Special Events
In addition to our monthly meetings, we also have a number of other regular activities:
School Star Parties
These are held on request of schools in Sonoma County. We provide an introductory in-class PowerPoint Presentation, and then several of the club members will bring telescopes to the school for night sky viewing. There is no charge for a School Star party, but they are on a "first come, first serve" basis. Contact Activities@sonomaskies.org for more information.
Yosemite Star Party
Sponsored by the National Park and held on a summer weekend at Glacier Point. The date will be announced in late Spring. Please note that this activity is for SCAS members only.
Sidewalk Astronomy Public Outreach Events
We occasionally set up our telescopes on city sidewalks around Sonoma County to offer a view of the night sky to the lucky folks who happen to walk by. This is in the spirit of the original San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers. These viewings are listed in our monthly newsletter and on the Events page.
Community Activities, Public Outreach, and Schools
One of the stated purposes of the Sonoma County Astronomical Society is to: “foster interest in astronomy and telescope making.” Throughout each year volunteers from our organization will bring their personal telescopes and binoculars to a location and provide what we call “a Star Party” for schools or private groups of interested individuals who request this service. In addition to evening telescope viewing, certain of our volunteers can provide a classroom or group slide show presentation or hands-on activity, either in conjunction with a star party or as an informational discussion without telescope viewing. In the spirit of the original San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers we also do “sidewalk astronomy” on what is known as Astronomy Day in the spring of each year, where volunteers will set up their telescopes in public areas various places around the county and invite passers-by to view the moon, planets, and other objects. We also will do this when an unusual phenomenon, such as a bright comet or lunar eclipse is in the sky. Club volunteers also participate at Santa Rosa Junior College’s DAY UNDER THE OAKS, and other public gatherings.
No fee is charged for these services, however, it is not uncommon for private groups to offer our volunteers dinner or some token of appreciation.
For further information or to inquire about available dates for a star party, and/or an informational presentation contact Activities@sonomaskies.org
Page last modified December 1, 2009