Our next Star Party is on May 24th at Santa Margarita Lake Marina 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 [Read More…]
Curious about how to get the most out of your telescope (even if you don’t own one yet)? At our next Central Coast Astronomical Society meeting, Glen Smeltzer will be giving a friendly, hands-on talk about eyepieces—what they do, how they affect what you see, and how to choose the [Read More…]
Join us for an unforgettable evening with Gary Lopez, an award-winning astrophotographer whose breathtaking images have inspired countless stargazers. With decades of experience blending science and art, Gary will share his journey of capturing the wonders of the universe and his passion for connecting people with the night sky. Meeting [Read More…]
Help Share the Night Sky The Central Coast Astronomical Society is a volunteer-run organization. Our public events, stargazing nights, and educational programs are made possible by people who enjoy sharing astronomy with others. You don’t need to be an expert — just curious, friendly, and willing to help. How Volunteers [Read More…]
Wow – nothing says holiday gift more than a scientific instrument to look at the stars. The trouble is, most people are so excited about the instrument that they forget they still don’t know how to use it. A telescope is pretty useless unless you know where to point it, and [Read More…]
Don’t forget about the upcoming meteor shower! The moon’s minimal (yay!) and you don’t even need a telescope – just go outside and look up! Try to find a space away from city lights, and enjoy it with a friend.
A lunar month takes 29.53 days. This is the amount of time it takes for the Moon to complete a cycle through all the phases, from new moon to full moon and then back to new moon again. This is very close to the length of a month in the [Read More…]
A comet visiting from the most distant parts of our solar system is putting on a spectacular nighttime display. Named Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE, the comet made its once-in-our-lifetimes close approach to the Sun on July 3, 2020, and will cross outside Earth’s orbit on its way back to the [Read More…]
Our speaker for June is with a group of PhD students that transformed the Jefferson Rotunda into Planetarium for the public! Madeline Zehnder is a co-director of Rotunda Planetarium (http://www.rotundaplanetarium.org/) and a PhD candidate in the University of Virginia’s Department of English, where she studies 18th- and 19th-century American literature. Speaker [Read More…]
Orion gives you some great advice on what to consider when purchasing a pair of Binoculars by looking at the different factors like aperture, magnification, field of view, lens coatings, size and more so you can pick the pair that is best for your needs and budget.
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