SJ Astronomy

San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) and the Pinnacles National Park are proud to jointly sponsor a Stargazing with Telescopes and Binoculars event to be held at the East Entrance of the Pinnacles National Park.

Spend the day at Pinnacles National Park, where the possibilities for discovery are limitless! Climbing and hiking among the breathtaking spires and rock formations that gave Pinnacles its name, is only the beginning of what the park has to offer. Come seek out the California Condor in the high peaks.

When it begins to get dark, come look at the night sky from this truly dark site. Observe deep sky objects such as The Lagoon Nebula, The Butterfly Cluster using the telescopes and Binoculars that will be setup by our docents or just enjoy the Summer Milky Way or even a few late Perseids. It's a truly amazing experience that you will not soon forget!

If you own binoculars, please do bring them and we will teach you how to spot a few objects by yourselves, but PLEASE DO NOT BRING TELESCOPES as the spaces are already filled by our docents who are hosting the star party.

The Pinnacles National Park fee is $30 per car and must be purchased online at the following Link. The Visitor Station closes at 5pm, but you can arrive later. When you arrive, park your car and there should be staff and signs to guide you to the amphitheater where the program will start. The program will start promptly at 8:30 PM. Please do not be late.

As the weather is always changing, please check back here on the day of the event for more info, in case bad weather causes us to cancel it.

Dos
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1. This is a family friendly event, and although younger children are welcome, this activity is best suited for children aged 5 years and older.
2. Give yourself extra time to get down there and park. The weekends can have more traffic through the Gilroy to Hollister part of the trip.
3. It can get cool in the evenings so bring extra layers to keep you warm just in case
4. Do bring binoculars if you have them.
5. Leave no trash, stay on designated paths, and protect the natural environment.
6. Ask a lot of questions. We Astronomers love to share !

Don'ts
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1. Do not bring your own telescope (binoculars are welcome).
2. Please do not bring bright lights or white flashlights. They will ruin your night vision and everyone's ability to see the night sky objects.
3. Please do not touch the telescopes or eyepieces without checking with the Astronomers.
4. Do not shine any light (white or red) on the telescopes
5. No smoking and no pets.
6. No flash photography.

The talk will be presented by Carl Svensson. Carl is not a professional astronomer, but an avid star-gazer and astrophotographer. He joined SJAA in 2017 after receiving his first telescope (a Celestron NexStar 8SE) as a birthday gift from his wife. Since then, he's been involved with various volunteer astronomy events with SJAA, including Starry Nights and solar observing. You can see some of his astrophotos here: https://www.astrobin.com/users/csvensson/. He currently serves as the Ephemeris Editor and Vice-President as well.

Many of SJAA’s events, like this one, are public and free to attend, but if you’re enjoying what SJAA has to offer, consider becoming a paid member for only $20 per year: https://www.sjaa.net/membership/benefits-of-membership-2/

This event is an on-line Zoom event, complementing our in-person events in Houge Park.

About the film:
SMALL TOWN UNIVERSE explores life in Green Bank, West Virginia - a remote community located inside the National Radio Quiet Zone. Here, the use of wireless technologies such as cell phones and Wi-Fi is heavily restricted to prevent interference with the nearby Green Bank Telescope, the world's largest fully-steerable radio telescope.

The film follows four unique residents whose lives are intertwined with the town and its namesake telescope: a young woman dreaming of a career in astrophysics, a retired engineer reflecting on his legacy, a longtime local rooted in Green Bank's history, and a newcomer embracing life off-the-grid.

As federal funding hangs in the balance, their futures are inextricably tied to the survival of this scientific marvel and the Quiet Zone that makes it all possible.

About the film-maker:
Katie Dellamaggiore lives is Brooklyn, NY and has been involved in film-making for more than 20 years as a producer and director. Her previous director credits include Brooklyn Castle, The Virus Hunt, and several TV series. You can find more information about her, including an upcoming film titled "Queen's Castle", at
https://www.rescuedmedia.com/

About the event:
Many of SJAA’s events, like this one, are public and free to attend, but if you’re enjoying what SJAA has to offer, consider becoming a paid member for only $20 per year: https://www.sjaa.net/membership/benefits-of-membership-2/