There are some new faces on the SMCAS Board and we are very excited to introduce them. One has jumped into the Society with both feet by not only becoming a new member but a board member, too. Please welcome Kimberly Alger to the Society as one of our newest Board Members at Large. Kimberly […]
Author: Michelle Morales Torres
My Favorite Astronomer: Galileo
Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de’ Galilei is one of the most famous astronomers in the world. He’s often considered to be the father of modern science since he made major contributions to the fields of physics, mathematics and philosophy. He is the central figure of the Scientific Revolution of the seventeenth century. As many, the […]
The SMCAS Society is Growing!
The Board is pleasantly surprised to see how busy the Star Parties have been and to see our membership grow. We are very excited to announce that we’re one member away to having 70 people! In other words, we have 69 members. It’s the most members the Society has ever had. It was very apparent […]
Exploring the Connection Between Art, Science and Visual Metaphors, April 18
The San Mateo County Astronomical Society will forgo its usual general meeting and presentation for the month of April to support a special event at the College of San Mateo Friday, April 18. The event, “Art, Science & Visual Metaphors,” will be held at the CSM Theatre (Building 3) on the College of San Mateo’s […]
This White Elephant had Good Gifts!
The Society had a good turnout for their annual holiday celebration on January 18 at Crystal Springs United Methodist Church, our usual spot for soirees. The evening was filled with camaraderie for our shared love of astronomy. The celebration was a potluck with a variety and quality of the food ensured that there was something […]
Special Moon Viewing Star Party, 4/5
The Society invites all enthusiasts, families, and curious minds to our special Moon Viewing Star Party, Saturday, April 5, 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm. This event promises a night filled with wonder, education, and community spirit. The moon, our closest celestial body, has always captivated humanity’s imagination. From ancient myths to modern science, it has […]
Best Day for Activities
One of my favorites sources for astronomy information is www.almanac.com. It’s also an excellent source for gardening and farming. They say that the best farmers and gardeners plant everything based on the moon phase, not the sun as most would think. They even have an activity guide where they recommend the best days to do certain […]
My Favorite Astronomer: Claudius Ptolemy
As someone who used to write an astronomy column for the San Mateo Daily Journal and a huge astronomy fan, I know most of the ancient astronomers but of course, not all. There was a name that kept reappearing in my research that I wasn’t familiar with. I’m not sure if he’s my favorite astronomer, […]
Familiar Faces Return to Crestview for Comet Gazing
San Mateo County Fire Department employees from left to right are Firefighter Matt Hoffmann, Engineer John Hollander, Fire Capt. Jordan Motts and Fire Capt. Chris Schaefer. If you’ve been keeping up on our newsletter, you might recall we had an unusually exciting Star Party July 3. The San Mateo County Fire Department came out to Crestview […]
Make Sure to Catch the “Comet of the Century”!
Did you see the video of, what’s being dubbed as, the “Comet of the Century” over the Golden Gate bridge? I was pleasantly surprised to see the video but disappointed that I had no idea about it and figured, there might be others who haven’t heard about it either. The comet is called C/2023 A3 […]