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 […]
Category: Prez’s Corner
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. […]
Celestial Events on the Horizon: Fall 2024
Greetings to the Society, A rare astronomical phenomenon is on the verge of unfolding—the nova nova T Coronae Borealis, which erupts approximately every 80 years, appears to be running behind schedule. When it does, it is predicted to be the brightest nova seen from Earth since 1975, and we are expecting this awe-inspiring event to […]
Celestial Events and Society Updates: An Exciting End to Summer
Greetings to the Society, We are still eagerly awaiting the once-in-a-lifetime event of nova T Coronae Borealis, which erupts spectacularly every 80 years. Astronomers currently predict about a 70% chance that T Corona Borealis will go nova by September and a 95% chance that it will occur by the end of the year. This nova […]
Celestial Wonders and Society Updates: A Stellar Summer for SMCAS
Greetings to the Society, The hits keep coming this year, with the excitement of the aurora borealis being visible in the San Francisco Bay Area on May 11 and 12, 2024, due to a rare solar storm. This spectacular display of natural beauty was a rare treat for our region, delighting both seasoned astronomers and […]
Gear Up for the Celestial Spectacle of the Year!
Greetings to the Society, The anticipation is building for what promises to be the highlight of the year: the total solar eclipse on April 8th, visible across North America! Many of our society members, including myself and my daughter, are venturing to Texas to witness this awe-inspiring event firsthand. We eagerly look forward to the […]