SJ Astronomy

The San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA), working with the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (OSA), is glad to co-host a public star party at Rancho Canada del Oro (RCDO) Open Space Preserve. This site, just 30 minutes south of downtown San Jose, features dark skies. It's dark enough to see the band of our Milky Way galaxy in the summer.

Do not bring your own telescope (binoculars are welcome, but please no tripods). SJAA club members will set up their telescopes to help star party guests get the most knowledge and enjoyment out of the dark night sky.

In addition to traditional telescopes, the SJAA has incorporated Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA) into the Starry Nights Program. We will be using an automated telescope with a camera-like sensor to show live images on an iPad.

The OSA is making RCDO available for visual observing only. There are separate SJAA-sponsored astro-imaging events (see http://www.Meetup.com/SJ-astronomy).

· This is a family friendly event, and although younger children are welcome, this activity is best suited for children aged 5 years and older.

· No touching the telescopes or eyepieces. (Maybe a focus knob, if instructed by the astronomer. It’s OK to ask).

· Dress in warm layers (it gets cold at night).

· Flashlights: To help preserve everyone's night vision, if you bring a dim white flashlight, be sure to have it wrapped in red plastic, or get it wrapped at the sign-in desk.

· Registration for this event has a limit of approximately 75 people.

· If you register and then cannot attend this event, please remove your reservation, so that those on the waiting list can fill open spots.

· If you are wait listed, please check closer to the event start time to see whether you managed to get a slot that opened up.

· Rain, heavy clouds, or thick smoke will result in cancellation of the event.

· Please check this page prior to heading to the event for latest information, such as late changes due to weather.

· No smoking and no pets.

No flash photography.

THIS ACTIVITY REQUIRES REGISTRATION.

Arrive no later than 1 hour prior to ending time as the gates may be closed to allow staff to prepare to wrap up the session. Please sign in at the OSA's front table and let them know you are here.

Only those registered will be allowed entry. Each entry registration is for one car. For example, if you have four people in a car, just one registration is required for your group.

************************* This is an online event *************************

The Imaging SIG meets roughly every month Online to discuss topics about imaging. The SIG is open to people with absolutely no experience but want to learn what it’s all about, but experienced imagers are also more than welcome, indeed, encouraged to participate.

This event provides a different introduction to astronomy than our Intro to the Night Sky talks. During this hour, you'll gain an appreciation for the size and scale of the cosmos and our place within it. You'll see many examples of the beautiful objects visible in the night sky, learn something about how we see them through our telescopes and what we can deduce about them through the light they send us. And then you can make your own prediction of whether we're alone in the universe.

This talk is free of charge. Just come and enjoy the show. After the talk, you can check out telescopes that will be set up as part of our In-Town Star Party. (See In Town Star Party event on Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy/events/295561141/)

The talk will be presented by Wolf Witt. Wolf is not an actual astronomer, nor has he ever played one on TV. However, he's been interested in outer space since he was a kid and still thinks that the universe is an amazing place. He's been with SJAA for nine years, and now he'll share with you his enthusiasm and some of what he's learned about the cosmos. Maybe you'll think it's amazing, too.

Many of SJAA’s events, like this one, are public and free to attend, but if you’re enjoying what SJAA has to offer, consider becoming a paid member for only $20 per year: https://www.sjaa.net/membership/benefits-of-membership-2/

During this event, we will ask all visitors to sign in, so that we can report attendance numbers to the city of San Jose, as San Jose has made Houge Park facilities available to SJAA to serve the public. The sign-in form will ask for first name, home location (city and ZIP code) and approximate age.

(Photo: M51, The Whirlpool Galaxy as imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope.)

Come join San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) for an evening of stargazing.

Event details:

• Events are held at the parking lot of our headquarters, Houge Park San Jose. Event duration is 2hrs. SJAA volunteers will share night sky views from their personal telescopes.

• Please refrain from bringing your own telescopes (Binoculars are welcome). If you like to be a volunteer with or without a telescope please email at "itsp@sjaa.net".

• SJAA as an all volunteer-nonprofit org depends on the City of San Jose for the use of facilities at Houge Park. To maintain this relationship we need to provide facility use data to the city. Therefore, we ask you to sign-in (no traceable personal data collected) when you arrive at the event.

Links:

Our Club : https://www.sjaa.net

Event Location : https://www.sjaa.net/learnresources/viewing-locations/#Houge_Park

Etiquette : https://www.sjaa.net/learnresources/etiquette

ITSP album : https://photos.app.goo.gl/FWjbWagFoXkDnLfF8

Hope to see you at the event