Upcoming Events

Events are open to all members and the general public. Sign up for email event updates by registering with Night Sky Network.

Most of our events happen at the Chabot Space and Science Center. Get directions here.

Next General Meeting

(Note that this meeting will be hybrid, in-person and on zoom/facebook. Our speaker will join us IN PERSON in Classroom 3 & 4 / Kepler-Copernicus), as well as in our on-line meeting.

Meeting will be held at the Chabot Space and Science Center Classroom 4 (the Room formerly known as Copernicus). Please enter through the side gate along the back road of the facility.

Last year, California was treated to four — rare for California — auroral displays. Some of them were strong enough to be seen in the greater Bay Area. What causes them? How did they get this far south? Can you see the aurora with the naked eye? Where do the colors come from?

Marsha Kirschbaum, an avid astro-landscape and deep-scape photographer, will talk about some of the science of auroras and her experiences photographing the Aurora in Alaska and California. She will talk about the equipment she used; camera settings, and how to prepare for and protect your camera and body in the cold should one head north for an Aurora experience.

About the Speaker

Marsha Kirschbaum grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. As a child, she sat outdoors and drew pictures of the stars and night skies. Later, during a photography workshop, she discovered that she could photograph the night sky and has continued to aim her camera skyward after the sun has set whenever she has the opportunity. While Marsha has had no formal photography training, she has benefited from the mentorships and teachings of friends and workshops. Her husband, Howard Brainen, a skilled photographer in his own right, has guided Marsha along in her photographic journey. Her image of Comet Panstaars was shortlisted in the 2013 Royal Observatory Greenwich Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition. Her night sky photography has been published in Bay Nature Magazine, Marin Magazine and most recently San Diego Magazine. She is currently a member of the Berkeley Camera Club.

Telescope Makers’ Workshop

The Telescope Maker’s Workshop is one of few regularly scheduled such workshops in the world! Every Friday from 7 to 10 PM, amateur telescope makers from the bay area meet at the Chabot Space & Science Center and learn how to grind, shape, polish, and figure mirrors for reflecting telescopes, under the guidance of EAS volunteers. The workshop is free; participants pay only for the mirror blanks and grinding tools, which generally cost between $100-$300, depending on the size of the mirror. All the instruction, grinding grit, testing equipment, and camaraderie is free of charge! For more information, email Richard Ozer at [email protected], or come by the workshop any Friday to see what it’s all about.

Outreach

EAS sends volunteers to schools, libraries, and anywhere curious aspiring astronomers gather. EAS volunteers bring their own equipment or borrow telescopes. Students, parents, and teachers are always thrilled to look through the telescopes and ask questions. You’ll meet all sorts of interesting people and provide a unique and inspiring experience to kids and parents who may have never looked through a telescope before.

Inquire about and request visits by e-mailing EAS Outreach Coordinator Raymond Howard at [email protected]. Visit our outreach page to find out about upcoming events.

Members Only Viewing Nights (MOVN)

Once a quarter, we schedule a Members Only Viewing Night at the Chabot Telescope Deck for both EAS and Chabot members. This is our opportunity to look through Chabot’s historic instruments and research telescope, as well as bring our own equipment to share in a more quiet venue. The schedule for MOVN will appear in the event calendar below.

Fall Calstar

Spring Calstar 2024 is scheduled for May 1 – May 5 at Lake San Antonio. For more information visit https://calstar.observers.org/

Header photo by EAS member Alan Roche.