Calendar

Astronomy Events in Northern California

AANC Calendar is now served by: AANC on Meetup and Night Sky Network (NSN) Calendar 


Eastbay Astronomical Society Calendar (compiled by Kenneth Lum):

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Thursday, 01/09/25

02:30 PM - 03:00 PM

Livestream




SETI Institute


What to Expect in 2025 in Space Science - Livestream


Happy New Year! 2024 brought us a lot of exciting space news, from a total solar eclipse to the launch of Europa Clipper and our celebration of 40 years as the SETI Institute. What does 2025 hold? Join hosts Beth Johnson and Franck Marchis for our first show of the year, taking a look at new ground and space telescopes, planned missions and milestones, as well as the various eclipses. Plus, Saturn's rings will be "disappearing"! 


WATCH ON FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1271959424023017


WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/live/qN5UnBPPfEU


Website: https://www.seti.org/event/what-expect-2025-space-science


Cost:  Free


==============================


Friday, 01/10/2025  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@gmail.com or phone (510) 406-1914.


=============================


Friday, 01/10/25 9PM-11PM for night observing and Saturday 01/11/25 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

The COVID and masking policy for visiting Foothill Observatory is the same as that of Foothill College per their Health & Safety information: 

1) Vaccinations are required

2) masking is strongly encouraged. 


Websites:  https://foothill.edu/astronomy/observatory.html


and  https://pastro.org


=============================


Friday,  01/10/25 and Saturday 01/11/25

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.


Website:  https://chabotspace.org/events/free-telescope-viewings/


Before your visit:


• Check humidity on our Weather Station:  https://chabotspace.org/weather-station/


• Check cloud cover using the live view webcam of the Center:  https://ops.alertcalifornia.org/cam-console/2578


==============================


Saturday, 01/11/2025 to Sunday, January 12

10:00 AM - 05:00 PM and more! See below.

In-person


Smithwick Theater

Foothill College

12345 El Monte Rd

Los Altos Hills, CA 94022




The Physics Show - Three Performances


The Physics Show is a fun science show for kids and their families. This year we will have two weekends of shows in September and two weekends of shows in January.


Tickets go on sale the first week of December, pending completion of construction at the venue.


Performances at 10:00, 1:00, and 3:30 each day.


Venue: Smithwick Theater

Jan 11 (Saturday): 10:00 am

Jan 11 (Saturday): 1:00 pm

Jan 11 (Saturday): 3:30 pm

Jan 12 (Sunday): 10:00 am

Jan 12 (Sunday): 1:00 pm

Jan 12 (Sunday): 3:30 pm


Website: https://www.thephysicsshow.com


Cost:  $6


==============================


Saturday, 01/11/25

06:00 PM - 09:30 PM

In-person


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.


Website: https://www.sfaa-astronomy.org/event-5999182


Cost:  Free


==============================


Saturday, 01/11/25  07:30 PM

Attend in person or online (sFee weblink)


East Bay Astronomical Society

Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd

Classroom 4 formerly knows as Copernicus

Oakland, CA 94619


Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/EastbayAstroSociety/videos/




Aurora - One of Nature’s Amazing Light Shows


Last year, California was treated to four - rare for California - auroral displays. Some of them were strong enough to be seen in the greater Bay Area. What causes them? How did they get this far south? Can you see the aurora with the naked eye? Where do the colors come from?


Marsha Kirschbaum, an avid astro-landscape and deep-scape photographer, will talk about some of the science of auroras and her experiences photographing the Aurora in Alaska and California. She will talk about the equipment she used; camera settings, and how to prepare for and protect your camera and body in the cold should one head north for an Aurora experience.


Website: https://eastbayastro.org/events/


Cost:  Free


==============================


Saturday, 01/11/25

07:30 PM - 09:00 PM

In-person


San Jose Astronomical Association

Houge Park

3972 Twilight Drive

San Jose, CA 95124



Unravelling the mysteries of globular clusters, dwarf galaxies, and dark matter

Speaker: Aaron Romanowsky, San Jose State University


Website: https://www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy/events/305394359/


Cost: Free


==============================


Thursday, 01/16/25

09:00 AM - 09:30 AM

Livestream


SETI Institute



SETI Live: Automated Discovery of Anomalous Features - Livestream


Over the past decade, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has captured thousands of high-resolution images of the Moon's surface??"far more than humans can manually review. To tackle this challenge, scientists have developed an automated system that quickly identifies scientifically significant images from the LRO data, making it the first anomaly detector for planetary imagery. Experiments show that the system reliably highlights unusual features, such as striking geological formations and sites of human landings or spacecraft crashes. This approach fills a critical gap in planetary science, offering a groundbreaking way to uncover hidden insights in vast archives of remote-sensing data and opening the door to applications across many scientific fields.


Join senior planetary astronomer Franck Marchis as he chats with authors Adam Lesnikowski and Daniel Angerhausen about this revolutionary method and its implications for future discoveries.


WATCH ON FACEBOOK!:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1046668913876979/


WACTH ON YOUTUBE!:  https://www.youtube.com/live/DZxDcORRc2A


Website: https://www.seti.org/event/seti-live-automated-discovery-anomalous-features


Cost:  Free


==============================


Friday, 01/17/2025  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@gmail.com or phone (510) 406-1914.


=============================


Friday, 01/17/25 9PM-11PM for night observing and Saturday 01/18/25 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

The COVID and masking policy for visiting Foothill Observatory is the same as that of Foothill College per their Health & Safety information: 

1) Vaccinations are required

2) masking is strongly encouraged. 


Websites:  https://foothill.edu/astronomy/observatory.html


and  https://pastro.org


=============================


Friday,  01/17/25 and Saturday 01/18/25

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.


Website:  https://chabotspace.org/events/free-telescope-viewings/


Before your visit:


• Check humidity on our Weather Station:  https://chabotspace.org/weather-station/


• Check cloud cover using the live view webcam of the Center:  https://ops.alertcalifornia.org/cam-console/2578


==============================


Saturday, 01/18/25

07:00 PM - 09:30 PM

In-person


Chabot Space and Science Center

10000 Skyline Blvd

Oakland, CA 94619



The Science of Time Travel


Join us in the Planetarium for the inaugural event of Chabot’s Moonlight Lecture Series, featuring a captivating exploration on the science of time travel led by NASA engineer and author Bee Davis. After the talk, meet Bee during a book signing for her groundbreaking novel Fly Into the Sun, an unforgettable Sci-Fi Romance featuring a Black trans protagonist navigating space and identity. Don’t miss this evening of thought-provoking science and inspiring storytelling under the stars! Refreshments will be available.


Adults 18+


Website: https://chabotspace.org/calendar/the-science-of-time-travel-with-bee-davis/


Fly Into the Sun is available for purchase here: https://tinyurl.com/4ewbdr9a  


Cost: $25


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