• 25 Sep 2023 7:30 AM | Scott Miller (Administrator)
    Monday, 09/25/23

    10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    Livestream


    SETI Institute


    How to Avoid Obliteration: Disability as a Model for First Contact - Livestream


    Because humanity is a young (and presumably vulnerable) technological species, many of the models we use for first contact are decidedly grim. Our most prevalent examples of conflict between civilizations with different military/economic/technological force are the horribly destructive historical encounters between the 'old' and 'new' worlds. Drawing from these examples, it is easy to imagine how humanity will dwindle (if not completely cease to exist) under even the theoretically most benevolent advanced interstellar civilization. There is, however, an existing Earth example for sustained contact between a powerful and a less powerful community on Earth today.


    Disabled people are more vulnerable, more divided, and have dramatically less economic and social power than our abled fellows, and although we have experienced intermittent attempts at obliteration, we persist. This is not because we are stronger or more resilient. It is also not because abled people are either kind or empathic. The key to our survival lies in the models of disability that implicitly guide the interactions between the two groups.


    This presentation explores these models, how they harm and how they could uplift disabled and abled people, and what might befall humanity if a potential ET decides to adopt one or more of them in a first contact scenario.


    Host: Sheri Wells Jensen


    Register at weblink


    Website: https://www.seti.org/event/how-avoid-obliteration-disability-model-first-contact


    Cost:  Free


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


    Monday, 09/25/23

    04:00 PM - 05:00 PM

    In-person


    Sonoma State University - What Physicists Do

    1801 E. Cotati Ave.

    Darwin Hall, Room 103

    Rohnert Park, CA 94928


    Black Holes and Quantum Theory

    Speaker: Dr. Edgar Shaghoulian, UC Santa Cruz


    Website: https://phys-astro.sonoma.edu/public-events/what-physicists-do/2023-fall/black-holes-and-quantum-theory


    Cost:  Free


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


    Tuesday, 9/26/2023

    Time: 7:15 PM - 9:00 PM Pacific

    In-person 


    Mount Diablo Astronomical Society

    General Meeting

    Location: Lindsay Wildlife Experience 

    1931 First Avenue

    Walnut Creek, CA 94597


    Speaker:  Dr. Boryana Hadzhiyska, UCB

    Title:  "The fascinating journey of photons from the Big Bang to us"


    Website:  https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/event-view.cfm?Event_ID=125703


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


    Friday, 09/29/23  12:00 PM

    In-person


    Earth and Marine Sciences Building

    UC Santa Cruz

    Room A340

    Santa Cruz, CA 95064


    Cooling cracks and the origin of Enceladus' tiger stripes


    Speaker: Max Rudolph, UC Santa Cruz


    Website: https://eps.ucsc.edu/news-events/igpp-seminar/fall-2023.html


    Cost:  Free


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


    Friday, 09/29/23  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.


    Please be prepared with proof of vaccination and a mask. These are

    Chabot Rules, which we always must adhere to.


    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, 09/29/2023 9PM-11PM for night observing and Saturday 09/30/2023

    10AM-12 Noon for solar observing

    In-person


    Foothill Observatory is open again!

    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


    Since we are still dealing with COVID, we are adopting the following guidelines to enable safe operation of the Observatory for both our public visitors and our PAS operators.  We ask that visitors please agree to complying with these guidelines before visiting the Observatory, and to direct any questions to info@....


    ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES

    1.    Full vaccination against COVID-19 is required to visit the Foothill College campus — This is a College requirement detailed on the Foothill College COVID-19 Behavioral Expectations page. So bring your vaccination certificate if possible.


    2.    Mask usage is required anytime visiting the Foothill College campus — This includes the Observatory, per the same college policy linked above in item 1. 


    3.    The number of visitors allowed inside the Observatory is reduced — To avoid overcrowding within the limited space, please wait outside the observatory until a PAS telescope operator lets you and your group inside. Once your group is done viewing through the telescope, you will exit the Observatory so that a new group may enter. 


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


    and  https://pastro.org


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


    Friday, 09/29/23 and Saturday, 09/30/23

    07:30 PM - 10:00 PM--Free telescope viewings are back!

    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, 09/30/23

    01:00 AM - 11:00 PM

    In-person


    College of San Mateo

    1700 W Hillsdale Blvd

    San Mateo, CA 94402


    CSM's Family Science & Astronomy Festival + Makerspace


    CSM's Family Science & Astronomy Festival + Makerspace (formerly Family Science Day) brings the wonders of science to our community! Future scientists-in-the-making are welcomed to campus to participate in fun makerspace activities, watch Chef Ed make comets, visit fascinating biology, chemistry, geology, and math stations for hands-on demos hosted by CSM instructors and staff, attend our live keynote speaker presentation, stargaze with astronomy faculty, and more!


    Keynote Lecture:

    “Forward to the Moon” Greg Schmidt, Director of the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI) at NASA Ames Research Center, discusses NASA’s historical journeys to the Moon, from Apollo to upcoming Artemis missions, emphasizing global collaboration and the broader impact on science, technology, and economy.7:30 pm • CSM Theatre (Building 3)


    Reception:

    8:30 pm • Theatre Lobby (Building 3)


    Jazz Under the Stars/Telescopic Observation

    9:15 pm • CSM Rooftop Observatory (Building 36) Makerspace Activities   (see listings) Family Science Day Activities   (see listings) MULTIPLE LOCATIONS ON CSM CAMPUSScience Building 36, Library Building 9, and Theatre Building 3


    Website: https://collegeofsanmateo.edu/familyscienceday/


    Cost: check website


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


    Saturday, September 30th, 2023  7:30 PM

    In-person and Livestream


    East Bay Astronomical Society

    Chabot Space and Science Center

    10000 Skyline Blvd

    Oakland, CA 94619


    Meeting will be held at the Chabot Space and Science Center Classroom 4 (the Room formerly known as Copernicus). Please enter through the side gate along the back road of the facility.


    Our guest speaker for the evening is Dr. Robert Jedicke, University of Hawaii institute of Astronomy


    Dr. Jedicke will be speaking in person!


    TITLE: The Peril and Profit of Near-Earth Objects; Is Asteroid Mining Possible and Practical?


    Near-Earth objects present both an existential threat to human civilization and an extraordinary opportunity to propel our exploration and expansion across the solar system. While the risk of a sudden, civilization-altering collision with an asteroid or comet has markedly diminished in recent decades due to diligent astronomical surveys, a significant level of danger persists. Concurrently, remarkable strides have been made in advancing technologies that pave the way for a transformative vision of space exploration.


    This vision entails missions and outposts within the inner solar system fueled by resources extracted from asteroids, starting with the most accessible near-Earth objects. These objects provide a cost-effective approach because they contain exploitable extraterrestrial resources delivered to the inner solar system by gravitational perturbations from the planets, they have been naturally preprocessed into objects the ideal size for industrial operations, and they contain critical materials for cost-effective self-sustaining activities in space.


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


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


    EAS Members will get a private Zoom invitation by Email


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


    Saturday, 09/30/23

    07:30 PM - 09:00 PM

    In-person


    San Jose Astronomical Association

    Houge Park

    3972 Twilight Drive

    San Jose, CA 95124


    How to Photograph an Eclipse


    This talk will focus on how to take pictures of the eclipse while still allowing you to enjoy the experience. It is based on a series of talks I gave in 2016-17 prior to the last US eclipse and has been updated for the latest information. Taking photos of eclipses is harder than you think. It discusses equipment, photographic techniques, and weather prospects. For those that cannot attend the talk a more complete version is available on  https://fpoa.net/eclipse/


    Speaker: Rob Hawley, astronomer


    Website: https://www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy/events/296287741/


    Cost:  Free

  • 25 Sep 2023 7:00 AM | Scott Miller (Administrator)

    Monday, 10/02/23

    07:30 PM - 09:00 PM
    In-person

    California Academy of Sciences
    55 Music Concourse Dr.
    San Francisco, CA 94118

    Mapping Cosmic Magnetism in the Space Between the Stars

    The Universe is magnetic. From stars to galaxies to intergalactic space, magnetic fields thread the cosmos. Our home galaxy, the Milky Way, hosts a magnetic field that helps to sculpt the interstellar medium: the “stuff between the stars” out of which new stars are born, and into which some old stars explode. Join us on a tour of magnetism in the Milky Way galaxy and beyond, and learn how we measure magnetic fields in interstellar space.

    Speaker: Susan Clark, Stanford University

    Website: https://www.calacademy.org/events/benjamin-dean-astronomy-lectures/mapping-cosmic-magnetism-in-the-space-between-the-stars

    Cost:  $15 General, $12 Members & Seniors

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

    Friday, 10/06/23  8:00 PM
    In-person 

    San Mateo Co. Astronomical Society
    Room 109
    College of San Mateo Bldg 36
    1700 W Hillsdale Rd
    San Mateo, CA 94402

    Studying Exoplanets with The James Webb Space Telescope

    he James Webb Space Telescope is the most powerful and complex astronomical space observatory ever built. It launched in December 2021 into orbit in the Sun – Earth system. The large 6.5-m diameter JWST primary mirror and its infrared instruments allow it to see some of the very first luminous objects that formed in the Universe shortly after the Big Bang. Other major science themes of JWST encompass studying the assembly of galaxies, the birth of stars and planetary systems, and the origins of life. JWST is the premier astrophysics space observatory for NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), with an expected 20+ year mission lifetime. It will augment the Hubble Space Telescope, which primarily works at visible and ultraviolet light wavelengths. Many scientists will use JWST to make discoveries that we have not yet imagined!

    In this talk Dr Greene will illustrate how the JWST is being used to discover and characterize exoplanets in our galaxy, and present some of the exciting findings to date.

    Website: https://nebula.wsimg.com/61ad2eeff65f7075293139692d753c06?AccessKeyId=DEEA8EDAD4DCF5083531&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

    and

    http://www.smcasastro.com/meetings.html

    Cost:  Free

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

    Friday, October 6, 2023 
    7:30 PM to 9:30 PM PDT

    In Town Star Party (ITSP)
    San Jose Astronomical Association
    Houge Park 
    3972 Twilight Dr 
    San Jose, CA

    Details
    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.
    • Please keep a distance from the telescopes until event start time. Our volunteers need a distraction-free environment to set up. Parents are required to keep children at arm's length during this event. Please respect the expensive gear our volunteers bring to these events and help us maintain a safe setting.

    Website:  https://www.sjaa.net/events/monthly-star-parties/

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

    Friday, 10/06/23  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.

    Please be prepared with proof of vaccination and a mask. These are
    Chabot Rules, which we always must adhere to.

    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, 10/06/2023 9PM-11PM for night observing and Saturday 10/07/2023
    10AM-12 Noon for solar observing
    In-person

    Foothill Observatory is open again!
    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

    Since we are still dealing with COVID, we are adopting the following guidelines to enable safe operation of the Observatory for both our public visitors and our PAS operators.  We ask that visitors please agree to complying with these guidelines before visiting the Observatory, and to direct any questions to info@....

    ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
    1.    Full vaccination against COVID-19 is required to visit the Foothill College campus — This is a College requirement detailed on the Foothill College COVID-19 Behavioral Expectations page. So bring your vaccination certificate if possible.

    2.    Mask usage is required anytime visiting the Foothill College campus — This includes the Observatory, per the same college policy linked above in item 1. 

    3.    The number of visitors allowed inside the Observatory is reduced — To avoid overcrowding within the limited space, please wait outside the observatory until a PAS telescope operator lets you and your group inside. Once your group is done viewing through the telescope, you will exit the Observatory so that a new group may enter. 

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

    and  https://pastro.org

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

    Friday, 10/06/23 and Saturday, 10/07/23
    07:30 PM - 10:00 PM--Free telescope viewings are back!
    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/

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

    Sunday, 10/08/23
    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.

    Website: https://www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy/events/292036089/

    Cost:  Free


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