Friday, 11/29/24 9PM-11PM for night observing and Saturday 11/30/24 10AM-12 Noon for solar observing
In-person

The Foothill Observatory is open again!

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,  11/29/24 and Saturday 11/30/24 
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, 11/30/24
06:00 PM - 08:00 PM

In-person

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

Family Astronomy: Discovering the Whole New Worlds of Exoplanets

Create a new holiday tradition full of fun and learning??" bring the family together with an interactive and engaging astronomy workshop designed for curious minds. Explore the wonders of exoplanets??"distant, mysterious worlds beyond our solar system??"through hands-on activities perfect for families with children ages 6-12. Led by our expert staff and enthusiastic high school Galaxy Explorers, this interactive experience will spark curiosity and excitement for space exploration. Don’t miss out on the holiday magic. Hot chocolate and snacks will be provided. Bonus telescope viewings with Chabot astronomers on our observation deck and domes.

For Families with Children 6+

Website: https://chabotspace.org/calendar/family-astronomy-discovering-the-whole-new-worlds-of-exoplanets/

Cost:  $25 Adults, $15 Youth

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Saturday, 11/30/24 
Sunset: 4:51 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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Monday, 12/02/24
07:30 PM - 09:00 PM

In-person

Benjamin Dean Astronomy Lecture

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

An Exploration of the Milky Way: Our Cosmic Home

Our Universe is made up of many billions of galaxies, yet astronomers are still trying to figure out how they form, evolve, and assemble themselves. The question of how and when galaxies??"including our own??"take shape across cosmic time is among the most fundamental in modern astronomy. But the answer still eludes us. One of the best ways to answer this question is to explore our home galaxy, the Milky Way, which is made up of some 200 billion stars??"and is the optimal laboratory for answering the questions of galaxy formation because, to date, it is one of the only systems where we can obtain detailed and precise data on the positions, motions, and chemical compositions of billions of individual stars. Using our own galaxy as a sandbox for exploring galaxy assembly is the essence of galactic archaeology. In this talk, Dr. Keith Hawkins will take us on a journey through our own galaxy and explore how we can use state-of-the-art data from large-scale missions??"visualized in the planetarium??"to chart the Milky Way’s structure and assembly over the last 10 billion years.

Speaker: Dr Keith Hawkins, University of Texas, Austin

Website: https://www.calacademy.org/events/benjamin-dean-astronomy-lectures/an-exploration-of-the-milky-way-our-cosmic-home

Cost:  $15 General, $12 Members & Seniors