SJAA Calendar 2008         


NOTES:
   Dates are subject to change, though very few of of them will actually do so. Speakers and topics will be added as they are scheduled.

   For a definition of "Dark-Sky Weekend", please see the definition on the Calendar Hotline page.


For the coming few weeks in more detail, see the SJAA Calendar Hotline page.

For a tabular view of the year, see the bottom of this page.

January  February  March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December


 January
  5 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 5:04 pm,  4% moon rises 6:15 am.
         Henry Coe Park's "Astronomy" lot has been reserved.
 11 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 5:10 pm, 14% moon sets  8:44 pm.
         Star party hours: 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
 11 -Fr- New - Beginner's Workshop/Laboratory. Practical setup and use
         of your telescope.  On the basketball court at Houge Park, 7 pm.
 19 -Sa- General Meeting.  Our speaker is Dr. Jeff Moore of NASA, who
         will tell us about the Pluto Express spacecraft's encounter
         with Jupiter.
         Board meeting at 6:00; General Meeting at 8:00
 26 -Sa- Short Dark-Sky weekend. Sset 5:21 pm, 77% moon rises 10:06 pm.
 February
  1 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 5:32 pm, 21% moon rises 4:05 am.
         Star party hours: 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
  1 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm. Topic: Physics and
         Astronomy.  Knowing a little physics helps your understanding
         of astronomy.  A (mostly) non-mathematical look at the physics
         of various astronomical phenomena.
  2 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 5:33 pm, 13% moon rises 4:58 am.
  9 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 5:41 pm, 11% moon sets  8:47 pm.
         Henry Coe Park's "Astronomy" lot has been reserved.
 15 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 5:47 pm, 72% moon sets  3:50 am.
         Star party hours: 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
 16 -Sa- General Meeting. Our speaker is Milo Freund, whose topic is
         "All those Organics up in the Night Sky".
         This is the Annual Meeting, to elect the Board of Directors.
         Board meeting at 6:00; General Meeting at 8:00
 20 -We- Lunar Eclipse party at Houge Park.
         Sunset          5:52 pm,
         Partial starts  5:44   -1 degree elevation
         Full moon rises 5:44
         Totality start  7:01   13
         Mid-time        7:26   18
         Totality ends   7:51   23
         Partial ends    9:08   37
 29 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 6:01 pm, 37% moon rises 2:48 am.
         Star party hours: 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
 29 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm. The topic will be
         Using Astronomical Charts Efficiently -- preparation for the
         Messier Marathon.
 March
  1 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 6:02 pm, 28% moon rises 3:36 am.
  8 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 6:09 pm,  3% moon sets  7:41 pm.
         Messier Marathon at Henry Coe Park.
         Henry Coe Park's "Astronomy" lot has been reserved.
  9 -Su- 2 am. DST begins.  Advance clocks 1 hour.
 14 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm. Mark Wagner will
         tell us about observing galaxies.
 14 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 7:15 pm, 58% moon sets  3:41 am.
         Star party hours: 8:00 until 11:00 pm.
 19 -We- Spring begins at 10:48 pm PDT
 22 -Sa- General Meeting.  Our speaker is Dr. Adrian Brown of the
         SETI Institute.  His topic: "Latest Results from the Mars
         Reconnaissance Orbiter".
         Board meeting at 6:30; General Meeting at 8:00
 28 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 7:27 pm, 55% moon rises 2:28 am.
         Star party hours: 8:30 until 11:30 pm.
 29 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 7:28 pm, 45% moon rises 3:13 am.
 April
  5 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 7:34 pm,  0% moon set   7:31 pm.
         Henry Coe Park's "Astronomy" lot has been reserved.
 11 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 7:40 pm, 44% moon sets  2:27 am.
         Star party hours: 8:30 until 11:30 pm.
 19 -Sa- Board meeting and Auction rehearsal, 6 pm until it all works.
 20 -Su- Auction XXVIII - Open at noon, selling 1:00 to about 4:00.
         In the hall at Houge Park.  NOTE: Sunday, daytime.
 25 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 8:00 pm. This will be a
         beginner's lab. teaching how to use a telescope.
 25 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 7:52 pm, 72% moon rises 1:08 am.
         Star party hours: 9:00 until midnight.
 26 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 7:53 pm, 62% moon rises 1:48 am.
 May
  3 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 8:00 pm,  2% moon rises 5:14 am.
         Henry Coe Park's "Astronomy" lot has been reserved.
  9 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 8:05 pm, 29% moon sets  1:06 am.
         Star party hours: 9:00 until midnight.
         This is also SJAA's observation of Astronomy Day.
 17 -Sa- General Meeting.  Our speaker is Dr. Dana Backman of SETI,
         speaking on Nearby Stars and Debris Disks: A
         Ringside Seat to Planet Formation.
         Board meeting at 6:30; General Meeting at 8:00
 30 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm. Paul Kohlmiller and
         Steve Nelson will talk about astrophotograpy.
 30 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 8:22 pm, 16% moon rises 3:09 am.
         Star party hours: 9:30 until midnight.
 31 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 8:22 pm,  8% moon rises 3:43 am.
 June
  7 -Sa- Public star party at Coyote Lake County park.
         Sset 8:26 pm, 25% moon sets 12:13 am.
         Since this is a dark-sky weekend, Henry Coe Park's "Astronomy"
         lot has also been reserved. for those who prefer that site.
 13 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 8:29 pm, 84% moon sets  2:46 am.
         Star party hours: 9:30 until midnight.
 20 -Fr- Summer begins at 4:59 pm, PDT
 21 -Sa- General Meeting. Our speaker is Dr. Helen Quinn,
         on The Mystery of the Missing Antimatter
         Board meeting at 6:30; General Meeting at 8:00
 27 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 8:32 pm, 30% moon rises 1:39 am.
         Star party hours: 9:30 until midnight.
 28 -Sa- Astronomy Class (beginner's workshop) at
         Coyote Lake County Park
 28 -Sa- Public star party at Coyote Lake County park.
         Sset 8:32 pm, 20% moon rises 2:14 am.
 July
  4&5 -Fr&Sa- SJAA weekend at Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park.
         See the Yosemite Page for details regarding free admission
         and camping.
  5 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 8:31 pm, 13% moon sets 10:40 pm.
         Henry Coe Park's "Astronomy" lot has been reserved.
 11 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 8:29 pm, 69% moon sets  1:18 am.
         Star party hours: 9:30 until midnight.
 19 -Sa- General Meeting.  Historian John Dillon will tell us
         "When Astronomy Became a Science: The Museum of Alexandria."
         Board meeting at 6:30; General Meeting at 8:00
 25 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm. Topic to be announced.
 25 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 8:21 pm, 43% moon rises 12:13 am.
         Star party hours: 9:30 until midnight.
 26 -Sa- Public star party at Coyote Lake County park.
         Sset 8:20 pm, 33% moon rises 12:53 am.
 August
  2 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 8:14 pm,  4% moon sets  9:07 pm.
         Henry Coe Park's "Astronomy" lot has been reserved.
  8 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 8:07 pm, 53% moon sets 11:50 pm.
         Star party hours: 9:00 until midnight.
 16 -Sa- General Meeting. Our speaker is UCB astronomer Dr. Frank
         Marchis, on the topic of Binary Asteroids.
         Board meeting at 6:30; General Meeting at 8:00
 22 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm. Topic to be announced.
 22 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 7:50 pm, 59% moon rises 10:53 pm.
         Star party hours: 9:00 until midnight.
 23 -Sa- Public star party at Coyote Lake County park.
         Sset 7:48 pm, 47% moon rises 11:38 pm.
 30 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 7:39 pm,  0% moon set   7:33 pm.
 September
  5 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 7:30 pm, 37% moon sets 10:24 pm.
         Star party hours: 8:30 until 11:30 pm.
 13 -Sa- General Meeting.  Slide and Equipment night.  Latest images,
         latest equipment, being made by our members.
         Board meeting at 6:30; General Meeting at 8:00
 19 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm. Topic to be announced.
 19 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 7:08 pm, 72% moon rises 9:37 pm.
         Star party hours: 8:00 until 11:00 pm.
 20 -Sa- Public star party at Coyote Lake County park.
         Sset 7:07 pm, 61% moon rises 10:30 pm.
 22 -Mo- Autumn begins at 8:44 am, PDT
 25-27 -Th-Sa- Cal-Star star party at Lake San Antonio County Park.
 27 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 6:56 pm,  1% moon rises 6:24 am.
 October
  4 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 6:46 pm, 29% moon sets  9:47 pm.
         Henry Coe Park's "Astronomy" lot has been reserved.
         NOTE: daytime visitors may not have left the overflow lot
         before the astronomers start to arrive.  Be patient.
 10 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 6:37 pm, 84% moon sets  3:45 am.
         Star party hours: 7:30 until 10:30 pm.
 11 -Sa- General Meeting.  Our speaker is Dr. Monika Kress (SJSU
         Virtual Planet Laboratory).  Her topic: Searching for life on
         exoplanets: How will we know it if we see it?"
         Board meeting at 6:30; General Meeting at 8:00
 24 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm. Topic: Fall Observing,
 24 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 6:18 pm, 12% moon rises 4:14 am.
         Star party hours: 7:30 until 10:30 pm.
 25 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 6:17 pm,  6% moon rises 5:17 am.
 November
  1 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 6:09 pm, 15% moon sets  8:31 pm.
         Henry Coe Park's "Astronomy" lot has been reserved.
  2 -Su- 2 am. DST ends. Set clocks back 1 hour.
  7 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 5:03 pm, 70% moon sets  1:32 am.
         Star party hours: 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
  8 -Sa- General Meeting.  Our speaker is Dr. Helen Quinn of SLAC; her
         topic:  "The Mystery of the Missing Antimatter".
         Board meeting at 6:30; General Meeting at 8:00
  9 -Su- Fall Swap at Houge Park.  Noon until about 4 pm.
 21 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 4:54 pm, 25% moon rises 2:11 am.
         Star party hours: 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
 21 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm. Topic:
         Astronomy and the Weather
 22 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 4:53 pm, 16% moon rises 3:12 am.
 29 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 4:51 pm,  5% moon sets  6:20 pm.
         Henry Coe Park's "Astronomy" lot has been reserved.
 December
  5 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 4:50 pm, 53% moon sets 12:20 am.
         Star party hours: 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
 13 -Sa- General Meeting.  Our speaker is Robert Sabin (UCSC), on a
         Comparison of Stellar Characteristics of Red Giant Stars in
         their Evolutionary Path.
         Board meeting at 6:30; General Meeting at 8:00
 19 -Fr- Houge Park star party.  Sset 4:53 pm, 41% moon rises 1:05 am.
         Star party hours: 7:00 until 10:00 pm.
 19 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm. Topic: Winter Observing.
 20 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 4:54 pm, 31% moon rises 2:07 am.
 21 -Su- Winter begins at 4:04 pm, PST
 27 -Sa- Dark-Sky weekend.       Sset 4:58 pm, new moon sets  5:11 pm.
         Henry Coe Park's "Astronomy" lot has been reserved.


         Continue to the complete 2009 calendar.

Tabular format:

                     SJAA Calendar for 2008

      Base version approved by Board of Directors Aug.26 2007
      Changes inserted as data comes available.

Print this with a M*O*N*O*S*P*A*C*E*D font for column alignment.

            General   Houge Park    Astro    Dark-sky
  2008      Meeting   Star Party    Class   Star Party
 January      19         11           -       5c,  26s
 February     16      1,15,20,29  1, 29       2t,   9fc
 March        22         14, 28      14       1,    8c, 29t
 April     (19),20$      11, 25      25       5c,  26t

 May          17         =9, 30      30       3c,  31
 June         21         13, 27      28       7fc, 28t
 July         19         11  25      25       5fc  26s
 August       16          8, 22      22       2c,  30

 September    13          5, 19      19            27
 October      11         10, 24      24       4fc, 25
 November    8, 9*        7, 21      21       1fc, 22t, 29c
 December     13          5, 19      19      20t,  27c

  $ Auction: Sunday, April 20, replaces a general meeting.
    along with rehearsal for the Auction.
  = AANC Astronomy Day is May 10. Use Houge Public on May 9.
  * Fall Swap, Nov.9, Sunday.  Also: general meeting on Nov.8

Dark-Sky notations --
  s Short -- at least 3 hours, but less than 5. (Zeiders' Rule)
  t Third quarter. Longer than 5 hours. (Zeiders' Rule)
  f First quarter.  Moon sets not more than 2.5 hours after twilight
  c Coe will be advised of possible attendees. No assurance that
    an SJAA representative will be present, unless a specific event
    is given in the month-by-month portion of the calendar.

OTHER dates and events --
  Messier Marathon - March 8 per Don Machholz book
  DST start -- Mar.9 at 2 am, advance to 3 am.
  TAX day ---- Apr.15, Tuesday
  Easter ----- Mar.23 (school vacations week before or after)
  RTMC ------- May 23-26, 3Q moon on 27th.
  GSSP ------- July 2 thru 5, Aden, California. See also
               http://www.goldenstatestarparty.org.
  Yosemite --- July 4-5. For details and procedures, see
               http://www.sjaa.net/school/yosemite.htm.
  Star-B-Q --- Aug.2 at Fremont Peak State Park
  Cal-Star --- Sep. 17-19 (new moon on 18th).  See also
               http://www.sjaa.net/calstar/ 
  DST end ---- Nov. 2 at 2 am, retard clocks to 1 am.

GENERAL MEETINGS - 2nd or 3rd Saturday. No jump this year.
  Usually Saturday before full moon, or just after.

ASTRONOMY CLASS -  Moonless Houge star party dates except the
  first one in February.  No dark-sky date in January; big
  moon would rise in mid-evening on Jan.25.

  Reserve thru December in case we want a class.

HOUGE Public star parties - Jump in Jan, May, Sep. The May jump
  avoids clash with RTMC on May 23-26.


To Jim Van Nuland; Mail to Jim Van Nuland.

Last updated: 2008 December 10, 2004 hours, pst