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Yosemite 2025
Yosemite 2025
Our 2025 Glacier Point star party was Aug 14 - 17; camping at Bridalveil Creek campground. Weather and skies were great and a good time was had by all. Big thanks to Ana R for making it happen. Attendees: Jim B, Bob K, Kirk B, Miguel D Bill S, Justin R, Chris K, Doug R, Wil P. Not pictured: Jeff G, Terry D, Joclyn W, Theo K and Gerhard G.
Steve Rosenthal donates Hopper
Steve Rosenthal donates Hopper
Club president Jim Bahn receiving the Hopper from inventor Steve Rosenthal. The Hopper is a smart plate-solving camera which used an app to make any telescope into a "push to" scope.
ZWO donates Seestar S50
ZWO donates Seestar S50
Club members Steve Houlihan, Bill Seiler, and Jeff Gose bumped into ZWO rep Jose Serrato (second from left) at Calstar 2024 and invited him to speak at a club meeting. The club thoroughly enjoyed his presentation, and we are enjoying the donated S50, which we'll show off at public star parties around northern California. Kudos to everyone involved.
Jamie Amendologine donates ZWO ASI1600MM Pro Camera
Jamie Amendologine donates ZWO ASI1600MM Pro Camera
For the club loaner program, member Jamie Amendologine donated a ZWO ASI1600MM-Pro monochrome astronomy camera. It's has a 16 megapixel 4/3” CMOS sensor with 4656x3520 resolution.
When can I see the planets in the evening?
When can I see the planets in the evening?
Stargazing Hammond Ranch 2025
Stargazing Hammond Ranch 2025
On July 18th/ 19th, the club did our first star party at Hammond Ranch, in the Panoche Valley, about 13 miles NE of Pinnacles NP, as the crow flies. 15 people attended, including 12 astronomers, with at least a couple of folks who were out for the first time with their new scope(s). Conditions were superb; dark sky with good seeing, no wind, almost zero dew and no bugs. Of course, the Milky Way stood out. SQM started around 21.52 and over the evening dropped down to 21.32, or Bortle 3, so, darker than Pinnacles. Horizons were quite dark but there was a noticeable light dome from San Jose. We enjoyed a delicious pot luck with salads, noodles and desert provided by members and beef brisket by our hosts. We'll be back.
Stargazing Pinto Lake Aug 2024
Stargazing Pinto Lake Aug 2024
On August 31, the club did our first star party at Pinto Lake. Several club member brought their scopes and we entertained over 30 visitors. The weather forecasts were wrong, so we had almost zero clouds or fog and the temperatures were in the 60s. Views were had of globular clusters, nebulae, double stars, and the 'star' of the night, Saturn. Based on this event, we're sure to do it again in 2025.
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