Category: News

Goodbye

It’s time to say goodbye. I will be leaving the SMCAS Board of Directors at the end of May. My wife and I are taking our first step towards retirement and moving to Genoa, Nevada. It was a tough decision to leave the Bay Area, but the spreadsheet said I would have to work a […]

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 […]

Speaker: Dr Pascal Lee

May 2, 7:30 pm PDT Program Starts in the CSM Planetarium with the Michael Chriss Scholarship Award Winner talks, followed at 8:00 pm by Dr Pascal Lee (details below) 8:00 PM Speaker: Dr. Pascal Lee, Planetary Scientist SETI Institute, Mars Institute, and NASA Ames Research Center The Moon & Mars: Amazing Places for Humans to […]

Speaker: Dr Pascal Lee

Presentation on March 7, 8:00pm PST in the CSM Planetarium Speaker: Dr. Pascal Lee, Planetary Scientist SETI Institute, Mars Institute, and NASA Ames Research Center The Moon & Mars: Amazing Places for Humans to Soon Explore, Part 1: the Moon! Free and open to the public. At the College of San Mateo Planetarium. Free Parking […]

Orion/Meade Telescopes Auction

     A heads up from Ed Ching             For those who have been following the saga of the Optronic Techonologies, Inc., business, parent of both Orion Telescopes and Meade Instruments, the offices and storefront in Watsonville, California were shut down in July 2024.  On July 31, the Orion website went offline.             Apparently the assets of […]

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 […]

SMCAS Annual Holiday Party!

Mark your calendars for an evening of fun, food, and fellowship at the San Mateo County Astronomical Society’s annual holiday party! 📅 Date: Thursday, January 18, 2018 ⏰ Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 📍 Location: Crystal Springs United Methodist Church 2145 Bunker Hill Dr, San Mateo, CA 94402 This year’s celebration is a potluck! […]

Speaker: Dr Bart De Pontieu

Presentation on September 5, 8:00pm PST in the CSM Planetarium Speaker: Dr. Bart De Pontieu, Solar Physicist Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center Unraveling the Mysteries of the Sun’s Atmosphere Free and open to the public. Free Parking in nearby lots. The Sun, our nearest star, is more than just a blazing […]