Status and schedule of school star parties

List of assigned dates             List of available dates

Watch this line for final status on event day 


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Watch this space for details of coming events


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Complete list of assignments, by week. See the next section for available dates. 

2009

 Jul.11 -- Event moved to July 25.  July 11 not available.

 Jul.25 -- B-G-J Ranch Historical Site, SE San Jose 

 Aug.15 -- Presentation Center, above Los Gatos     

 Aug.29 -- The Tech, downtown San Jose              

 Sep.12 -- B-G-J Ranch Historical Site, SE San Jose 

 Oct.13 -- Saratoga High                            
 Oct.15 -- Saratoga Elementary                      
 Oct.16 -- Pending, Morgan Hill 

 Oct.26 -- Toyon Elementary, E San Jose             
 Oct.27 -- Los Paseos Elementary, SE San Jose       

 Nov.23 -- Alta Vista Elementary, S San Jose        
 Nov.24 -- Graystone Elementary, SE San Jose        

2010
 Feb. 2 -- Briarwood Elementary, Santa Clara        

 Feb. 4 -- Silver Oak Elementary, east San Jose
Available and desirable dates See the previous section for assigned dates.
Note: Many Friday nights are assigned to SJAA events, so they are not available for schools.

   Desirability is determined by the phase of the Moon. The moon is spectacular and well-liked, very desirable for a public event. Such dates are: September 23-24; November 25; December 21-23.

   Dates with no moon in the evening sky are more plentiful. There are many star clusters, colorful double stars, etc., so the sky is very rewarding. Consider: September 9-10, 14-18, 21-22; October 8, 12, 14, 19-22; November 9-13, 16-19; December 7-10, 14-18.

   Too much moon makes it difficult to show anything but a few bright objects, so we try to stay away from the nearly-full moon. It's a poor show, and not fair to the students (nor to the astronomers). But we could use: September 1-4, 7-8; October 1-2, 5-7, 28-30; November 2-5, 27, 30; December 1-4, 28-30 -- if nothing else is available.

Approximate starting times for regular school year:

   Early September 8:30, late September 8:00, early October 7:45, late October 7:15, after November 1 (DST ends) 7:00.

   Seven pm is probably the earliest practical time, allowing parents to get home, eat, and get to school. Though we occasionally start at 6:30. Start time remains at 7 for some months.

   On March 8, 2009 we advance the clocks, and start time jumps to 8:00. By March 14, 8:15; Mar.31, 8:30. On April 14, start at 8:45, Apr.28, 9;00. Late May through July, 9:30. August, 9:00. And the cycle repeats.

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Last updated: 2009 June 13, 1357 hours, cdt