Monday, 02/06/23
07:30 PM - 09:00 PM
In-person

Benjamin Dean Astronomy Lectures
California Academy of Sciences
55 Music Concourse Dr.
San Francisco, CA 94118

Unveiling a Dark Universe: from Tiny Galaxies to Cosmic Maps


The Universe is dominated by a mysterious, unseen substance known as dark matter, which makes up more than eighty percent of the cosmos. In recent decades, much has been learned about dark matter, including its density and spatial distribution, but its fundamental nature - for example, what kind of particle it is, how massive it is, and how it interacts - remains largely unknown. This lecture will explain how tiny galaxies, measurements of distorted spacetime, and the largest maps of the cosmos are giving us insights into the nature of dark matter, and will describe the enormous discovery potential provided by the next decade of cosmic surveys.

Speaker: Risa Wechsler, Stanford University

Website: https://www.calacademy.org/events/benjamin-dean-astronomy-lectures/unveiling-a-dark-universe-from-tiny-galaxies-to-cosmic-maps

Cost:  $15 General, $12 Members & Seniors

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Tuesday, 02/07/23
03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
In-person

Hewlett Teaching Center
370 Jane Stanford Way, Room 201
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305

IXPE: Our First Look Around the X-ray Polarized Sky

For 50 years, the only astronomical source with measured soft X-ray polarization was the Crab nebula, initially detected with sounding rockets. Now we finally have the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer mission on orbit, which  has already measured complex X-ray polarization signals from dozens of neutron  star and black hole sources, with over 100x the sensitivity of the initial experiments. I summarize the motivation for such polarization studies, the technology advances that made IXPE possible, and some exciting results from our first year's program. As the wider community gets involved, additional novel probes of high energy astrophysical sources are expected soon.

Speaker:  Roger W. Romani, Stanford University

Website: https://events.stanford.edu/event/applied_physicsphysics_colloquium_roger_w_romani_-_ixpe_our_first_look_around_the_x-ray_polarized_sky

Cost:  Free

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Tuesday, 02/07/23  3:30 PM
Livestream

Earth and Marine Sciences Building
UC Santa Cruz
Room A340
Santa Cruz, CA 95064

Searching for Life on Mars - Livestream


Speaker: Andrew Czaja, University of Cincinnati

Website: https://eps.ucsc.edu/news-events/whole-earth-seminars/winter-2023.html
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Telephone: 831-459-4089   Call for link.

Cost:  Free

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Tuesday, 02/07/23
04:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Livestream

San Francisco Public Library



First Results from the Webb Space Telescope - Livestream

Professor of Astronomy Alex Filippenko explores the first images and studies from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The 21-foot-diameter, infrared-sensitive telescope launched in December 2021 and is now at its destination one million miles from Earth. 

Alex Filippenko is a Distinguished Professor of Astronomy at UC, Berkeley.

Register at Weblink.

Website: https://sfpl-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrduisrDIjGdELv9ORd-8GyN1KhBXMGZEM?_x_zm_rtaid=_9Np_iWSS2a39YN-984YLw.1674097763019.63f0e84572f75c09adc0f3a60d876361&_x_zm_rhtaid=895

Cost:  Free

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Wednesday, 02/08/23
07:00 PM - 08:30 PM
In-peson  and Livestream 

Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series
Foothill College
Smithwick Theater
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022

Our Boldest Effort to Answer our Oldest Question: The Breakthrough Listen Search for Intelligent Life Beyond Earth


For centuries, humans have gazed at the night sky and wondered what is out there.  Over time, we have come to know many of the answers; how our own planet Earth and Sun came to be, how they dance in a sea of other stars hosting their own planetary systems, and how the structure of the universe has evolved on the grandest scales.  But one of our biggest questions remains unanswered: is anyone or anything out there staring back at us?  Today we are answering that question using the tools of astronomy, surveying other worlds for the tell-tale indicators of technology.  Dr. Siemion will describe the state-of-the-art in hunting for intelligent life in the cosmos and how the largest telescopes in the world are now being used to conduct searches of unprecedented scope and sensitivity.

Dr. Andrew Siemion is the Bernard Oliver Chair for SETI at the SETI Institute and Director of the Berkeley SETI Research Center. 

We ask that attendees be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 and wear a mask while indoors at the event. Extra masks will be provided.

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/user/SVAstronomyLectures

Cost:  Free

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Friday, 02/10/23  12:00 PM
In-Person

Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics Seminar
arth and Marine Sciences Building
UC Santa Cruz
Room A340
Santa Cruz, CA 95064


Title: Ganymede’s internal structure with Bayesian inference using Juno and Galileo data
Speaker: Anton Ermakov, UC Berkeley

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

Cost:  Free

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Friday, 02/10/23  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 rrichozer1@... or phone (510) 406-1914.

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Friday, 02/10/23 and Saturday, 02/11/23
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/

Cost:  Free

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Saturday, February 11  6:30pm– 8:30pm
In-person
 
Starry Nights Star Party 
San Jose Astronmical Association
4289 Casa Loma Rd
Morgan Hill, CA 95037


The San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) is proud to work with the Open Space Authority (OSA) to co-host a public star party at Rancho Canada del Oro (RCDO)

Website:  https://www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy/events/291105812/

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Saturday, Februry 11
Sunset: 5:44 PM
In-person

San Mateo Co. Astronomical Society
Crestview Park
1000 Crestview Drive 
San Carlos, CA

Public Star Partiesat 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