Outside of that area, we suggest:

• north of Fremont: Eastbay Astronomical Society;
• south of Morgan Hill: the Mira Observers Group;
• north of Sunnyvale: Peninsula Astronomical Society;
• north of Palo Alto: San Mateo County Astronomical Society;
• nearer San Francisco: San Francisco Amateur Astronomers.

The AANC (Astronomical Association of Northern California) maintains an extensive list of clubs on their Northern California Astronomy Resource Guide, including contact information for the above clubs and many over the northern part of California.

The co-ordinator for SJAA is Jim Van Nuland.

A rough outline for setting up a star party:

• Read the New School page to get an overview of what is needed.
• Consult the list of available dates and your school calendar to find a suitable date. Recheck here to be sure the date is still available. Be sure to obtain the Principal's permission for the event, and for us to drive onto the grounds.
• Write Jim and ask him to assign the date. If you have questions, ask him to hold the date while you/we get answers.
• Get some idea where we might enter and set up. Often it's best to ask Jim for an evening visit at school, to identify lighting problems and decide how we'll enter the grounds.
• Continue the e-mail dialog to hammer out all the details:
  1. agreed-on date;
  2. sunset time, which dictates the earliest starting timet;
  3. what celestial objects might be visible;
     (Jim supplies the above two items.)
  4. approximate school enrollment, what grades will be invited.
  5. With that set, you can prepare publicity for the event.
  6. We need to talk (just a few minutes) on event day, for weather
     considerations and as a final readiness check. Please supply
     1. a phone number for Jim to call you on event day, and
     2. the time when you can take a call, ideally 11:40 am.
     
     Now for the physical plant information:

  7. name and address of the school;
  8. where we will enter to bring in the telescopes, often from the back or side;
  9. where we will set up, typically basketball or other paved play area;
  10. what time the gate must be unlocked, typically 90 minutes before start time;
  11. what lights must be turned off or covered;
  12. what sprinklers must be turned off.
• Enjoy the evening! -- the payoff for all that hard work.
• Make preliminary plans for next year.

Current events, directions, available and assigned dates Suggestions for teacher asking for an event Suggestions for astronomer that is new to school events Suggestions for enjoying the star party

About SJAA schoolyard star parties Please note: school star parties are not open to the public. Though school grounds are open during these star parties, it is the school, not SJAA, that is the host. Therefore, information on these pages is not an invitation for non-students to come to the school, even though it is unlikely that anyone would object.

For SJAA members coming to the Yosemite star party For others coming to the Yosemite star party

Annual Yosemite N.P. public star party SJAA participates in the star party program in Yosemite National Park. The observing is conducted atop Glacier Point on Friday and Saturday evenings during July and August, with a different astronomy club each weekend. The events are open to anyone; simply come to the Park. Club members who are bringing a telescope for public use should read the web page (top left) and contact me.

Pictures are needed that were taken at schools. Click image to see a larger version.

Gordon's Questar and student

Jim's 8-inch, children waiting patiently

When parents wander away

Mail to Jim Van Nuland.

Last updated: 2010 April 4, 1941 hours, pdt