Tuesday, 12/17/24
06:30 PM - 08:30 PM PST
Livestream

Astronomy on Tap Tucson

Livestream

Tucson’s local flavor of Astronomy on Tap, Space Drafts, is excited to present its 102nd edition! This month, we’ll be joined by optical sciences graduate student Josh Liberman, who will tell us about hunting for alien worlds with huge telescopes, and Steward Observatory graduate student Jeniveve Pearson who will tell us about Rubin Observatory’s search for transient objects.

The Search for Alien Worlds From Earth’s Largest Telescopes
Speaker: Josh Liberman

Gotta Catch ’em All! Completing the Transient Pokédex with the Rubin Observatory
Speaker: Jeniveve Pearson

Watch the presentations live here.

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/events/888826189906407/

Website: https://astronomyontap.org/event/astronomy-on-tap-tucson-102-alien-worlds-catching-pikabooms/

Cost:  Free
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Wednesday, 12/18/24  6:00 PM
Livestream

NASA Night Sky Network
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHhiJoOcInY

2024 Astronomy Picture of the Day - Livestream

Join the NASA Night Sky Network with Dr. Robert Nemiroff for a tour of highlights from the Astronomy Picture of the Day archive for 2024.

Along with Jerry Bonnell, Robert Nemiroff has written, coordinated, and edited NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) since 1995 at apod.nasa.gov. The APOD archive contains the largest collection of annotated astronomical images on the internet.

Website: https://astrosociety.org/get-involved/events/event/2024/12/18/nsn-webinar-2024-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-with-dr-robert-nemiroff/502896

Cost:  Free

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Thursday, 12/19/24
06:00 PM - 10:00 PM
In-person

ExplOratorium
Pier 15 (Embarcadero at Green Street) 
San Francisco, CA 94111


After Dark: Twinkle Twinkle

Learn about the celestial bodies that illuminate our sky: the Sun, shooting stars, and near-Earth asteroids.

Website: https://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/calendar/after-dark-twinkle-twinkle

Cost:  $22.95, free for members

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Friday, 12/20/24
07:15 PM - 09:15 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/302905586/

Cost:  Free

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Friday, 12/20/24  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@gmail.com or phone (510) 406-1914.

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Friday, 12/20/24 9PM-11PM for night observing and Saturday 12/21/24 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

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Friday,  12/20/24 and Saturday 12/21/24
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

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Saturday, 12/21/24 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

Dec 21 (Saturday): 10:00 am
Dec 21 (Saturday): 1:00 pm
Dec 21 (Saturday): 3:30 pm
Dec 22 (Sunday): 10:00 am
Dec 22 (Sunday): 1:00 pm
Dec 22 (Sunday): 3:30 pm
Jan 4 (Saturday): 10:00 am
Jan 4 (Saturday): 1:00 pm
Jan 4 (Saturday): 3:30 pm
Jan 5 (Sunday): 10:00 am
Jan 5 (Sunday): 1:00 pm
Jan 5 (Sunday): 3:30 pm
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

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Saturday, 12/21/24
06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
In-person

Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd
Oakland, CA 94619

Family Astronomy: Winter Solstice - The Longest Night

Explore the fascinating history, diverse cultural customs, and ancient rituals associated with the Winter Solstice. You’ll learn about the shortest day of the year, the various types and stages of night and twilight and how different cultures around the world celebrate this celestial event, from lighting candles and bonfires to creating handmade decorations and sharing stories. Guests will receive complimentary hot cider, hot chocolate, and cookies.

Intended for families with children 6+

Website: https://chabotspace.org/calendar/family-astronomy-winter-solstice-the-longest-night-2/

Cost:  $25 Adult, $15 youth