Greetings to the Society,
Back to Pizza and the Planetarium
As summer winds down and pumpkin-flavored everything creeps back onto shelves, our society is gearing up for a lively fall season. Our general meetings return on September 5 — always a chance to reconnect, swap stories about what we’ve seen in the night sky, share some pizza, and catch up on upcoming events. Following the social portion, we’ll welcome Dr. Bart De Pontieu, Solar Physicist, who will present “Unraveling the Mysteries of the Sun’s Atmosphere.” It promises to be a fascinating dive into our star’s secrets
Sharing the Sky
September and October also bring opportunities for us to share the night sky with the wider community. On September 27, we’ll take part in Family Science Day at the College of San Mateo. Then, on October 25, we’ll team up with Stanford’s KIPAC STEM Community Day. These events are wonderful chances to spark wonder in kids and families — and maybe even be mistaken for a wizard while pointing out Saturn’s rings.
Celestial Highlights
And the skies are giving us plenty to talk about:
- All September – Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS is passing through, a rare visitor from beyond our solar system. Catch it with a telescope before it disappears behind the Sun in late October.
- September 21 – Saturn at opposition, shining at its brightest.
- September 23 – Neptune at opposition, faint but rewarding in a telescope.
- Early October – Comet C/2025 K1 ATLAS reaches peak brightness and may be visible with binoculars — worth scanning the skies!
- October 22–23 – The Orionid meteor shower peaks, with excellent viewing under dark skies.
- October 29 – Elusive Mercury shines in the evening sky at greatest elongation.
Spacefaring News
Meanwhile, space exploration is keeping pace. NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars launches on September 29, hitching a ride on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket — their first interplanetary venture. NASA’s IMAP probe will soon begin studying space weather, and the Pandora mission aims to peer into the atmospheres of distant exoplanets.
Closing Thoughts
So whether you join us at a meeting, at a community event, or under the stars, I hope this season brings you awe, inspiration, and maybe a meteor or two for good luck.
Clear skies,
Michael Cooke
President, San Mateo County Astronomical Society