6:30 pm to 9:30 pm

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm

Location:
Balboa Park (map)
El Prado & Village Pl, San Diego, CA

At dusk on the first Wednesday of each month, following the monthly “Sky Tonight” planetarium show in the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater, members of the SDAA set up telescopes west of the Fleet on The Prado, for free public sky viewing.

The Mars Society San Diego and the San Diego Space Society set up displays near the telescopes. Stop by and say hello, or contact events@sdspace.org if you’re interested in volunteering.

On Saturday, October 16th, Derek Nye and several SD Space members led a telescope building workshop at the Space Activities Lab in South Park. Five students attended the free hands-on activity, the second in a series offered by SD Space.

Before starting the build project, the students learned about telescopes from Phil Blanco, a local astronomy professor and Project ASTRO leader. They talked about how telescopes work, Galileo’s discoveries with them 400 years ago, and the kinds of things one could see with the Galileoscope (which has far better optics than Galileo’s telescope!).

After completing their new telescopes, everyone had fun trying them out in the lab, and then looking up and down the street. With a telescope mount – such as a camera tripod, some of the night time objects that can be observed in the next couple of weeks include: craters on our Moon, Jupiter and its moons, and even a special appearance by comet Hartley 2. We’ll be getting together at the Emporium soon to do just that when we have a clear night.

Contact projects@sdspace.org if you’d like to participate, or if you’re interested in attending future workshops.

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Location:
MiraCosta College (directions)
Oceanside, CA

Observing at MiraCosta College is always free and open to all ages!

Bring yourself, dressed appropriately for cold weather, and feel free to stay for as little or as long as you like. Regular star parties are scheduled for the first weekend (Friday and Saturday) of the month during the long semesters.

Please understand that astronomical observing is weather-dependent. Check the MiraCosta Astronomy website for updates.

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Location:
MiraCosta College (directions)
Oceanside, CA

Observing at MiraCosta College is always free and open to all ages!

Bring yourself, dressed appropriately for cold weather, and feel free to stay for as little or as long as you like. Regular star parties are scheduled for the first weekend (Friday and Saturday) of the month during the long semesters.

Please understand that astronomical observing is weather-dependent. Check the MiraCosta Astronomy website for updates.

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Location:
MiraCosta College (directions)
Oceanside, CA

Observing at MiraCosta College is always free and open to all ages!

Bring yourself, dressed appropriately for cold weather, and feel free to stay for as little or as long as you like. Regular star parties are scheduled for the first weekend (Friday and Saturday) of the month during the long semesters.

Please understand that astronomical observing is weather-dependent. Check the MiraCosta Astronomy website for updates.

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Location:
MiraCosta College (directions)
Oceanside, CA

Observing at MiraCosta College is always free and open to all ages!

Bring yourself, dressed appropriately for cold weather, and feel free to stay for as little or as long as you like. Regular star parties are scheduled for the first weekend (Friday and Saturday) of the month during the long semesters.

Please understand that astronomical observing is weather-dependent. Check the MiraCosta Astronomy website for updates.

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Presentation:
Invasion from Earth –
The Robotic Exploration of Mars

Mars is a very busy place for exploration these days with the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, 2001 Mars Odyssey and ESA’s Mars Express in Martian orbit, and the two Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, still on the surface of the red planet. We’ll look at all the different robotic craft and their missions, as well as the next several planned missions by the spacefaring nations of Earth.

With Gerry Williams and The Mars Society-San Diego, at 1:00pm in the Eaton Room at the Town & Country Resort Hotel at 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego CA 92108.

This is a presentation of the CONJECTURE SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION.  For more information, please visit:

http://2010.conjecture.org/

3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Presentation:
Humans to Mars – How We’ll Get There

It has been 38 years since we last stepped foot on the Moon, and Mars is beckoning to us. Plans are bring laid right now to return to the moon and go on to set foot on the Red Planet. Take a look at all the current plans for exploring and eventually colonizing Mars.

With Gerry Williams and The Mars Society-San Diego, at 3:00pm in the Eaton Room at the Town & Country Resort Hotel at 500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego CA 92108.

This is a presentation of the CONJECTURE SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION.  For more information, please visit:

http://2010.conjecture.org/

12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Location:
Space Travelers Emporium (map)
1947 30th St. San Diego, CA 92102

Interested in building something? Get together with other SD Space members to work on space-related projects.

This month’s Saturday build session includes a special Galileoscope building workshop.

Telescopes greatly expanded our understanding of the universe when Galileo Galilee, the famed Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher, refined the telescope optics building one with 3x power in 1609, eventually reaching more than 30x. Soon after, he discovered four moons orbited Jupiter, that Saturn had rings and Venus had phases, like our own Moon. With this kit, you’ll be able to build your own telescope and make amazing discoveries in your own back yard.

Members and the public are welcome to attend, but please register early to receive a free Galileoscope kits. RSVP to events@sdspace.org to participate.

The Galileoscope mounts to a camera tripod, so telescope builders, bring one with you to test your new scope when it’s completed.

Note: We recommend that parents participate with their children; children
under 10 must have a parent present for the entire workshop.

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Location:
MiraCosta College (directions)
Oceanside, CA

Observing at MiraCosta College is always free and open to all ages!

Bring yourself, dressed appropriately for cold weather, and feel free to stay for as little or as long as you like. Regular star parties are scheduled for the first weekend (Friday and Saturday) of the month during the long semesters.

Please understand that astronomical observing is weather-dependent. Check the MiraCosta Astronomy website for updates.