Meet the President

Greetings, CCAS Friends!

I’m Aurora Lipper (yes, that’s my real name) and I’m honored to be serving as President of the Central Coast Astronomical Society this year. I’m a mechanical engineer, university instructor, pilot, lifelong science educator, astronomer, and proud mom of four. My incredibly wonderful husband bought me my first telescope about 20 years ago, and it’s been an adventure ever since.

I joined CCAS about 17 years ago and have loved being part of this community ever since… first as a member, later as newsletter editor, and now as president. What keeps me here is simple: I love astronomy, and I love helping people discover it. (Image below: I am holding a comet nucleus created during our Chemistry of Comets talk.)

A Little About Me & My Telescopes

Astronomy for me is both hands-on and deeply curious. I enjoy everything from casual observing to more advanced projects, and I’m always learning. My current lineup includes:

  • A Takahashi FS-152 refractor on a Losmandy G11 mount

  • A Televue NP101is on a ZWO AM5 mount (and sometimes on a wood Berlebach Uni 18)

  • Televue 85 refractor, perfect for backpacking!

  • An 8″ Meade LX200 SCT

  • An 8″ Orion SkyView Reflector

  • A Coronado double-stacked H-alpha solar scope

  • Binoculars I use constantly: Orion UltraView 10×50 and Oberwerk 25×100

Since moving to a ranch in SLO County, I’ve been spending about a couple of hours a week both solar observing and stargazing, sometimes planned, sometimes spontaneous.

Over the years, I’ve also built a backyard radio telescope from a 1-meter satellite dish, launched rockets (yes, indoors and outdoors), and taught hands-on physics, chemistry, and astronomy workshops for students around the world. I still believe the best way to learn science is by doing it.

What CCAS Means to Me

CCAS is made up of people from all walks of life, from busy parents, retirees, engineers, doctors, artists, students, professors… to casual stargazers and serious astrophotographers. Some members love star parties. Others love talks, outreach, imaging, or research. Many are just getting started.

My goal as president is to serve all of you.

You don’t have to do everything. You don’t have to know everything. There is room here for curiosity at every level.

Looking Ahead This Year

My top priority is making CCAS more useful, welcoming, and engaging for both longtime members and people who are just getting started in astronomy.

This year, you can expect:

  • Engaging astronomy talks, workshops, and hands-on learning opportunities
  • More beginner-friendly programs and telescope help clinics
  • Regular Celestial Observer newsletters and observing updates
  • Special observing nights, observatory visits, and other member-only experiences
  • More opportunities to learn from one another and share equipment, knowledge, and observing experience
  • More ways for members to help shape the programs and events CCAS offers

I’m especially excited about creating more opportunities for people to actually do astronomy, not just hear about it, whether that means looking through a telescope for the first time, learning how to use their own equipment, attending a dark-sky observing night, or diving deeper into a specific area of interest.

Astronomy Night at the SLO Botanical Gardens, perfect for beginners!

Public Outreach

CCAS has a long tradition of sharing the night sky with the community, and we’re committed to continuing that work. You don’t need a telescope or a science background to help. Outreach is about curiosity, connection, and wonder.

If you’re interested in volunteering at public events, we’d love to have you. The feedback we receive from families and first-time observers is consistently inspiring!

Member Perks

  • Quarterly Celestial Observer newsletter (PDF + archive)
  • Loaner telescopes, with guidance from friendly CCAS astronomers
  • Member-only opportunities including astrophotography, dark-sky trips, observatory visits, and research projects

Join Us at the Next Star Party!

Our next star party will be at Santa Margarita Lake Park, beginning about an hour before sunset. It’s a beautiful dark-sky site just eight miles from Santa Margarita. Check the CCAS calendar for dates and details, we’d love to see you there!

In Closing

Whether you’re brand new to astronomy or have been observing for decades, I’m excited to work alongside you this year. Please feel free to reach out by email, say hello at an event, or ask me for help finding your next celestial target.

We make this club great together, and I’m really looking forward to what we’ll build this year.

Clear skies,
Aurora Lipper
President, Central Coast Astronomical Society

P.S. If it’s been a while since your last star party, this is your sign to come out again. We’d love to see you!