Monday, 06/05/23
09:00 AM - 10:00 AM-In the morning!
Livestream
SETI Institute
![https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-516480679-268241177794-1-original.20230517-045244.jpeg]()
A Sign in Space - Electronic Literature
A Sign in Space is a multidisciplinary art project conceived by artist Daniela De Paulis. De Paulis is leading a global team to send an encoded message from the European Space Agency (ESA) ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) back to Earth, simulating a signal an advanced extraterrestrial civilization could eventually send to Earth. The message will be “detected” by four radio astronomy observatories on Earth: the SETI Institute’s Allen Telescope Array (ATA), The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT), the National Science Foundation’s Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and the Medicina Radio Astronomical Station observatory managed by INAF (the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics). De Paulis and her team developed the encoded message, but its contents remain unknown, even to most of the collaborating partners.
The message will be transmitted from the TGO on May 24 at 19:16 UTC/12:15 pm PDT.
Following the transmission, the A Sign in Space team will host a series of Zoom-based discussions open to the public around topics that consider the societal implications of detecting a signal from an extraterrestrial civilization. The discussions will take place over 6-8 weeks after the transmission.
This workshop will be hosted by Professors Scott Rettberg and Joseph Tabbi of the Center for Digital Narrative will explore the potentialities of electronic literature (e-lit) for the reception and interpretation of extraterrestrial communication. The workshop will include inputs from four leading digital authors: Natalia Fedorova, Jason Nelson, Allison Parrish, and Rob Wittig. The workshop will conclude with the launch of a new “netprov” - a collectively written fiction that all workshop attendees can contribute to both during the workshop and after. We welcome up to 40 participants in the workshop.
Website: https://www.seti.org/event/sign-space
Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-sign-in-space-electronic-literature-tickets-637872763607
Cost: Free
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Monday, 06/05/23
07:00 PM - 08:00 PM
In-person and Livestream
Hewlett Teaching Center
370 Jane Stanford Way, Room 200
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305
Particle-like Dark Matter: When All Other Lights Go Out
![Dark Matter Detector]()
Deep in underground laboratories sit some of humanity’s most sensitive detectors. Their purpose is to discover dark matter, an unknown substance that makes up ~80% of the mass in our universe, but whose nature remains shrouded in mystery. New particles with extremely weak interactions have been proposed as natural candidates for dark matter, and physicists are actively building detectors to search for them. In this lecture, Dr. Jelle Aalbers will discuss efforts to build and operate large detectors that search for rare small light flashes from dark matter particles bouncing off of regular atoms. He will present what we have learned so far from these experiments, including preliminary results from the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment, a dark matter detector filled with 7 tons of liquid xenon in a South Dakota gold mine.
Speaker: Jelle Aalbers, Stanford University
Register at weblink to attend on line, or attend in person.
Website: https://kipac.stanford.edu/events/particle-dark-matter-when-all-other-lights-go-out
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/astronomy-lecture-particle-like-dark-matter-registration-631763761417
Cost: Free
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Wednesday, 06/07/23
09:00 AM - 10:00 AM-In the morning!
Livestream
SETI Institute
![https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-516487369-268241177794-1-original.20230517-051321.jpeg]()
A Sign in Space - Extraterrestrial Intelligence and Islamic Thought
A Sign in Space is a multidisciplinary art project conceived by artist Daniela De Paulis. De Paulis is leading a global team to send an encoded message from the European Space Agency (ESA) ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) back to Earth, simulating a signal an advanced extraterrestrial civilization could eventually send to Earth. The message will be “detected” by four radio astronomy observatories on Earth: the SETI Institute’s Allen Telescope Array (ATA), The Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT), the National Science Foundation’s Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and the Medicina Radio Astronomical Station observatory managed by INAF (the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics). De Paulis and her team developed the encoded message, but its contents remain unknown, even to most of the collaborating partners.
The message will be transmitted from the TGO on May 24 at 19:16 UTC/12:15 pm PDT.
Following the transmission, the A Sign in Space team will host a series of Zoom-based discussions open to the public around topics that consider the societal implications of detecting a signal from an extraterrestrial civilization. The discussions will take place over 6-8 weeks after the transmission.
One of the most influential heavenly messages in the history of humanity has been the Quran. The revelation received by Prophet Muhammad contains many references to intelligent beings from outside our world, including jinn, angels and God himself. This webinar discusses how extraterrestrial intelligence has been understood from an Islamic perspective.
Hosted by Jörg Matthias Determann (Virginia Commonwealth University with Shoaib Ahmed Malik (Zayed University), Hamza Karamali (Basira Education) and Richard Playford (Leeds Trinity University)
Website: https://www.seti.org/event/sign-space
REGISTER: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-sign-in-space-extraterrestrial-intelligence-and-islamic-thought-tickets-637881138657
Cost: Free
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Thursday, 06/08/23 5:30 PM
In-person and Online
Commonwealth Club
110 The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94105
Discovering the Cosmos
As a child, Sarafina El-Badry Nance spent nearly every evening with her father gazing up at the flickering stars and pondering what secrets the night sky held. The daughter of an American father and Egyptian mother, Sarafina dreamed of becoming an astronomer. But it wasn’t long before she was told, both explicitly and implicitly, that girls just weren’t cut out for math and science.
In a field that sees few women and women of color, Sarafina reflects on the obstacles that she faced to pursue her passion for the cosmos.
Join us for an in-depth talk with astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance.
Attend in person or online
Moderator: Gerald Harris, Quantum Planning Group, Commonwealth Club
Website: https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2023-06-08/sarafina-el-badry-nance-discovering-cosmos
and https://wonderfest.org/starstruck/
Use code WonderfestPromo for $10 off in-person tickets, or to attend online for free
Cost: $20 General, $10 Members in person, $5/free online
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Thursday, 06/08/23 7:30 PM
Livestream
Bay Area Skeptics
Improbable Research and the Ig Nobel Prizes - Livestream
The Ig Nobel Prizes honor achievements that make people LAUGH, then THINK. Ten new prizes have been awarded every year since 1991. The magazine Annals of Improbable Research organizes the Ig Nobel ceremony, which is held at Harvard University.
Speaker: Marc Abrahams, editor, Annals of Improbable Research
Website: http://baskeptics.org/upcomingskeptalk/
Cost: Free
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Friday, 06/09/23 7PM
In-person
Telescope Makers Workshop
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619-245
The Chabot Telescope Maker's workshop reopens! Chabot's TMW is one of only a handful of regularly scheduled telescope making workshops in the U.S., and probably the world; it meets every Friday evening throughout the year, except Memorial Day weekend. It has been in operation since December of 1930, founded by Franklin B. Wright, and is currently run by Eastbay Astronomical Society member Rich Ozer, with help from other EAS members, Dave Barosso, Barry Leska, and others. The price of admission is FREE. All you have to do is show up, buy a mirror blank and a "tool" (typically around $100 - $200 depending on the size of the mirror) and start "pushin' glass!" We supply you with instruction, the various grits you'll need to first grind, and then polish and figure your mirror, and all the testing equipment needed. With a small bit of luck, you could wind up with a telescope that costs 1/3 or 1/4 the cost of a store-bought telescope, that is yet optically superior! It does take time - depending on how much time you put in on it, and other factors, it could take a few months.. But, it's a fun project, great for kids, and at the end you get a great telescope!
Enter from the main loading dock behind the main building.
Please be prepared with proof of vaccination and a mask. These are
Chabot Rules, which we always must adhere to.
If you have a project, bring it with you so we can assess next steps.
You can also bring any other equipment or literature you may have
questions about.
For more information call or email Richard Ozer at richozer1@gmail.com or phone (510) 406-1914.
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Friday, 06/09/2023 9PM-11PM for night observing and Saturday 06/10/2023
10AM-12 Noon for solar observing
In-person
Foothill Observatory is open again!
12345 El Monte Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Foothill Observatory now Open EVERY clear Friday night and Saturday morning
The Foothill College Astronomy Department and Peninsula Astronomical Society (PAS) have reopened public viewing programs at Foothill College Observatory on:
· Every clear Friday night from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. for star gazing
· Every clear Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to noon for solar viewing
Since we are still dealing with COVID, we are adopting the following guidelines to enable safe operation of the Observatory for both our public visitors and our PAS operators. We ask that visitors please agree to complying with these guidelines before visiting the Observatory, and to direct any questions to info@....
ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
1. Full vaccination against COVID-19 is required to visit the Foothill College campus — This is a College requirement detailed on the Foothill College COVID-19 Behavioral Expectations page. So bring your vaccination certificate if possible.
2. Mask usage is required anytime visiting the Foothill College campus — This includes the Observatory, per the same college policy linked above in item 1.
3. The number of visitors allowed inside the Observatory is reduced — To avoid overcrowding within the limited space, please wait outside the observatory until a PAS telescope operator lets you and your group inside. Once your group is done viewing through the telescope, you will exit the Observatory so that a new group may enter.
Websites: https://foothill.edu/astronomy/observatory.html
and https://pastro.org
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Friday, 06/09/23 and Saturday, 06/10/23
07:30 PM - 10:00 PM--Free telescope viewings are back!
In-person
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd
Oakland, CA 94619
Free Telescope Viewings
Join Chabot astronomers on the Observatory Deck for a free telescope viewing! Weather permitting, this is a chance to explore stars, planets and more through Chabot’s historic telescopes. Chabot’s three large historic telescopes offer a unique way to experience the awe and wonder of the Universe. Our observatory deck offers breathtaking views 1,500 feet above the Bay. Three observatory domes house the Center’s 8-inch (Leah, 1883) and 20-inch (Rachel, 1916) refracting telescopes, along with a 36-inch reflecting telescope (Nellie, 2003).
Are the skies clear for viewing tonight? Viewing can be impacted by rain, clouds, humidity and other weather conditions. Conditions can be unique to Chabot because of its unique location in Joaquin Miller Park. Before your visit, check out the Weather Station to see the current conditions at Chabot.
https://chabotspace.org/weather-station/
Website: https://chabotspace.org/events/events-listing/
Cost: Free
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Saturday, 06/10/23
10:00 AM - 03:00 PM
In-person
Chabot Space and Science Center
10000 Skyline Blvd
Oakland, CA 94619
Investigating Space: Climate Change from Space
![Satelite]()
Our changing climate is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. Fortunately, there are many dedicated scientists working to lessen the effects of climate change for people around the world. Sometimes it takes a different perspective to get the full picture. Private technology companies, university researchers and NASA are using satellites to track climate change to make fighting its effects easier and more effective. Join us for special demos, hands-on activities and guest speakers that will take us through the process of fighting climate change from space!
Cost: Free with admission
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Saturday, June, 10
Sunset: 8:29 PM
In-person
San Mateo Co. Astronomical Society
Crestview Park
1000 Crestview Drive
San Carlos, CA
Public Star Parties at Crestview Park in San Carlos
SMCAS and the City of San Carlos Parks Department host a public star party at Crestview Park in San Carlos twice a month when there is a new moon. Members set up telescopes and let the public view and share their knowledge of the night sky all for Free. All ages are welcome. If you have kids interested in space or science, bring them here for a real time view of planets, nebula, star clusters, and galaxies.
If you are a Non-member and own a telescope, bring it to share! Experts are available if you need assistance or have questions about buying a telescope.
Telescope setup begins at sunset and observing starts one hour after sunset. In the event of inclement weather (rain, clouds, fog, or high winds) the star party will be cancelled. Because each astronomer makes his or her own decision about bringing their telescope, there is no official cancellation notice.
Crestview Park is located at 1000 Crestview Drive in San Carlos
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Saturday, 06/10/23 8:30 PM
In-person
Lick Observatory
7299 Mt. Hamilton Rd
Mt. Hamilton, CA 95140
Sunglasses, Viking Navigation and Astronomy with Polarimetry
![Daniel Cotton]()
Each year Lick Observatory brings world-renown musicians and astronomers to the summit of Mount Hamilton for a musical night to remember.
The event activities include:
- Concert
- Astronomy talk by world-renowned scientists
- Viewing through the historic 36-inch Great Lick Refractor telescope
- Viewing through the 40-inch Nickel Reflector telescope
- Astronomy discussions with amateur astronomers and viewing through small telescopes
Performer: Folias Duo
Polarimetry is perhaps the least well known property of light. It was discovered in the 1800s, but before that it was the key to accurate Viking navigation. Today it is an enabling technology in everyday items like sunglasses. Traditionally, in astronomy, it has been used to understand magnetic fields and the dust between stars, as well as the atmospheres of planets. Recent advances in precision are now enabling new discoveries to be made about the atmospheres of stars as well. In this talk I will describe what polarisation is, and how it is used in each of these areas.
Speaker: Daniel Cotton, Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy
Tickets go on sale at noon, May 8, 2023. Limit 4 per customer.
Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/music-of-the-spheres-2092629
Cost: $55 General
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Saturday, 06/10/23
09:30 PM - 11:30 PM
In-person
San Jose Astronomical Association
(NewLocation) Laguna Seca area
N. Coyote Valley OSP
Binocular Stargazing at Laguna Seca, North Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve
The San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) is proud to work with the Open Space Authority (OSA) to co-host a public star party at Rancho Canada del Oro (RCDO). This site is just 30 minutes south of downtown San Jose and features dark skies. It's dark enough to see the band of our Milky Way galaxy in the summer.
Do not bring your own telescope (binoculars are welcomed, but please no tripods). SJAA club members will set up their telescopes to help star party guests get the most knowledge and enjoyment out of the dark Starry Night sky.
In addition to traditional telescopes, the SJAA is excited to incorporate Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA) into the Starry Nights Program. We will be using an automated telescope with a camera-like sensor to show live images on an iPad.
Register at weblink. Limited to 70 people. See weblink for additional information
Directions in website
Website: https://www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy/events/293615460/
Cost: Free
