About & History

The Santa Cruz Astronomy Club serves all communities in Santa Cruz County, California and neighboring areas. Our emphasis is telescope observing, family participation, and public enjoyment of the wonders of the starry night. See the calendar for schedule.

We meet on the second  Wednesday of every month at 7:00pm, at the Santa Margarita Meeting Room at the Scotts Valley Water District Offices (enter off of Civic Center Drive or Scotts Valley Drive).  

We hold a monthly 'star party' at Quail Hollow Ranch County Park, starting about sunset (its fully dark typically 90 minutes after sunset) as weather allows.  

Formed in 1983, the Santa Cruz Astronomy Club is a non-profit educational organization pursuant to 501C3, tax ID Number 77-0215497.  We added our 103rd member in August 2026.  Mailing address is:  Santa Cruz Astronomy Club, PO Box 3439, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 

Club Star Parties

Club members have exclusive access to our twice-a-year star parties in San Vicente in Bonny Doon at 2500' in elevation, and occasional star parties where we're invited as a club.  The next one will be held at Costanoa, not far from Ano Nuevo State Park.

Yearly, club members are invited to participate in a public star party at Glacier Point in Yosemite.

Our monthly star party at 400' Quail Hollow Ranch is open to everyone and the public is encouraged to attend.  Other, ad hoc parties are usually open to everyone, but contact us if there are any questions.

Club Officers and Chairpersons

• President: Jim Bahn

• Vice President: Ana Rodarte

• Treasurer: Bill Seiler

• Board member-at-large: Chris Angelos

• Board member-at-large: Jeff Gose

• Quail Hollow star parties: John Arkley

• Night Sky Network Coordinator:  Ana Rodarte

• New member orientation:  Ana Rodarte

• Social media:  Kirk Bender

• Outreach programs:  Open

• Donation/loaner program:  Jim Bahn

• Website, Communications, and Calendar:  Jim Bahn

• Secretary:  Open

• Presentations/speakers chairperson: Open

Donations

The Santa Cruz Astronomy Club is pleased to receive any equipment donations. Telescopes, eyepieces, mounts… almost anything you can think of that is used in astronomy, we accept.  Most items are used in our loaner telescope program. Some may be donated to worthy individuals or groups who support astronomy education in their community. All donations go toward supporting the club and public education in astronomy.  Santa Cruz Astronomy Club will provide a tax receipt for charitable contributions upon request for all equipment donations.  Please contact us for more information.

Planned giving and bequests.

SCAC t-shirts

You can order SCAC t-shirts directly from this site.

Loaner Program

The purpose of this program is for SCAC members to borrow scopes to evaluate equipment, help guide them in learning astronomy, and use for personal and club events.  Contact the club for questions.  The club currently has over 35 scopes in inventory, plus other gear.  Here's the list of currently available gear:

• Phelps/Lunt 50mm solar scope available in December:  GS1200 blocking filter. Tripod and slow motion head. Zoom EP. Scope is available on a monthly basis to club member

• DWARFLABS Mini available in November: Smart telescope includes a tabletop tripod for alt-az or EQ mounting. Available month-by-month

• Seestar S50: S50 smart telescope includes a tabletop tripod. Photographic tripod with 3/8" screw size is advised. Can be mounted on EQ as well. Available on a 3-month basis

• Seestar S30 is available in January:  S30 smart telescope includes a tabletop tripod. Photographic tripod with 3/8" screw size is advised. Can be mounted on EQ as well. Available on a 3-month basis

• Hopper telescope pointing solution is available in November:  Telescope pointing solution, uses plate-solving camera and free app download. Turns any scope into a "push to".

• Oberwerk BT100-45 giant binos:  Super binos!

• Celestron GC-9.25: C9.25" SCT on a Losmandy G-9 nice equatorial mount. Mount tracks but does not have a GOTO function.

• Ioptron Skyguider Pro:  This is a nice tracker with an 11 lb payload, but currently it's missing an EQ base. We can acquire one, or you can use your photographic tripod.

• Obsession Classic 20" f/5 Dob: The crown jewel of our loaner scopes; includes club 35mm Tele Vue Panoptic, and new aluminum ramps for easier on/off of your vehicle

• Orion 11x80mm "Big Eye" finder scope: Big finder or small scope! Comes with tripod and EP but any 1.25" EP will work

• Meade 80mm f/11: Vintage EQ mount included

• CGEM DX EQ mount and tripod: CGEM DX mount. Everything you need. Mount is 40 pounds; tripod is 45 pounds. Includes 2 counterweights.