The SJAA is launching a welcoming way to help members connect: a bimonthly New Members Night. These gatherings make it easier to find like‑minded people,
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Blog Archives
2026 Board and Officer Elections
by 
Rob Jaworski
Rob JaworskiIn an exciting online election ahead of the February 7th, 2026 SJAA board meeting, the results of the highly anticipated board elections were unveiled. With positions 2, 4, 6, and 8 up for grabs, the competition was fierce, and the board welcomed four talented individuals:
- Carl Svensson
- Wolf Witt
- Rob Jaworski
- Mark Hanson
Fast forward to March 7th,
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Spring 2026 Swap Meet: A Stellar Success!
by Rob Jaworski
Rob JaworskiYesterday, your astronomy club hosted a vibrant swap meet at SJAA Basecamp, the Hall at Houge Park. What a fantastic turnout it was! Despite it being the first day of Daylight Saving Time, enthusiastic members and newcomers alike showed up early, ready to dive into the excitement.
Tables filled with a variety of items,
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Swap Meet Spring 2025
by Rob Jaworski
Rob Jaworski
SJAA is pleased to announce that the Spring Swap Meet for 2025 is ON! More info can be found here.
https://www.sjaa.net/events/swap-meet/
Clean out your astro closets and come on down to make some bargains and meet/make new friends. Hope to see you there!
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Passing of an SJAA Legend – Jim Van Nuland
by Rob Jaworski
Rob Jaworski
On the eve of the American annular eclipse of October 2023, the members of SJAA were provided with some sad news. We learned that long time SJAA member Jim Van Nuland passed away earlier in the month.
Jim joined up with the SJAA in the mid-1970s, maybe earlier.
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2023 Board and Officer Elections
by Rob Jaworski
Rob JaworskiThis year at the February 4th 2023 board meeting, SJAA announced the results of the board elections. The meeting was held online. Directors Vini Carter, Ken Miura, Swami Nigam, Peter Melhus and Sukhada Palav were reelected in their positions.
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Remebering Paul Mancuso
by Rob Jaworski
Rob Jaworski
In December 2022, the SJAA lost a long-time member, volunteer and friend, Paul Mancuso. Paul started his SJAA journey way back in the 1970s. He was very involved with the club, over the years serving as board member and in various officer roles. He kept his involvement going over the last 20 years as a stalwart volunteer at the School Star Parties as well as maintaining a regular presence at the In Town Star Parties at Houge Park.
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2022 Board and Officer Election
by Rob Jaworski
Rob JaworskiThis year at the February 19th 2022 annual meeting, SJAA announced the results of the board elections. The meeting was held online due to COVID-19 related restrictions. Directors Rob Jaworski, Wolf Witt and Glenn Newell have been reelected into their positions, and Steven Nelson has been elected to the Board.
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Yosemite Star Party Canceled
by Rob Jaworski
Rob JaworskiWith much sadness, we must report that the National Park Service advised us that the annual Yosemite star party, what we call _Stars Over Yosemite_, has been canceled for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We would certainly look forward to next year, but due to planned construction and upgrades in the park,
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In Memoriam – Gerry Joyce
by Rob Jaworski
Rob JaworskiSJAA President and friend Gerry Joyce passed away recently. Gerald James Joyce (Gerry) was born on November 2, 1945 and passed away on May 20, 2020. He was 74 years old.
Gerry was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, the youngest of four boys and the son of Norwegian immigrants Frank and Ruth Joyce.
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Swap Meet Postponed and Other Updates
by Rob Jaworski
Rob JaworskiIn normal years, the SJAA Swap Meet is held in the spring and again in the fall. This is a great social outlet, but unfortunately, due to all that’s happening with the pandemic this year, the SJAA leadership had to make the difficult decision to postpone it. It may reappear later in the sprint or summer,
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2020 Board and Officer Elections
by Rob Jaworski
Rob JaworskiEach February and March sees board elections and officer elections, respectively. Here are the results of the 2020 elections.
For the board of directors, four director seats were up for elections. All four incumbents ran for those seats and were re-elected: Sandy Mohan (board seat 2),
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SJAA and the Pandemic
by Rob Jaworski
Rob Jaworski
San Jose Astronomical Association is closely monitoring the coronavirus/COVID-19 situation in Santa Clara county. In accordance with advisement from Santa Clara County Health Department we may be canceling some events in the next few weeks, as appropriate – especially those that involve close contact and shared surface on telescopes.
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SJAA Turns 65
by Rob Jaworski
Rob JaworskiAt the end of this year, 2019, the San Jose Astronomical Association is celebrating its sixty fifth birthday. For us mere mortals, sixty five is traditionally the age at which we retire, quit our decades -long journey of work and getting things done, and finally look forward to hopefully another couple of decades of rest and relaxation.
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Cambrian Fest 2018
by Rob Jaworski
Rob JaworskiFor the ninth straight year, the SJAA hosted a booth, and lots of solar scopes, at San Jose’s District 9 community fair called Celebrate Cambrian. This event took place on Sunday, 26 August 2018.
This area of San Jose is known as Cambrian Park,
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Amending Bylaws: Memberships
by Rob Jaworski
Rob Jaworski
At the board of directors meeting, July 2017, the board voted to amend the bylaws. This kind of move is not done very often, and great consideration is made before such an idea is even brought to a vote by the board. However, given the history of the types of memberships with the SJAA,
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Gregory Award 2016
by Rob Jaworski
Rob Jaworski
On behalf of the San Jose Astronomical Association, I am pleased to announce the recipient of the 2016 A. B. Gregory Award. The award is a plaque which reads “In Recognition of Outstanding Contributions of Time and Effort to Others in Amateur Astronomy”, and I can think of no one in the SJAA who deserves it more than Paul Mancuso.…
Member Recognition 2017
by Rob Jaworski
Rob JaworskiEach February, the SJAA hosts its annual membership meeting, where about half of the members of the nine seat board of directors are elected by the members, recognition awards are presented, and everyone brings something to share for the annual potluck.
Lee Hoglan was one of the three deserving recipients of recognition.
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Searching for SJAA Board Candidates
by 
Rob Chapman
Rob ChapmanHello SJAA Members,
Winter is here and along with the long nights comes SJAA Board Member elections! This year we have 6 seats that will be opening up at the end of this year’s term. Only 3 current board members are running for re-election, so that means we are looking for at least 3 enthusiastic SJAA members to help out.
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Williams Hill Site Report
by Rob Jaworski
Rob Jaworski
This is a site report, not so much an observing report. My main goal was to go to check out the surroundings. On July 30-31 2016, I went to Williams Hill Recreation Area, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to investigate the suitability of the site for purposes of astronomical observing,
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