Compiled by Ken Lum
Images from original email missing
=============================
Tuesday, 01/16/24 6:30 PM
Livestream
Astronomy on Tap
Astronomy on Tap Tucson #94: Pulsars and Poetry – Livestream
The Discovery of Pulsars: a Guide to Unidentified Blinking Objects
Speaker: Maria Mutz, University of Arizona
Space Travel by Words: Poetry About Up There, Down Here, and In Between
Speaker: Fuda Nguyen, University of Arizona
On tap this month, we have physics graduate student Maria Mutz talking about pulsars and other unidentified blinking objects, and Lunar and Planetary Laboratory graduate student Fuda Nguyen giving us an exclusive poetry reading! And you won’t want to miss the latest Astronomy in the News with Steward postdocs Jackie Champagne and Danny Krolikowski!
Attend at bit.ly/SpaceDrafts94
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWSZazd3RXY
Website: https://astronomyontap.org/event/astronomy-on-tap-tucson-94-pulsars-and-poetry/
Cost: Free
=============================
Tuesday, 01/16/24
07:30 PM – 09:30 PM
Livestream
San Jose Astronomical Society
Secrets of Award Winning Astrophotography – Livestream
Andy Campbell discusses all things Astro and awards, providing valuable insights into entering the highly competitive world of Astrophotography competitions. During the presentation, Andy delves deep into the world of astrophotography and explores tips and techniques that have led to award-winning entries. An experienced judge, Andy also highlights the judging criteria and offers practical advice to improve your astrophotography skills.
Register to receive connection information
Website: https://www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy/events/294830064/
Cost: Free
=============================
Wednesday, 01/17/24
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
In-person attendance is limited to staff and approved guests. The seminar will be presented in a hybrid format, you can register for the Zoom link here:
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Billionth of a billionth to billions of billions – measurements at (and beyond) the quantum mechanical limits – Livestream
Measurement is a concept that is so ubiquitous in any experimental science, as it is the only avenue through which we can understand the world, and beyond. In the last two decades, technological advances have allowed us to construct ever more precise sensors, to the point that we are now limited by the laws of quantum mechanics even when measuring systems at macroscopic scales. In this talk, I will describe two experiments I have worked on, that have leveraged lasers to preform measurements with exquisite precision. While these experiments (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory and optical tweezers) are aimed at advancing fundamental physics, I will also motivate why these techniques can be of interest to the broader scientific community.
Speaker: Gautam Venugopalan, Stanford University
Register at weblink to receive Zoom information
Website: https://www.mbari.org/event/gautam_venugopalam/
Cost: Free
=============================
Thursday, 01/18/24 6:30 PM
In-person
Humble Sea Brewing Co
Astronomy on Tap Santa Cruz: Voyage of Invisible Radio Wonders
Strap in for a ride with the Solar Wind as we explore the subtle ways in which human activities have sculpted some of the most energetic structures in our Solar System besides the Sun: Earth’s & Jupiter’s radiation belts. Beyond Jupiter, we’ll discover how surfing and volcanoes cross paths to create these curious belts that cocoon our planets in an invisible radio glow. As we head into the greater wilderness of space, we’ll meet the first example of a radiation belt outside of our Solar System. Finally, we’ll find a sea of brilliant radio lighthouses illuminating the cosmic matter between galaxies as a map to the treasure that we seek: answers to questions like “where did we come from?” and “how did the universe begin?”
Speakers: Lordrick Kahinga & Melodie Kao
Website: https://astronomyontap.org/event/astronomy-on-tap-santa-cruz-voyage-of-invisible-radio-wonders/
Cost: Free
=============================
Friday, 01/19/24
12:00 PM – 01:00 PM
In-person
Earth and Marine Sciences Building
UC Santa Cruz
Open Questions in the Structure and Composition of Gas Giants: From Jupiter to Hot Jupiters
Speaker: Jonathan Fortney
Website: https://eps.ucsc.edu/news-events/igpp-seminar/winter-2024.html
Cost: Free
=============================
Friday, 01/19/24 7:30 PM
Attend in person or online (see weblink)
Tri-Valley Stargazers
Unitarian Universalist Church
Livermore, CA 94551
Postcards from the Moon
The talk introduces the viewer to the evolution of the Moon’s face and its varied geology so a telescopic observer can be friends with the Moon and understand what they are seeing.
Speaker: Robert Reeves
Attend in person or online (see weblink)
Website: https://www.trivalleystargazers.org
For non-members if you would like to join the meeting, please send an email to the club president at [email protected] asking for the meeting link and telling us a bit about your areas of interest in astronomy.
Cost: Free
=============================
Friday, 1/19/24 7PM
In-person
Telescope Makers Workshop
Chabot Space and Science Center
The Chabot Telescope Maker’s workshop reopens! Chabot’s TMW is one of only a handful of regularly scheduled telescope making workshops in the U.S., and probably the world; it meets every Friday evening throughout the year, except Memorial Day weekend. It has been in operation since December of 1930, founded by Franklin B. Wright, and is currently run by Eastbay Astronomical Society member Rich Ozer, with help from other EAS members, Dave Barosso, Barry Leska, and others. The price of admission is FREE. All you have to do is show up, buy a mirror blank and a “tool” (typically around $100 – $200 depending on the size of the mirror) and start “pushin’ glass!” We supply you with instruction, the various grits you’ll need to first grind, and then polish and figure your mirror, and all the testing equipment needed. With a small bit of luck, you could wind up with a telescope that costs 1/3 or 1/4 the cost of a store-bought telescope, that is yet optically superior! It does take time – depending on how much time you put in on it, and other factors, it could take a few months.. But, it’s a fun project, great for kids, and at the end you get a great telescope!
Enter from the main loading dock behind the main building.
Please be prepared with proof of vaccination and a mask. These are
Chabot Rules, which we always must adhere to.
If you have a project, bring it with you so we can assess next steps.
You can also bring any other equipment or literature you may have
questions about.
For more information call or email Richard Ozer at richozer1@… or phone (510) 406-1914.
=============================
Friday, 1/19/2024 9PM-11PM for night observing and Saturday 1/20/2024
10AM-12 Noon for solar observing
In-person
Foothill Observatory is open again!
Foothill Observatory now Open EVERY clear Friday night and Saturday morning
The Foothill College Astronomy Department and Peninsula Astronomical Society (PAS) have reopened public viewing programs at Foothill College Observatory on:
· Every clear Friday night from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. for star gazing
· Every clear Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to noon for solar viewing
Since we are still dealing with COVID, we are adopting the following guidelines to enable safe operation of the Observatory for both our public visitors and our PAS operators. We ask that visitors please agree to complying with these guidelines before visiting the Observatory, and to direct any questions to info@….
ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
1. Full vaccination against COVID-19 is required to visit the Foothill College campus — This is a College requirement detailed on the Foothill College COVID-19 Behavioral Expectations page. So bring your vaccination certificate if possible.
2. Mask usage is required anytime visiting the Foothill College campus — This includes the Observatory, per the same college policy linked above in item 1.
3. The number of visitors allowed inside the Observatory is reduced — To avoid overcrowding within the limited space, please wait outside the observatory until a PAS telescope operator lets you and your group inside. Once your group is done viewing through the telescope, you will exit the Observatory so that a new group may enter.
Websites: https://foothill.edu/astronomy/observatory.html
=============================
Friday, 1/19/2024 and Saturday 1/20/2024
07:30 PM – 10:00 PM–Free telescope viewings are back!
In-person
Chabot Space and Science Center
Free Telescope Viewings
Join Chabot astronomers on the Observatory Deck for a free telescope viewing! Weather permitting, this is a chance to explore stars, planets and more through Chabot’s historic telescopes. Chabot’s three large historic telescopes offer a unique way to experience the awe and wonder of the Universe. Our observatory deck offers breathtaking views 1,500 feet above the Bay. Three observatory domes house the Center’s 8-inch (Leah, 1883) and 20-inch (Rachel, 1916) refracting telescopes, along with a 36-inch reflecting telescope (Nellie, 2003).
Are the skies clear for viewing tonight? Viewing can be impacted by rain, clouds, humidity and other weather conditions. Conditions can be unique to Chabot because of its unique location in Joaquin Miller Park. Before your visit, check out the Weather Station to see the current conditions at Chabot.
Website: https://chabotspace.org/events/events-listing/
=============================
Saturday, 01/20/24
05:20 PM – 08:20 PM
In-person
Editor’s Note: Location changed from Presidio Parade Grounds to Tunnel Top Park
City Star Parties – East Meadow, Tunnel Tops Park GGNRA
San Frnacisco Amateur Astronomers
East Meadow
San Francisco, CA 94129
City Public Star Party
Come join the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers for free public stargazing of the Moon, planets, globular clusters and more!
SFAA members with telescopes are encouraged to attend and share their views of the stars with the general public.
Dress warmly.
Rain, heavy fog and overcast skies cancel. Check the SFAA website for a cancellation notice before leaving for the star party.
Website: https://www.sfaa-astronomy.org/event-5529273
Cost: Free
=============================
Saturday, 01/20-21/24
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
In-person
Foothill College
Smithwick Theater
The Physics Show (three performaces)
The Physics Show is a fun science show for kids and their families. These will be the exact same shows that were presented in September, 2023
What is The Physics Show?: https://www.thephysicsshow.com/faq
Links to purchase tickets:
Saturday January 20, 2024 at 10:00 am-SOLD OUT
Saturday January 20, 2024 at 1:00 pm-SOLD OUT
Saturday January 20, 2024 at 3:30 pm-SOLD OUT
Sunday January 21, 2024 at 10:00 am-SOLD OUT
Sunday January 21, 2024 at 1:00 pm-SOLD OUT
Sunday January 21, 2024 at 3:30 pm-SOLD OUT
Tickets: $6.00
=============================
Thursday, 01/25/24 3:30 PM
In-person
Physics North
UC Berkeley
Room 1
Berkeley, CA 94720
Interstellar Interlopers
Speaker: David Jewitt, UC Los Angeles
Website: https://astro.berkeley.edu/news/events/astronomy-colloquium/
Cost: Free
=============================
Thursday, 01/25/24 6:00 PM
Livestream
Night Sky Network
Finding Aliens on Earth – Livestream
Finding life outside of Earth is one of the most interesting topics of Planetary Science. Is life possible on other planets? If so, on which ones? What would it be like, and what would they use as an energy source?
Speaker: Miguel Á Fernández, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain
Watch on YouTube here.
Cost: Free
=============================
Friday, 01/26/24
12:00 PM – 01:00 PM
In-person
Earth and Marine Sciences Building
UC Santa Cruz
Room A340
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Peering inside giant planets with giant laser dynamic compression experiments
Speaker: Marius Millot
Website: https://eps.ucsc.edu/news-events/igpp-seminar/winter-2024.html
Cost: Free
=============================
Friday, 1/26/24 7PM
In-person
Telescope Makers Workshop
Chabot Space and Science Center
The Chabot Telescope Maker’s workshop reopens! Chabot’s TMW is one of only a handful of regularly scheduled telescope making workshops in the U.S., and probably the world; it meets every Friday evening throughout the year, except Memorial Day weekend. It has been in operation since December of 1930, founded by Franklin B. Wright, and is currently run by Eastbay Astronomical Society member Rich Ozer, with help from other EAS members, Dave Barosso, Barry Leska, and others. The price of admission is FREE. All you have to do is show up, buy a mirror blank and a “tool” (typically around $100 – $200 depending on the size of the mirror) and start “pushin’ glass!” We supply you with instruction, the various grits you’ll need to first grind, and then polish and figure your mirror, and all the testing equipment needed. With a small bit of luck, you could wind up with a telescope that costs 1/3 or 1/4 the cost of a store-bought telescope, that is yet optically superior! It does take time – depending on how much time you put in on it, and other factors, it could take a few months.. But, it’s a fun project, great for kids, and at the end you get a great telescope!
Enter from the main loading dock behind the main building.
Please be prepared with proof of vaccination and a mask. These are
Chabot Rules, which we always must adhere to.
If you have a project, bring it with you so we can assess next steps.
You can also bring any other equipment or literature you may have
questions about.
For more information call or email Richard Ozer at richozer1@… or phone (510) 406-1914.
=============================
Friday, 1/26/2024 9PM-11PM for night observing and Saturday 1/27/2024
10AM-12 Noon for solar observing
In-person
Foothill Observatory is open again!
Foothill Observatory now Open EVERY clear Friday night and Saturday morning
The Foothill College Astronomy Department and Peninsula Astronomical Society (PAS) have reopened public viewing programs at Foothill College Observatory on:
· Every clear Friday night from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. for star gazing
· Every clear Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to noon for solar viewing
Since we are still dealing with COVID, we are adopting the following guidelines to enable safe operation of the Observatory for both our public visitors and our PAS operators. We ask that visitors please agree to complying with these guidelines before visiting the Observatory, and to direct any questions to info@….
ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
1. Full vaccination against COVID-19 is required to visit the Foothill College campus — This is a College requirement detailed on the Foothill College COVID-19 Behavioral Expectations page. So bring your vaccination certificate if possible.
2. Mask usage is required anytime visiting the Foothill College campus — This includes the Observatory, per the same college policy linked above in item 1.
3. The number of visitors allowed inside the Observatory is reduced — To avoid overcrowding within the limited space, please wait outside the observatory until a PAS telescope operator lets you and your group inside. Once your group is done viewing through the telescope, you will exit the Observatory so that a new group may enter.
Websites: https://foothill.edu/astronomy/observatory.html
=============================
Friday, 1/26/2024 and Saturday 1/27/2024
07:30 PM – 10:00 PM–Free telescope viewings are back!
In-person
Chabot Space and Science Center
Free Telescope Viewings
Join Chabot astronomers on the Observatory Deck for a free telescope viewing! Weather permitting, this is a chance to explore stars, planets and more through Chabot’s historic telescopes. Chabot’s three large historic telescopes offer a unique way to experience the awe and wonder of the Universe. Our observatory deck offers breathtaking views 1,500 feet above the Bay. Three observatory domes house the Center’s 8-inch (Leah, 1883) and 20-inch (Rachel, 1916) refracting telescopes, along with a 36-inch reflecting telescope (Nellie, 2003).
Are the skies clear for viewing tonight? Viewing can be impacted by rain, clouds, humidity and other weather conditions. Conditions can be unique to Chabot because of its unique location in Joaquin Miller Park. Before your visit, check out the Weather Station to see the current conditions at Chabot.
Website: https://chabotspace.org/events/events-listing/
=============================
Saturday, 01/27/24
09:00 AM – 01:00 PM
Livestream
Vera C Rubin Observatory
Coloring the Universe with Rubin Observatory – Online
Vera C. Rubin Observatory has developed a series of FREE online astronomy investigations using authentic data that provide rich and interactive experiences for students, from advanced middle school through college, covering topics commonly taught in introductory astronomy classes or units.
This webinar, hosted by the ASP, will unpack how to access and teach all of the components of the new Coloring the Universe investigation, which incorporates the topics of electromagnetic radiation, digital image processing, and using filters and color to discover and communicate some properties of stars and galaxies. The investigation is designed to support the three dimensional learning model of the Next Generation Science Standards.
Participants will work together to explore the investigation and phenomenon, and some assessment materials There will be opportunities to reflect and discuss with colleagues how this investigation may be adapted to work in your classroom contexts.
The 4-hour webinar begins at 12:00 pm EST/ 9:00 am PST on Saturday, January 27 and concludes at 4:00 pm EST / 1:00 pm PST. Rubin Observatory will provide certificates of participation to all who attend the live webinar. The session will be recorded for those who may have time conflicts.
Register at weblink
Cost: Free
=============================
Saturday, 01/27/24 7:30 PM
Attend in person or on Facebook
East Bay Astronomical Society
Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd
Classroom 4 formerly knows as Copernicus
Oakland, CA 94619
Lunar Landing Sites, Past and Future – Postponed
As we look back on the discoveries of the Apollo program, now more than fifty years ago, and stand on the verge of a new generation of lunar exploration through the Artemis Program, it is appropriate to reflect upon the sites chosen for lunar exploration. In this talk, we will look back at the Apollo landing sites, examine why they were chosen, and discuss what we learned from them. We will then look ahead to sites that have been identified for upcoming lunar exploration, both human and robotic. These sites each offer fascinating and compelling reasons for exploration. They will help answer key questions about the Moon and its history. Many will also facilitate a sustained human presence on the Moon.
The presentation will feature data gathered from many different instruments aboard a variety of spacecraft and made available through NASA’s Moon Trek online data visualization and analysis portal. The presentation will include an overview of using the portal so that audience members can follow and even become direct participants in this exciting new era of lunar exploration.
Speaker: Brian Day, NASA
Attend in person or on Facebook
This event was originally scheduled for November 11, 2023
Website: https://eastbayastro.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EastbayAstroSociety/videos/
Cost: Free
=============================
Tuesday, 01/30/24 3:30 PM
In-person
Hewlett Teaching Center
370 Jane Stanford Way, Room 201
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305
Extreme Electrodynamics of Neutron Stars and Black Holes
The development of classical electromagnetism and quantum electrodynamics are highpoints of nineteenth and twentieth century physics, respectively. Recent, remarkable discoveries, involving neutron stars and black holes, are taking electrodynamics into unfamiliar and “extreme” territory, requiring new theoretical approaches. Examples include 100 GT (10^15 Gauss) magnetic fields surrounding neutron stars (and possibly a hundred times greater within neutron stars), the production of radio waves with effective temperatures of 10^40 K, gravitational wave sources with powers as high as 10^49 W, the emission of neutrinos and gamma rays with energies in the PeV range and the acceleration of cosmic rays with energies up to million times greater than this, perhaps involving EMFs as large as 10^23 V, generated by spinning, black holes. The rapidly developing observational situation will be summarized, along with some of the competing ideas and approaches under active investigation.
Speaker: Roger Blandford, Stanford University
Cost: Free
=============================