Just a quick reminder that our CCAS Public Star Party is 8 PM TONIGHT at Santa Margarita Lake Park, Marina / Boat Launch Parking Lot.

This is a family-friendly outdoor event. We’ll have telescopes, a guided tour of the night sky, and plenty of time to enjoy the stars together.

A few reminders:

• Please arrive before dark (sunset is 8:20 PM)

• Bring warm layers, binoculars if you have them, and a chair or blanket

• Use only dim red lights after dark, no white flashlights or bright phone screens (there is no internet or power on site)

• Please leave pets at home

As always, this event is weather-dependent, so keep an eye out for any updates (check website) before heading out. We hope to see you under the stars tonight!

Clear skies,

Aurora
Central Coast Astronomy Society
www.CentralCoastAstronomy.org

We have a public dark sky star party this Saturday at Santa Margarita Lake Park, August 8, 2026, weather permitting.

Location:
Our stargazing site is located in the parking lot of the marina and boat launch at Santa Margarita Lake Park (SMLP). The park is approximately 8 miles south of the town of Santa Margarita, off of Pozo Road.

Address: 4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.

Please see their website for more information on the park: slocountyparks.com/camp/santa-margarita-lake/

Arriving at the park:
We highly recommend that you arrive before dark! Our permit allows for setting up one hour before sunset, but no sooner.

Once you arrive at the park entrance kiosk, inform the Ranger that you are a CCAS member arriving for our ”Star Party”. You will be given access at no charge (provided your arrival time is reasonably close to sunset). Ask for directions or simply proceed straight ahead and down the hill 1/4 mile to where the road flattens out at the very wide marina parking lot entrance. Our star party will be located at the parking lot of the marina and boat launch.

Telescope area:
The telescope area is at the south end of the parking lot beyond the San Luis Rowing Club building.

Telescope operators: Please park vehicles in two rows, ensuring that a clear lane remains open on either side of the equipment & vehicles.

Attendees not setting up telescopes: Please park in the northern half of the parking lot with headlights facing towards the parking lot exit and away from the telescope zone.

Star Party Etiquette and Guidelines:
We ask that everyone adhere to some basic CCAS and SLO County Parks Department guidelines:

No white lights after dark

White lights ruin night vision and make it harder for everyone to see through telescopes. Please use only dim red lights after dark.

This includes:

• Flashlights

• Phone screens

• Car headlights!!!

• Interior car lights

If you arrive after dark, please dim your lights as much as possible before approaching the group.

No children under 6 years

We love kids! However, there will be expensive telescope equipment, cables, tripods, and people walking in low light. For everyone’s safety, we ask that families not bring children under 6 years to the telescope area. Older children are very welcome with adult supervision.

No animals

Please leave pets and animals at home. While we love pets, this helps us avoid tripping hazards, equipment damage, and distractions in the dark. Thank you for understanding!

No alcohol, smoking, or vaping

Alcohol, smoking, and vaping are not permitted at CCAS stargazing activities.

Be careful around telescopes

Please do not touch telescopes unless the telescope operator invites you to. Many scopes are carefully aligned, and even a small bump can move them off target.

Thank you for helping us make this a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable evening for everyone!

Hope to see you there!

Aurora
Central Coast Astronomical Society

Just a quick reminder that our CCAS Public Star Party is tonight, Friday, July 17th, at 8:30 PM at Santa Margarita Lake Park, Marina / Boat Launch Parking Lot.

This is a family-friendly outdoor event. We’ll have telescopes, a guided tour of the night sky, and plenty of time to enjoy the stars together.

We will also have a potluck picnic for CCAS Club Members starting at 7 PM. Please bring your own food and beverages, and enjoy time connecting with other club members before we begin a warm summer night of stargazing together.

A few reminders:

• Please arrive before dark (sunset is 8:20 PM)

• Bring warm layers, binoculars if you have them, and a chair or blanket

• Use only dim red lights after dark, no white flashlights or bright phone screens (there is no internet or power on site)

• Please leave pets at home

As always, this event is weather-dependent, so keep an eye out for any updates (check website) before heading out. We hope to see you under the stars tonight!

Clear skies,

Aurora
Central Coast Astronomy Society
www.CentralCoastAstronomy.org

Due to the weather, our public star party scheduled for tomorrow, at Santa Margarita Lake Park, has been moved to next Friday, July 17th, at 8:30 PM

We will also have a potluck picnic for CCAS Club Members starting at 7 PM. Please bring your own food and beverages, and enjoy time connecting with other club members before we begin a warm summer night of stargazing together.

Location:
Our stargazing site is located in the parking lot of the marina and boat launch at Santa Margarita Lake Park (SMLP). The park is approximately 8 miles south of the town of Santa Margarita, off of Pozo Road.

Address: 4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.

Please see their website for more information on the park: slocountyparks.com/camp/santa-margarita-lake/

Arriving at the park:
We highly recommend that you arrive before dark!

Once you arrive at the park entrance kiosk, inform the Ranger that you are arriving for our CCAS “Star Party”. You will be given access at no charge (providing your arrival time is reasonably close to sunset). Ask for directions or simply proceed straight ahead and down the hill 1/4 mile to where the road flattens out at the very wide marina parking lot entrance. Our star party will be located at the parking lot of the marina and boat launch.

We hope to see you there!

We have a public dark sky star party this Saturday at Santa Margarita Lake Park (July 11, 2026), weather permitting.

We will also have a potluck picnic for CCAS Club Members starting at 7 PM. Please bring your own food and beverages, and enjoy time connecting with other club members before we begin a warm summer night of stargazing together.

Location:
Our stargazing site is located in the parking lot of the marina and boat launch at Santa Margarita Lake Park (SMLP). The park is approximately 8 miles south of the town of Santa Margarita, off of Pozo Road.

Address: 4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.

Please see their website for more information on the park: slocountyparks.com/camp/santa-margarita-lake/

Arriving at the park:
We highly recommend that you arrive before dark! Our permit allows for setting up one hour before sunset, but no sooner than that.

Once you arrive at the park entrance kiosk, inform the Ranger that you are a CCAS member arriving for our ”Star Party”. You will be given access at no charge (providing your arrival time is reasonably close to sunset). Ask for directions or simply proceed straight ahead and down the hill 1/4 mile to where the road flattens out at the very wide marina parking lot entrance. Our star party will be located at the parking lot of the marina and boat launch.

Telescope area:
The telescope area is at the south end of the parking lot beyond the San Luis Rowing Club building.

Telescope operators: Please park vehicles in two rows, ensuring that a clear lane remains open on either side of the equipment & vehicles.

Attendees not setting up telescopes: Please park in the northern half of the parking lot with headlights facing towards the parking lot exit and away from the telescope zone.

Star Party Etiquette and Guidelines:
We ask that everyone adhere to some basic CCAS and SLO County Parks Department guidelines:

No white lights after dark

White lights ruin night vision and make it harder for everyone to see through telescopes. Please use only dim red lights after dark.

This includes:

• Flashlights

• Phone screens

• Car headlights!!!

• Interior car lights

If you arrive after dark, please dim your lights as much as possible before approaching the group.

No children under 6 years

We love kids! However, there will be expensive telescope equipment, cables, tripods, and people walking in low light. For everyone’s safety, we ask that families not bring children under 6 years to the telescope area. Older children are very welcome with adult supervision.

No animals

Please leave pets and animals at home. While we love pets, this helps us avoid tripping hazards, equipment damage, and distractions in the dark. Thank you for understanding!

No alcohol, smoking, or vaping

Alcohol, smoking, and vaping are not permitted at CCAS stargazing activities.

Be careful around telescopes

Please do not touch telescopes unless the telescope operator invites you to. Many scopes are carefully aligned, and even a small bump can move them off target.

Thank you for helping us make this a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable evening for everyone!

Hope to see you there!

Aurora
Central Coast Astronomical Society

Just a quick reminder that our CCAS Public Star Party is tonight, Saturday, June 13, at 8:30 PM at Santa Margarita Lake Park, Marina / Boat Launch Parking Lot.

This is a family-friendly outdoor event. We’ll have telescopes, a guided tour of the night sky, and plenty of time to enjoy the stars together.

A few reminders:

• Please arrive before dark (sunset is 8:20pm)

• Bring warm layers, binoculars if you have them, and a chair or blanket

• Use only dim red lights after dark, no white flashlights or bright phone screens (there is no internet or power on site)

• Please leave pets at home

As always, this event is weather-dependent, so keep an eye out for any updates (check website) before heading out. We hope to see you under the stars tonight!

Clear skies,
Aurora

Central Coast Astronomy Society
www.CentralCoastAstronomy.org

We have a public dark sky star party this Saturday at Santa Margarita Lake Park (June 13, 2026), weather permitting. Please remember that our permit allows for setting up one hour before sunset, but no sooner than that.

Something new: CCAS members can now request eyepieces, red-dot finders, and 7×50 binoculars from our new Club Eyepiece & Binocular Try-It Kit to use at upcoming star parties. If you’d like to compare different eyepieces, try a wider field of view, or test gear before buying your own, please request the item in advance so we know what to bring. Equipment will be available for supervised use during the event and returned before the end of the evening. Info here: https://www.centralcoastastronomy.org/club-eyepiece-kits

Location:
Our stargazing site is located in the parking lot of the marina and boat launch at Santa Margarita Lake Park (SMLP). The park is approximately 8 miles south of the town of Santa Margarita, off of Pozo Road.

Address: 4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.

Please see their website for more information on the park: slocountyparks.com/camp/santa-margarita-lake/

Arriving at the park:
We highly recommend that you arrive before dark! Our permit allows for setting up one hour before sunset, but no sooner than that.

Once you arrive at the park entrance kiosk, inform the Ranger that you are a CCAS member arriving for our ”Star Party”. You will be given access at no charge (providing your arrival time is reasonably close to sunset.) Ask for directions or simply proceed straight ahead and down the hill 1/4 mile to where the road flattens out at the very wide marina parking lot entrance. Our star party will be located at the parking lot of the marina and boat launch.

Telescope area:
The telescope area is at the south end of the parking lot beyond the San Luis Rowing Club building.

Telescope operators: Please park vehicles in two rows, ensuring that a clear lane remains open on either side of the equipment & vehicles.

Attendees not setting up telescopes: Please park in the northern half of the parking lot with headlights facing towards the parking lot exit and away from the telescope zone.

Groups: If you have a group of eight or more people, instead of attending a star party, please consider Contacting Us to arrange a custom outreach event.

Star Party Etiquette and Guidelines:
We ask that everyone adhere to some basic CCAS and SLO County Parks Department guidelines:

• Consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted at CCAS stargazing activities

• No smoking or vaping in the vicinity of the telescopes. Park rules prohibit smoking within 30 feet of any structure, parked boat, trailer, or RV. Fire danger due to dry vegetation can be extreme. Smoking materials must be completely extinguished and safely disposed of in a proper receptacle.

• It is imperative to avoid trip hazards around the telescopes and adjacent areas. Please stow loading ramps and equipment cases inside your vehicle or under tables and tripods. For the safety of your equipment and park visitors, we recommend marking tripod feet with glow sticks, glow-in-the-dark tape or subtle red illumination.

• No white lights after dark. Please use only the minimum dim red light necessary for safety or equipment adjustment. Computer screens should be covered with a red filter or completely shielded on all sides within a box-like housing.

• Please use laser pointers sparingly. Never point a laser at the ground, a person, or an aircraft. Prolonged use of lasers for pointing at objects in the sky or aiming optical equipment is bad star party etiquette and detracts from the enjoyment of the night sky by others.

P.S. Please note: if you’re trying to reach Aurora directly, send her an email at aurora@destinysuccess.com for all astronomy club communication. This will help ensure that she doesn’t miss any of your messages and can respond promptly. Please update your address book with this new email. Thank you, and we look forward to staying in touch with you about our upcoming meetings, star parties, and events!

We have a public dark sky star party TODAY at Santa Margarita Lake Park (Saturday, May 16th at 8 PM). Please remember that our permit allows us to set up one hour before sunset, but no earlier than that.

Location:
Our stargazing site is located in the parking lot of the marina and boat launch at Santa Margarita Lake Park (SMLP). The park is approximately 8 miles south of the town of Santa Margarita, off of Pozo Road.

Address: 4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.

Please see their website for more information on the park: slocountyparks.com/camp/santa-margarita-lake/

Arriving at the park:
We highly recommend that you arrive before dark!

Once you arrive at the park entrance kiosk, inform the Ranger that you are arriving for our CCAS “Star Party”. You will be given access at no charge (providing your arrival time is reasonably close to sunset.) Ask for directions or simply proceed straight ahead and down the hill 1/4 mile to where the road flattens out at the very wide marina parking lot entrance. Our star party will be located at the parking lot of the marina and boat launch.

We hope to see you there!

We have a public dark sky star party this Saturday at Santa Margarita Lake Park (May 16, 2026), weather permitting. Please remember that our permit allows for setting up one hour before sunset, but no sooner than that.

(Also, we have two spots left for our Mount Wilson trip this weekend. Please contact Aurora (aurora@destinysuccess.com) if you’d like to join us!)

Location:
Our stargazing site is located in the parking lot of the marina and boat launch at Santa Margarita Lake Park (SMLP). The park is approximately 8 miles south of the town of Santa Margarita, off of Pozo Road.

Address: 4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.

Please see their website for more information on the park: slocountyparks.com/camp/santa-margarita-lake/

Arriving at the park:
We highly recommend that you arrive before dark! Our permit allows for setting up one hour before sunset, but no sooner than that.

Once you arrive at the park entrance kiosk, inform the Ranger that you are a CCAS member arriving for our ”Star Party”. You will be given access at no charge (providing your arrival time is reasonably close to sunset.) Ask for directions or simply proceed straight ahead and down the hill 1/4 mile to where the road flattens out at the very wide marina parking lot entrance. Our star party will be located at the parking lot of the marina and boat launch.

Telescope area:
The telescope area is at the south end of the parking lot beyond the San Luis Rowing Club building.

Telescope operators: Please park vehicles in two rows, ensuring that a clear lane remains open on either side of the equipment & vehicles.

Attendees not setting up telescopes: Please park in the northern half of the parking lot with headlights facing towards the parking lot exit and away from the telescope zone.

Groups: If you have a group of eight or more people, instead of attending a star party, please consider Contacting Us to arrange a custom outreach event.

Star Party Etiquette and Guidelines:
We ask that everyone adhere to some basic CCAS and SLO County Parks Department guidelines:

• Consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted at CCAS stargazing activities

• No smoking or vaping in the vicinity of the telescopes. Park rules prohibit smoking within 30 feet of any structure, parked boat, trailer, or RV. Fire danger due to dry vegetation can be extreme. Smoking materials must be completely extinguished and safely disposed of in a proper receptacle.

• It is imperative to avoid trip hazards around the telescopes and adjacent areas. Please stow loading ramps and equipment cases inside your vehicle or under tables and tripods. For the safety of your equipment and park visitors, we recommend marking tripod feet with glow sticks, glow-in-the-dark tape or subtle red illumination.

• No white lights after dark. Please use only the minimum dim red light necessary for safety or equipment adjustment. Computer screens should be covered with a red filter or completely shielded on all sides within a box-like housing.

• Please use laser pointers sparingly. Never point a laser at the ground, a person, or an aircraft. Prolonged use of lasers for pointing at objects in the sky or aiming optical equipment is bad star party etiquette and detracts from the enjoyment of the night sky by others.

P.S. Please note: if you’re trying to reach Aurora directly, send her an email at aurora@destinysuccess.com for all astronomy club communication. This will help ensure that she doesn’t miss any of your messages and can respond promptly. Please update your address book with this new email. Thank you, and we look forward to staying in touch with you about our upcoming meetings, star parties, and events!

We have just 5 spots left for our overnight observing trip to Mount Wilson Observatory on May 17-18. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with the night sky in a deeper way!

What you’ll experience:

A rare opportunity to spend the entire night observing through the historic 60-inch telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory (the same telescope used by Edwin Hubble). This trip includes charter bus transportation and a private tour of the 60-inch, 100-inch, and solar telescopes.

Learn more and register here:

https://www.centralcoastastronomy.org/special-ccas-field-trip-to-mt-wilson-observatory/

Clear skies,
Aurora
Central Coast Astronomical Society

We have a public dark sky star party TODAY at Santa Margarita Lake Park (Saturday, April 18th at 7:30 PM). Please remember that our permit allows us to set up one hour before sunset, but no earlier than that.

Location:
Our stargazing site is located in the parking lot of the marina and boat launch at Santa Margarita Lake Park (SMLP). The park is approximately 8 miles south of the town of Santa Margarita, off of Pozo Road.

Address: 4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.

Please see their website for more information on the park: slocountyparks.com/camp/santa-margarita-lake/

Arriving at the park:
We highly recommend that you arrive before dark!

Once you arrive at the park entrance kiosk, inform the Ranger that you are arriving for our CCAS “Star Party”. You will be given access at no charge (providing your arrival time is reasonably close to sunset.) Ask for directions or simply proceed straight ahead and down the hill 1/4 mile to where the road flattens out at the very wide marina parking lot entrance. Our star party will be located at the parking lot of the marina and boat launch.

We hope to see you there!

We have a public dark sky star party this Saturday at Santa Margarita Lake Park (Saturday, April 18th at 7:30 PM). Please remember that our permit allows us to set up one hour before sunset, but no earlier than that.

Location:
Our stargazing site is located in the parking lot of the marina and boat launch at Santa Margarita Lake Park (SMLP). The park is approximately 8 miles south of the town of Santa Margarita, off of Pozo Road.

Address: 4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.

Please see their website for more information on the park: slocountyparks.com/camp/santa-margarita-lake/

Arriving at the park:
We highly recommend that you arrive before dark!

Once you arrive at the park entrance kiosk, inform the Ranger that you are arriving for our CCAS “Star Party”. You will be given access at no charge (providing your arrival time is reasonably close to sunset.) Ask for directions or simply proceed straight ahead and down the hill 1/4 mile to where the road flattens out at the very wide marina parking lot entrance. Our star party will be located at the parking lot of the marina and boat launch.

We hope to see you there!

Due to the weather, our public star party scheduled for tomorrow, at Santa Margarita Lake Park, has been moved to next Saturday, April 18th, at 7:30 PM

Location:
Our stargazing site is located in the parking lot of the marina and boat launch at Santa Margarita Lake Park (SMLP). The park is approximately 8 miles south of the town of Santa Margarita, off of Pozo Road.

Address: 4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.

Please see their website for more information on the park: slocountyparks.com/camp/santa-margarita-lake/

Arriving at the park:
We highly recommend that you arrive before dark!

Once you arrive at the park entrance kiosk, inform the Ranger that you are arriving for our CCAS “Star Party”. You will be given access at no charge (providing your arrival time is reasonably close to sunset.) Ask for directions or simply proceed straight ahead and down the hill 1/4 mile to where the road flattens out at the very wide marina parking lot entrance. Our star party will be located at the parking lot of the marina and boat launch.

We hope to see you there!

We have three great Central Coast Astronomy Society events coming up next week, and each one offers something a little different

NASA PUNCH Mission Talk at Cal Poly – April 8 (7–9 pm)

Join us at Cal Poly for a special evening with Dr. Sarah Gibson, Project Scientist for NASA’s PUNCH mission. This brand-new mission is giving scientists an entirely new way to see how the Sun’s outer atmosphere connects to the solar wind and affects Earth. You’ll get a look at the first images from the mission and learn how solar storms, auroras, and space weather impact satellites, communication systems, and even power grids. This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from a leading scientist working on a current NASA mission. Click the link above for map and details.

A Trip to the Center of Our Galaxy (Online only) – April 8 (11 am Pacific)

Earlier that same day, you can join us from home for a special live online talk with Dr. Anna Ciurlo, an astrophysicist at UCLA. She studies the extreme environment around the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. In this talk, you’ll learn how scientists know a black hole is there, what happens to stars and gas near it, and what these discoveries reveal about black holes across the universe. No background in astronomy is needed—just curiosity.

Dark Sky Star Party – April 11 (starting 7:30 pm)

Then on Saturday, join us in person under the night sky at Santa Margarita Lake. We’ll have telescopes set up so you can explore planets, star clusters, and deep-sky objects you can’t see from your backyard. Whether you’re brand new or have been observing for years, this is a relaxed, interactive way to experience astronomy.

We hope to see you at one (or all!) of these events.

Clear skies,
Aurora
Central Coast Astronomy Society

What we’ll be observing:
Open star clusters (Pleiades and the Beehive), multiple star clusters in Gemini, galaxies in Leo and Ursa Major, Jupiter’s cloud bands and moons, and deep-sky objects including Orion’s beautiful M42 Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy.

For CCAS Members: You do NOT need a ticket to attend this event if you are volunteering to help. Also, please join us for the Social Hour for this event! Since our April club meeting is cancelled due to the overlapping NASA PUNCH Mission talk with Dr. Gibson at Cal Poly, we wanted to have an opportunity for our members to connect, so this is it! Please join us by signing up to volunteer for this event at the Botanical Gardens (and get on the list for your day-use parking permit fees to be waived). Click here to sign up to volunteer.

Clear skies,
Aurora
Central Coast Astronomical Society

What we’ll be observing:
Open star clusters (Pleiades and the Beehive), multiple star clusters in Gemini, galaxies in Leo and Ursa Major, Jupiter’s cloud bands and moons, and deep-sky objects including Orion’s beautiful M42 Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy.

For CCAS Members: You do NOT need a ticket to attend this event if you are volunteering to help. Also, please join us for the Social Hour for this event! Since our April club meeting is cancelled due to the overlapping NASA PUNCH Mission talk with Dr. Gibson at Cal Poly, we wanted to have an opportunity for our members to connect, so this is it! Please join us by signing up to volunteer for this event at the Botanical Gardens (and get on the list for your day-use parking permit fees to be waived). Click here to sign up to volunteer.

Clear skies,
Aurora
Central Coast Astronomical Society

We have a public star party scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, at Santa Margarita Lake Park. (March 14, 2026 - weather permitting!)

Also, please don’t forget our LAST Astronomy night and Stargazing at the SLO Botanical Gardens on Saturday, March 21st! There are a few tickets available to the public, but CCAS volunteers don’t need a ticket. Please be sure to join us for the special members-only social hour starting at 5:30 PM!

Location:
Our stargazing site is located in the parking lot of the marina and boat launch at Santa Margarita Lake Park (SMLP). The park is approximately 8 miles south of the town of Santa Margarita, off of Pozo Road.

Address: 4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita, CA 93453.

Please see their website for more information on the park: slocountyparks.com/camp/santa-margarita-lake/

Arriving at the park:
We highly recommend that you arrive before dark!

Once you arrive at the park entrance kiosk, inform the Ranger that you are a CCAS member arriving for our ”Star Party”. You will be given access at no charge (providing your arrival time is reasonably close to sunset.)  Ask for directions or simply proceed straight ahead and down the hill 1/4 mile to where the road flattens out at the very wide marina parking lot entrance. Our star party will be located at the parking lot of the marina and boat launch.

Telescope area:
The telescope area is at the south end of the parking lot beyond the San Luis Rowing Club building.

Telescope operators: Please park vehicles in two rows, ensuring that a clear lane remains open on either side of the equipment & vehicles.

Attendees not setting up telescopes: Please park in the northern half of the parking lot with headlights facing towards the parking lot exit and away from the telescope zone. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Clear skies,

Central Coast Astronomical Society

We have three great opportunities coming up to get under the stars with fellow members — from a dark-sky star party to a social stargazing night and a special overnight trip to Mt. Wilson Observatory.

1. Dark Sky Star Party – Santa Margarita Lake

Saturday, March 14 • 7 PM (setup at 6 PM)

What we’ll be observing:
Jupiter and its moons, the Great Orion Nebula, star clusters in Gemini, the Beehive Cluster, and galaxies in Leo and Ursa Major.

Join us at our dark-sky site at Santa Margarita Lake Marina for a relaxed evening of observing. Bring a telescope if you have one, or just come enjoy the sky with other members.
Details: https://www.centralcoastastronomy.org/star-gazing

2. Astronomy Night + CCAS Member Social Hour

Friday, March 21 • Social Hour 5:30 – 6:30 PM • Stargazing 7:00–9:00 PM

What we’ll be observing:
Open star clusters (Pleiades and the Beehive), multiple star clusters in Gemini, galaxies in Leo and Ursa Major, Jupiter’s cloud bands and moons, and deep-sky objects including Orion’s beautiful M42 Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy.

Start the evening with a CCAS Social Hour, then enjoy our public Astronomy Night at the SLO Botanical Garden featuring deep-space objects.
Details and reservations:
https://www.centralcoastastronomy.org/astronomy-night-stargazing-at-the-slo-botanical-gardens-032826

For CCAS Members: You do NOT need a ticket to attend this event if you are volunteering to help. Also, please join us for the Social Hour for this event! Since our April club meeting is cancelled due to the overlapping NASA PUNCH Mission talk with Dr. Gibson at Cal Poly, we wanted to have an opportunity for our members to connect, so this is it! Please join us by signing up to volunteer for this event at the Botanical Gardens (and get on the list for your day-use parking permit fees to be waived). Click here to sign up to volunteer.

3. Mt. Wilson Overnight Observing Field Trip

May 17-18 • Registration Now Open

What you’ll experience:
Observing through the historic 60-inch telescope at Mt. Wilson — the same telescope used by Edwin Hubble — plus private tours of the 60-inch, 100-inch, and solar telescopes.

A rare opportunity to spend the entire night observing through the historic 60-inch telescope at Mt. Wilson Observatory. Space is limited to 25 people and includes charter bus transportation and a private tour of the 60-inch, 100-inch, and solar telescopes.
Register here:
https://www.centralcoastastronomy.org/special-ccas-field-trip-to-mt-wilson-observatory/

Whether you want a quiet night under dark skies, a fun social evening with fellow members, or a once-in-a-lifetime observing experience, we hope you’ll join us for one (or all!) of these events.

Clear skies,
Aurora
Central Coast Astronomical Society

Just a quick reminder for those who are signed up to join us!

The event itself is sold out, but volunteers do not need a ticket to attend. If you’re interested in helping, we would love to have you join us. No experience or telescope is required, and we still have volunteer spots available. (Email Aurora for more details!)

This 2-hour Astronomy Night session starts out with an educational presentation, followed by night sky viewing through various telescopes with astronomers, and a guided constellation tour. All sessions will take place regardless of weather or visibility; cloudy weather means hands-on activities, demonstrations, and poster talks indoors with astronomers after the educational presentation.

Clear skies and happy observing,

Aurora

President, Central Coast Astronomical Society

Due to excessive cloud cover, club leadership has decided to cancel tomorrow’s star party at Santa Margarita Lake Park. The event at the Botanical Gardens is happening rain or shine next Friday, February 27th, and if you'd like to help out, please send an email and let us know (as a reminder, no experience or telescope is required).

Yesterday, I taught a series of science classes (including astronomy) to my students online, and I thought you might like to take a peek! Feel free to share the astronomy class with your kids or grandkids this weekend, since our stargazing is cancelled. Simply click here to view the replay of our Supernovae and Black Holes lesson. Toward the bottom of the page, you’ll find several fun astronomy experiments and activities. The main class video looks like this:

Please feel free to check out the classes on our other topics as well!

We hope that you enjoy your weekend, and we’ll send an update on future events soon.

Sincerely,

Aurora Lipper
Central Coast Astronomical Society