“Astronomy Day” Nighttime Star Party w/ Giant Telescopes | Los Altos Hills

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Silicon Valley kids and their families are invited to Astronomy Day an opportunity to view the wonders of the universe through the observatory’s large astronomical telescopes presented by volunteers from the Peninsula Astronomical Society (PAS).

Astronomy Day
Saturday, May 14, 2016 | 8 to 11 p.m.
Foothill College Observatory in Los Altos Hills
FREE, but parking is $3

The observatory houses a 16-inch computer-controlled Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector and hydrogen-alpha solar telescope. In addition, PAS volunteers set up their personal telescopes to add to the number of viewing stations.

An international grassroots movement designed to share the joy of astronomy with the public, Astronomy Day gives community members who may have never looked through a telescope an opportunity to see celestial bodies first hand and get answers to astronomy-related questions.

Parking Lot 4 provides the best access to the campus observatory. Purchase a required parking permit from dispensers in any student parking lot. Dispensers accept one-dollar bills and credit/debit cards. Cloudy or poor weather conditions will cancel this event. For more information, call (650) 949-7334.

The Peninsula Astronomical Society is a group of some 200 Bay Area astronomy enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds. Some members are professionally trained in astronomy, others are just starting and have never looked through a telescope before. As part of its commitment to bringing astronomy to the public, PAS operates the Foothill College Observatory. The observatory is staffed by PAS members who volunteer to conduct regularly scheduled public programs throughout the year, including:

• Friday Evening Public Viewing—9 to 11 p.m. The choice of targets for evening viewing depends on the season and what objects are currently visible. Presented every clear Friday.
• Saturday Solar Viewing—10 a.m. to noon. See spectacular views of two different layers of the sun through white-light and hydrogen-alpha 0.6 Angstrom filters. Presented every clear Saturday.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.