Greetings to the Society, As spring gives way to summer, the rhythm of observing begins to shift. The nights get shorter, the evenings stay brighter longer, and many of the best celestial sights start happening either very late—or very early. (Astronomy, as always, rewards flexibility … or a strong relationship with coffee.) Remembering Darryl Stanford […]
Category: Prez’s Corner
The Universe Has a Busy Spring Schedule
Greetings to the Society, A Blood Moon to Start the Season As we move into March and April, the sky is giving us plenty of reasons to step outside and look up—preferably with a telescope, a few friends, and perhaps a warm drink while the night air still reminds us that winter isn’t quite finished. […]
A New Year Under the Winter Sky
Greetings to the Society, Happy New Year, everyone! 🌟 I hope you all made it through the holidays with minimal cloud cover, functional eyepieces, and only a reasonable number of telescope accessories added to your wish list. January and February are often thought of as the “quiet” months for astronomy — cold nights, early sunsets, […]
Goodbyes, Geminids, and Gratitude
Greetings to the Society, Remembering Friends It is with deep sadness that I share the passing of our longtime member and past president, Ed Pieret, who left us peacefully on October 30 with his wife by his side. Ed served SMCAS in many roles over the years — President, Vice President, mentor, and friend — […]
Pumpkin Spice and Cosmic Delights
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 […]
Stars, Stories, & BBQ: Summer with SMCAS
Greetings to the Society, In Memory It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of two major transitions in our community. In May, we lost longtime club and board member Ken Lum. Ken’s kindness, friendship, and ever-present smile left a lasting impact on our group. His warmth, dedication, and laughter will be […]
Gearing Up for a Stellar Summer
Greetings to the Society, Summer Ho! As spring winds down and summer begins, let’s hope for more clear skies than cloudy ones! Warmer weather brings more opportunities for stargazing—and for getting involved with the club. It’s also time to start thinking about elections for a new Board of Directors. Have you considered becoming more active […]
Celestial Highlights of Spring
Greetings to the Society, Springtime Skies As we venture into March and April 2025, the cosmos offers a plethora of captivating events and milestones for astronomy enthusiasts and space aficionados. From celestial phenomena gracing our night skies to groundbreaking space missions, here’s what to anticipate in the coming months. March Right off the bat planets […]
A New Year of Stargazing Adventures
Greetings to the Society, Here’s to a New Year and New Adventures! 2024 was an incredible year for astronomical events. Many members experienced the awe-inspiring total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, with some traveling to witness this rare celestial phenomenon firsthand. Closer to home, parts of the Bay Area were treated to a dazzling […]
Venus in the Teapot, Jupiter’s Brilliance, and Shooting Stars
Greetings to the Society, Venus in the Teapot of Sagittarius As we approach the end of the year, there’s a celestial treat worth observing: Venus is shining brightly in the “Teapot” of Sagittarius. While the Teapot isn’t an official constellation, this distinctive asterism of bright stars within Sagittarius is hard to miss once pointed out. […]