Yosemite 

Our 2025 trip is Aug 14 - 17; camping at Bridalveil Creek campground; star party at Glacier Point.  It's a public event so everyone is invited, but park passes and camping passes are already allocated to club members who've signed up.  Email us for more information.

2024 Glacier Point attendees:  Kirk B, Jeff P, Ana R, Bob K, Bill S, and Miguel D.  Not pictured:  Jeff G, Terry D, and Jim B.

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  

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.