Orange County Astronomers

Outreach

One of the fundamental reasons why the OCA was formed over 35 years ago was to help spread the knowledge and appreciation of Astronomy within the local community. Every year literally 1,000's of people, young and old, get to experience the joys of Astronomy, sometimes for the very first time, when OCA Members bring their telescopes out to schools, libraries and other venues. We do this absolutely for free (although we do not usually turn down any donations to the clubs education fund).

The very active outreach program is run by Jim Benet and attracts many OCA Members to help out. Jim is always looking for more volunteers. The qualifications are simple. Whatever telescope you have is fine, big or small, it doesn't matter. You simply need to bring along your telescope and love for astronomy and be willing to share that joy with all the hungry eyes and minds that turn up.

The upcoming outreach events are always entered into the OCA calendar. The outreach events that occur within schools are usually always private (members of the public cannot attend unless they have children at the school). Other outreach events which are scheduled in some of the public parks and areas may be open to the public. If you are not a member of the OCA and you would like to attend one of our outreach events please contact Jim Benet if you are unlear if the event is open to the public.

Jim Benet may be reach by email jimbenet@pacbell.net phone: 714 693-1639

Below is a list of upcoming outreach events from our calendar

March
16 Tue 8:00 AM	-	Private Outreach - South Jr High School
			Event: South Jr High School Host: Rich Padilla 714 931-7218 Date: Tuesday, 3/16/2010 Viewing at 8:00 PM Place: South Jr High School Address: 2320 East South St.; Anaheim Directions: Take CA-91 to CA-57 S. Exit and turn right at Lincoln Ave and go 0.1 mi. Turn left onto S Sunkist St. go 0.4 mi. Turn right onto E South St. go 0.1 mi.
18 Thu 8:00 PM	-	Private Outreach - UTT Middle School
			Event: Utt Middle School Date: Thursday, 3/18/2010 Viewing at 8:00 PM Place: Utt Middle School Address: 13601 Browning Ave.; Tustin Directions: Take CA-55 to I-5 South. Merge onto I-5 South; go 1.6 mi. Exit on Red Hill Ave. Turn left at Red Hill Ave; go 0.3 mi. Turn right at San Juan St; go 0.5 mi. Turn left at Browning Ave. School is on the left.
19 Fri 8:00 PM	-	Private Outreach - Jordan Intermediate
			Event: Jordan Intermediate Host: Anna Richards 714 663-6124 S; 714 553-9803 C Date: Friday, 3/19/2010 Viewing at 8:00 PM Place: Jordan Intermediate Address: 9821 Woodbury Ave.; Garden Grove Directions: Merge onto CA-57 South to CA-22. Take CA-22 West for 4.8 mi. Take the Trask Ave exit. Turn right onto Trask Ave. Turn right onto Brookhurst St, go 0.2 mi. Turn right onto Woodbury Ave. go 0.1 mi.
20 Sat 8:00 PM	-	Public Outreach - Mission Viejo Library
			Event: Mission Viejo Library Host: Stefanie Tanton; Richard Stember 949 830-7100 x5141; 949 616-9481 C Date: Saturday, 3/20/2010 Viewing at 8:00 PM Place: Mission Viejo Library Address: 100 Civic Center Dr; Mission Viejo Directions: Take the 55 Freeway to the 5 Freeway. Go South on the 5, about 13 miles to the La Paz Road exit. Turn left on La Paz and go 1.3 miles to Marguerite Parkway. Turn right on to Marguerite Parkway then right on Civic Center Dr. Setup on lawn between library and civic center.
25 Thu 8:00 PM	-	Public Outreach - Nix Nature Center
			Event: Laguna Canyon Foundation Date: Thursday, 3/25/2010 Viewing at 8:00; Lecture at 7:30 PM Place: Laguna Canyon Foundation Address: 18751 Laguna Canyon Rd; Laguna Beach Directions: Take CA-55 S to I-5 South. Take exit 11A to merge onto I-5 South; go 7.7 mi. Take exit 95 for CA-133 South. Merge onto CA-133 S; go 5.4 mi. Nix Nature Center is on the right (west side of the street).
April
2 Fri 7:30 PM	-	Beginners Astronomy Class
			Beginners Astronomy Class - held at the Heritage Museum of Orange County in Santa Ana. For details, including the schedule of topics and course handouts, please see the webpage on the Beginners Class, under "About OCA" and "Special Interest Groups," or click here. Free and open to the public as well as members of OCA. Note: All people who attend will be invited to visit our Anza dark site or our Black Star Canyon dark site as guests at one of our monthly star parties.
5 Mon 8:00 PM	-	Private Outreach - Laguna Woods Village
			Event: Laguna Woods Village Host: Nancy Condon 949 770-1377; 949 395-3837 C Date: Monday, 4/5/2010 Viewing at 8:00 PM Place: Laguna Woods Village Address: 24262 Punta Alta; Laguna Woods Directions: Take CA-55 to I-5 South. Merge onto I-5 South; go 11.9 mi to the El Toro Rd exit. Merge onto Paseo de Valencia; go 0.2 mi. Turn right onto El Toro Rd and go 2.1 mi to Calle Corta. Turn right on Calle Corta into Gate 9. Turn right at Avenida Sosiega; go 0.2 mi. Turn left at Monte Hermoso; go 0.3 mi. Turn right at Punta Alta, clubhouse is on the right.
7 Wed 5:00 PM	-	Public Outreach - Back Bay Science Center
			Event: Back Bay Science Center Date: Wednesday, 4/07/2010 Lectures from 7:00 - 9:00 PM No Viewing Place: Back Bay Science Center Address: 600 Shellmaker Rd; Newport Beach Directions: Take CA-55 S toward Newport Beach. Take exit 5A to merge onto CA-73 S toward San Diego; go 1.6 mi. Take exit 15 toward Jamboree Rd; go 0.3 mi. Merge onto Bristol St S; go 0.2 mi. Turn right at Jamboree Rd; go 3.2 mi. Turn right at Back Bay Dr; go 0.4 mi. Destination is on the left.
13 Tue 7:00 PM	-	Private Outreach - Biola University
			Event: Biola University Host: Dr. John Bloom 562 903-4861 O Date: Tuesday, 4/13/2010 Viewing at 8:00 PM Place: Biola University Address: 13800 Biola Avenue; La Mirada Directions: Take the 5 Freeway to Valley View. Go north on Valley View to Rosecrans Ave. Turn right on Rosecrans to Biola Ave. Turn left on Biola 0.6 mi to the parking lot A entrance, just past the main campus entrance. Drive all the way down to the back gate.
15 Thu 8:30 PM	-	Public Outreach - O’Neill Regional Park
			Event: O’Neill Regional Park Host: Molly Stallcup 949 923-2258 Date: Thursday, 4/15/2010 Viewing at 8:30 PM Place: O’Neill Regional Park Address: 30892 Trabuco Canyon Road; Trabuco Canyon Directions: Take CA-91 east to CA-241 S. Merge on to CA-241 S; Toll road; go 20.1 mi. Take the Santa Margarita Pkwy exit. Turn right at Santa Margarita Pkwy; go 1.9 mi. Turn left at Plano Trabuco Rd; go 0.6 mi. Plano Trabuco Rd becomes Trabuco Canyon Rd; go 0.9 mi.
16 Fri 6:00 PM	-	Explore the Stars
			ETS is a fun and exciting collaboration between amateur astronomers from across Southern California and the Forest Service, with support from Palomar Observatory. One night a month from spring through fall of each year, Observatory Campground on Palomar Mt. becomes a true dark site, and, after a talk on an astronomy-related topic, campers from all over the mountain and other visitors have a chance to see some of the sights of the night sky through the telescopes of the ETS volunteers. For the volunteers, the evening starts with a potluck dinner and socializing around 6:00, then the talk usually starts in the amphitheater at 7:00 or 7:30, and is followed by the viewing session. After the visitors leave, the volunteers generally spend the rest of the night having their own star party under the same sky that made Palomar Observatory so successful. For more information or to volunteer, please contact the program coordinator here
16 Fri 8:30 PM	-	Public Outreach - Upper Newport Bay
			Event: Upper Newport Bay Host: Tracy Kirby 949-923-2294 Date: Friday, 4/16/2010 Viewing at 8:30 PM Place: Upper Newport Bay Address: 2301 University Drive; Newport Beach Directions: Take the 55 Fwy south to the 73 Fwy. Go south on the 73and take the Campus Dr / Irvine Ave exit (toward JWA). Turn right on Irvine Ave. Go 1 mile and turn left on University Dr. Keep going down the road for about 200 yards (past the public parking area). Just before the dead-end at the end of the road turn right into the private parking area by the facility (you have to cross a bike trail). Unload your equipment and place it at the front of the facility.

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