Tuesday, 08/27/24
07:00 PM - 08:30 PM
In-person

Hopmonk Tavern
Session Room
224 Vintage Way
Novato, CA 94945

Wonderfest: The Fermi Paradox

Since 1950, when physicist Enrico Fermi casually posed the question, the mystery has only deepened: Why hasn't ET visited us? Current evidence and reasoning suggest that life has been evolving in the cosmos for billions of years. Moreover, low-speed interstellar travel requires relatively modest technology. So why is the UFO evidence so poor, and the SETI results so ... negative? This special Wonderfest event will feature more "audience participation" than usual. Bring your questions - and possible answers - to address Fermi's fabulous question: Where is everybody?

Speaker: Dan Werthimer, Berkeley SETI Research Center

Website: https://wonderfest.org/the-fermi-paradox/

Cost:  Free

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Tuesday, 8/27/2024
Time: 7:15 PM - 9:00 PM Pacific
In-person and recorded

Lindsay Wildlife Experience
1931 First Avenue
Walnut Creek, CA 94597

 Mount Diablo Astronomical Society

Speaker: Professor Aaron Lee,  St. Mary's College
Topic: New star evolution insights using the JWST

Website:   https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/event-view.cfm?Event_ID=133836

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=+Mount+Diablo+Astronomical+Society


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Thursday, 08/29/24  5:00 PM
Livestream

Astronomy on Tap Baton Rouge



Astronomy on Tap: Baton Rouge - Livestream

Magnetars: Serving Up Giant Flare Energy

Speaker: Aaron Trigg, Louisiana State University

How to Go Fast

Speaker: Dr. Colin Turley

Editor's Note: In the past, this chapter of Astronomy on Tap has live streamed their talks.  The website doesn't indicate that this is the case, but they still provide their YouTube address.  If not live streamed, then the talks should be available shortly after the event on YouTube.

YouTube page for Baton Rouge Astronomy on Tap

Website: https://astronomyontap.org/event/astronomy-on-tap-baton-rouge-magnetars/

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@AoTBR/featured

Cost:  Free

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Thursday, 08/29/24
07:00 PM - 08:30 PM
In-person and Livestream

Logistics
This hybrid event is in-person at Los Altos Public Library and online via Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84972112964?pwd=9WhdSJTVUuBRhaVQhFJGJpyTZj30aZ.1
Meeting ID: 849 7211 2964
Passcode: 3.14159265

Peninsula Astronomical Society
Los Altos Public Library
13 S San Antonio Rd
Peninsula Astronomical Society
Los Altos, CA 94022

Earth-Independent Operations for Human Missions to Mars



Human space flight has depended on real-time control, guidance, decision-support, and problem solving from the ground for the past 60 years. Human exploration beyond cis-lunar space will require a greater level of autonomy than is currently possible. This talk will discuss the history of NASA’s human space flight missions in this context and the current approach to increasingly Earth-independent operations including advances in communication networks, advanced sensor networks, onboard intelligent systems, and crew preparation.

Speaker: Alonso Vera, NASA Ames

Website: https://www.meetup.com/peninsula-astronomical-society/events/302840631/

Cost:  Free

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Friday, 08/30/24
08:45 PM - 10:45 PM
In-person

San Jose Astronomical Association
Houge Park
3972 Twilight Drive
San Jose, CA 95124

In Town Star Party

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. The event duration is 2 hours. SJAA volunteers will share night sky views from their 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 to use facilities at Houge Park. To maintain this relationship, we must 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.

Website: https://www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy/events/302905541/

Cost:  Free

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Friday, 08/30/24  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.

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As of July 11, 2024, the Foothill Observatory is temporarily closed while we address a number of technical and dome issues. 

We hope to be back up and running, and looking at the stars with you again very soon! 

Check back for updates, and follow us on the PAS Meetup group: 
https://www.meetup.com/peninsula-astronomical-society/

or the PAS website at:

https://pastro.org

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Friday,  08/30/2024 and Saturday 08/31/2024
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.

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Saturday, August 31, 2024
Sunset: 7:38 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/

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Saturday, 08/31/24
08:30 PM - 10:30 PM
In-person

San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA)
Rancho Canada Del Oro Open Space Preserve
4289 Casa Loma Rd
Morgan hill, CA 95037


Starry Nights Star Party

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.

Website: https://www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy/events/300804218/

Cost:  Free