers Workshop
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619-245
The Chabot Telescope Maker's workshop reopens! Chabot's TMW is one of only a handful of regularly scheduled telescope making workshops in the U.S., and probably the world; it meets every Friday evening throughout the year, except Memorial Day weekend. It has been in operation since December of 1930, founded by Franklin B. Wright, and is currently run by Eastbay Astronomical Society member Rich Ozer, with help from other EAS members, Dave Barosso, Barry Leska, and others. The price of admission is FREE. All you have to do is show up, buy a mirror blank and a "tool" (typically around $100 - $200 depending on the size of the mirror) and start "pushin' glass!" We supply you with instruction, the various grits you'll need to first grind, and then polish and figure your mirror, and all the testing equipment needed. With a small bit of luck, you could wind up with a telescope that costs 1/3 or 1/4 the cost of a store-bought telescope, that is yet optically superior! It does take time - depending on how much time you put in on it, and other factors, it could take a few months.. But, it's a fun project, great for kids, and at the end you get a great telescope!
Enter from the main loading dock behind the main building.
If you have a project, bring it with you so we can assess next steps.
You can also bring any other equipment or literature you may have
questions about.
For more information call or email Richard Ozer at richozer1@... or phone (510) 406-1914.
=============================
Saturday, 05/18/24
08:00 PM - 10:30 PM
In-pe3rson
San Francisco Amateur Astronomers
City Star Parties - Tunnel Tops Park
210 Lincoln Blvd
East Meadow
San Francisco, CA 94129
City Public Star Party
Come join the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers for free public stargazing of the Moon, planets, globular clusters and more!
The event will take place in Tunnel Tops National Park, parking is located adjacent to Picnic Place (210 Lincoln Blvd for GPS) with the telescopes setup in the East Meadow.
Dress warmly as conditions can be windy or cold in the Presidio. Rain, heavy fog or overcast skies cancel the event. Check the SFAA website for a cancellation notice before leaving for the star party.
SFAA members with telescopes are encouraged to attend and share their views of the stars with the general public.
Website: https://www.sfaa-astronomy.org/event-5619394
Cost: Free
=============================
Friday, 05/17/2024 9PM-11PM for night observing and Saturday 05/18/2024
10AM-12 Noon for solar observing
In-person
Foothill Observatory
12345 El Monte Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Foothill Observatory now Open EVERY clear Friday night and Saturday morning
The Foothill College Astronomy Department and Peninsula Astronomical Society (PAS) have reopened public viewing programs at Foothill College Observatory on:
· Every clear Friday night from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. for star gazing
· Every clear Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to noon for solar viewing
ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
COVID vaccination and masks no longer required on the Foothill College campus.
Websites: https://foothill.edu/astronomy/observatory.html
=============================
Friday, 05/17/2024 and Saturday 5/18/2024
07:30 PM - 10:00 PM
In-person
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd
Oakland, CA 94619
Free Telescope Viewings
Join Chabot astronomers on the Observatory Deck for a free telescope viewing! Weather permitting, this is a chance to explore stars, planets and more through Chabot’s historic telescopes. Chabot’s three large historic telescopes offer a unique way to experience the awe and wonder of the Universe. Our observatory deck offers breathtaking views 1,500 feet above the Bay. Three observatory domes house the Center’s 8-inch (Leah, 1883) and 20-inch (Rachel, 1916) refracting telescopes, along with a 36-inch reflecting telescope (Nellie, 2003).
Are the skies clear for viewing tonight? Viewing can be impacted by rain, clouds, humidity and other weather conditions. Conditions can be unique to Chabot because of its unique location in Joaquin Miller Park. Before your visit, check out the Weather Station to see the current conditions at Chabot.
https://chabotspace.org/weather-station/
Website: https://chabotspace.org/events/events-listing/
==============================