Monthly General Meeting

The OCA has a general meeting held on the second Friday of every month* at Chapman University. These meetings are free and open to the public. The meetings take place in The Irvine Lecture Hall with seating for approximately 250 people. The Irvine Lecture Hall (located adjacent to the Hashinger Science Center) is very near the south east corner of the campus and the nearest cross street is East Palm Ave and North Center Street.

The meetings start promptly at 7:30pm and the basic agenda is as shown below (times are approximate);

7:00pm - 7:30pm	Arrival of audience (the meetings are usually full - arrive early to be assured of a place to sit). During this time we do have a pre-show slide presentation including recent astronomical photographs taken by OCA members .
7:30pm - 8:00pm	What's Up presentation usually presented by OCA Member and Space Artist, Chris Butler.
8:00pm - 9:15pm	Main speaker presentation. We often have speakers from JPL/Caltech and other major educational and astronomical institutions. The level of the talks are usually appropriate for anyone who has an interest in this hobby.
9:15pm - 9:30pm	Refreshments Break (donuts, coffee, soda are available for a small donation)
9:30pm...	Raffle. The club usually has a great raffle prize such as a $100 gift certificate to a local astronomy store and other items.
9:30pm onwards	"Ask an Astronomer". We finish the evening with an increasingly popular part of the program where anyone can stay behind and ask a panel of experts any burning question related to this hobby. The questions range from "How old is the Universe?" to "What is the best telescope to buy?".

Library

During the meeting our extensive club library is open to allow (members only) to browse the books, videos and DVD's that are available for their use. The club has one of the largest libraries of Astronomy related books available anywhere - even bigger than many of your local libraries will have. More

Joining the OCA at the meeting

Our club treasurer, Charlie Oostdyk, is available to accept new membership applications. Charlie also has a wide range of interesting astronomical items for sale (all proceeds go to the club).

Directions Top

From 5 Freeway south of 55

• Take 5 Freeway NORTH Exit onto 55 Freeway
• NORTH Take 55 Freeway NORTH to Chapman Avenue Orange
• Turn WEST on Chapman Avenue ( right off the freeway exit ramp )
• Take Chapman Avenue WEST to N Grand Street.
• Take N Grand Street NORTH until it ends 2 blocks later at E Palm Avenue. Turn RIGHT on E Palm Avenue, then LEFT at the next street (N Center Street).
• Proceed 2 blocks NORTH on N Center Street past the Hashinger parking lot to E Walnut Avenue.
• Turn LEFT (WEST) on E Walnut Avenue and go 1 block to the entrance of the Lastinger underground parking structure on the LEFT.
• Turn LEFT into the Lastinger underground parking structure.

From 57 Freeway north of the 5

• Take 57 Freeway SOUTH Exit onto West Orangewood Avenue
• Turn LEFT (EAST) onto West Orangewood Avenue
• Take Orangewood Avenue (changes name to Walnut Avenue) past N Glassell Street.
• Continue 1 block to the entrance of the Lastinger underground parking structure on the RIGHT.
• Turn RIGHT into the Lastinger underground parking structure.

From 5 Freeway north of the 57/22 freeways

• Take 5 Freeway SOUTH Exit onto 22 Freeway
• Turn EAST onto 22 Freeway
• Take 22 Freeway to N Grand Avenue (S Glassell Street)
• Turn LEFT (NORTH) on N Grand Avenue continue NORTH as name changes to S Glassell Street
• at Traffic circle (roundabout) take first exit (EAST) onto Chapman Avenue.
• Turn LEFT (NORTH) onto N Grand Street.
• Take N Grand Street NORTH until it ends 2 blocks later at E Palm Avenue. Turn RIGHT on E Palm Avenue, then LEFT at the next street (N Center Street).
• Proceed 2 blocks NORTH on N Center Street past the Hashinger parking lot to E Walnut Avenue.
• Turn LEFT (WEST) on E Walnut Avenue and go 1 block to the entrance of the Lastinger underground parking structure on the LEFT.
• Turn LEFT into the Lastinger underground parking structure.

Parking Top

FREE parking is available on the west side of Center Street closest to the university. Parking on the campus is ONLY available in unreserved parking spaces in either the Lastinger underground parking structure or the Barrera parking structure. Both of these parking structures require a parking permit to be displayed that either can be purchased for a small fee upon entry to the parking structure or can be obtained FREE here. Parking elsewhere (particularly on the residential side of the streets or in any other campus lots) WILL result in a parking ticket.

Those displaying a Handicapped placard will be able to continue using the handicapped spaces they have been using in the Hashinger lot but should also display the Chapman parking permit.

Hashinger Hall is in the south-east corner of the campus. The nearest cross-street is E Palm Avenue and N Center Street.

Chapman Campus Map can be obtained Here

Parking permit can be obtained Here

*please check the calendar for any changes to the date of the meeting (we often have a conflict in September/October which results in the meeting being pushed back a week).