Orange County Astronomers

OCA Board Meeting
2019-11-17 11:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | The Urban Workshop, 365 Clinton St A, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, United States
The Board meeting of the OCA Astronomers will be held at the Urban Workshop, in Costa Mesa. The meeting starts at 11pm and usually last 2-3 hours. All members are welcome but please notify Alan Smallbone the club secretary if you will be attending.

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Astrophysics SIG Meeting
2019-11-15 19:30 - 21:30, 2019-10-18 19:30 - 21:30 | Orange Coast College, Building 40, Astronomy House, Merrimac Way, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, United States
Our Astrophysics group meets to discuss and learn about how the universe works as a seminar group that bases its discussions on topics of interest introduced by the participants and the videos that are shown during the meetings on different aspects of astrophysics. The meetings are held in the classroom at the Heritage Museum of Orange County, located at 3101 W. Harvard Ave., Santa Ana. The museum is located about a half-block west of Fairview; Harvard is about two miles north of the 405 Fwy, between Warner and Edinger. The driveway is at the western end of the museum property; follow it around to the back of the property to the parking area; the classroom faces the parking area. All members are welcome – come join us for a stimulating evening!

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Private Outreach - Cielo Vista Elementary
2019-11-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Cielo Vista Elementary, 21811 Avenida De Los Fundadores, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, 92688, United States
Event: Cielo Vista Elementary
Date: Friday, 11/15/2019
Viewing at 7:00 PM, Sunset at 4:50 PM
Place: Cielo Vista Elementary
Address: 21811 Avenida De Los Fundadores; Rancho Santa Margarita
Location: 33°38’48″N, 117°35’09″W
Directions: Take I-5 South towards San Diego. Use Right 2 lanes to take Exit 90 for Alicia Parkway. Use Left 2 lanes to turn Left onto Alicia Pkwy, 5.3 mi. Use Right 2 lanes to turn Right onto Santa Margarita Pkwy, 2.2 mi. Turn Right onto Avenida De Los Fundadores, 0.1 mi. School will be on your Right.
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Full Moon
2019-11-12 00:00 | CA
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Kuhn Private Reservation
2019-11-09 15:00 - 2019-11-10 07:00 | CA
Pat Knoll has reserved the Kuhn Telescope for a private event.
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General Meeting - November 2019
2019-11-08 07:30 - 21:30 | Irvine Lecture Hall of the Chapman University, 336 N Center St, Orange, CA, 92866, United States
OUR LITTLE CORNER OF THE GALAXY – THE EARTHLIGHT EXPRESS

In The Earthlight Express, internationally published science artist Chris Butler brings his popular Our Little Corner of the Galaxy tours of the universe close to home – with an excursion across the wild and majestic wastelands of Earth’s moon. Join Chris for a unique blend of science and imagination that will transform the distant moon you see in Earth’s sky into what it truly is: a world of its own.

In The Earthlight Express, internationally published science artist Chris Butler brings his popular Our Little Corner of the Galaxy tours of the universe close to home – with an excursion across the wild and majestic wastelands of Earth’s moon at some time several centuries hence when such travel may be commonplace. While earlier episodes of these tours required interstellar probes and spacecraft to visit far-flung destinations in the universe, The Earthlight Express takes place close to home – which allows us to relax in comfort riding a lunar rail train of the future.
While our method of travel is imaginary, the places we will be visiting are all quite real. Indeed, we will pass through landscapes walked by three of the Apollo moon crews. Placing ourselves into the scene permits us to appreciate the scope and scale of the places. We will also be visiting parts of the moon Apollo never reached, and seeing sights those astronauts never glimpsed, such as the eerie majesty of the frigid lunar night. In all, our path will carry us across more than 2700 miles, passing through wide valleys, alongside towering mountains, across deep crevasses, and to the sheer lip of a gigantic crater that would hold a dozen large cities.
Chris conceived, researched, scripted, designed, modeled and edited all elements of the production over a course of four years, making this the most ambition presentation he has undertaken yet in his 25 years of creating public science education shows.

Chris Butler is an internationally renowned artist, public speaker, and educational program producer whose work focuses on science, nature, and maritime subjects. His illustrations have appeared in thousands of publications worldwide, from the Times of London to Scientific American. A graduate of California State University Fullerton’s school of Television and Film Production, Chris has served as an art director and animator on both educational and entertainment programs.
Chris has served as an artist and animator for planetarium and exhibit programs for the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles for 22 years, and is a regular lecturer at education venues across the country. Chris’s unique art and presentation style reflects his diverse experience; he has been the director of a children’s science museum, a tour guide on the original Queen Mary, a technical illustrator, a representative for a telescope manufacturer, an amateur astronomer, and a financial analyst on the space shuttle program for Rockwell International.
Chris was the 2006 recipient of the Western Astronomical Association’s G. Bruce Blair Medal for service to astronomy. Chris was also recognized in 2002 by having an asteroid named in his honor by the International Astronomical Union (minor planet 13543 Butler). In 2008, Chris was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (F.R.A.S.) in recognition of his service to international science education.
An avid amateur astronomer, Chris brings direct experience with astronomy to his work. He has served as a vice-president and board member of the Orange County Astronomers (the largest organization of its kind in the world), and is a life member of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society.
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Private Outreach - Community Roots Academy
2019-11-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Community Roots Academy, 29292 Crown Valley Pkwy, Laguna Niguel, CA, 92677, United States
Event: Community Roots Academy
Date: Thursday, 11/7/2019
Time: Viewing at 7:00 PM, Sunset at 4:56 PM
Place: Community Roots Academy
Address: 29292 Crown Valley Pkwy; Laguna Niguel, 92677
Location: 33°32’09″N, 117°41’51″W
Directions: Take CA-55 South; go 6.6 mi. Take exit 11A for I-5 S; go 1.1 mi. Merge onto I-5 S; go 15.8 mi. Take exit 86 for Crown Valley Pkwy; go 0.2 mi. Turn right onto Crown Valley Pkwy; go 2.5 mi. Turn left on Adelanto Drive. School is on the right. Turn right into the drive way and continue straight on the black top to the back of the school.

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Astroimagers (AISIG) Meeting
2019-11-06 18:30 - 21:00 | The Urban Workshop, 365 Clinton St A, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, United States
Tonight is the meeting of the AstroImagers Special Interest Group (AISIG). The meeting will start at 6:30pm and ends at 9pm at the Urban Workshop. This meeting is open to all members of the OCA. We have members of all skill levels and this is the place to ask questions, learn and meet other members interested in imaging the sky. All skill levels are welcome, experience is not necessary. Please arrive promptly as the meetings do start at 6:30pm, the venue closes at 9pm so we must leave by then.

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Private Outreach - Imperial Elementary School
2019-11-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Imperial Elementary School, 400 S Imperial Hwy, Anaheim Hills, CA, 92807, United States
Event: Imperial Elementary School
Date: Monday, 11/4/2019
Time: Viewing at 7:00 PM, Sunset at 4:59 PM
Place: Imperial Elementary School
Address: 400 S. Imperial Hwy; Anaheim Hills
Location: 33°50’42″N, 117°47’21″W
Directions: Take CA-55 North towards the 91. Use the Right two lanes to merge onto CA-91 E, 0.5 mi. Use the Right two lanes to take Exit 35 towards Lakeview Ave, 0.2 mi. Stay to the left to turn Left onto E Santa Ana Canyon Rd. Turn Right onto S Royal Oak Rd, 0.5 mi. Turn Left onto Nohl Ranch Rd, 0.6 mi. Turn Left onto S Imperial Hwy. School will be on your Right.
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1st Qtr Moon
2019-11-04 00:00 | CA

Private Outreach - IrvineUSD Astronomy Night
2019-11-02 19:00 - 21:00 | University High School
Event: Irvine USD Astronomy Night
Date: Saturday, 11/2/2019
Time: Viewing at 7:00 PM, Sunset at 6:01 PM
Place: Irvine USD Astronomy Night
Address: 4771 Campus Dr; Irvine, 92612
Location: 33°39’05″N, 117°49’21″W
Directions: Head north toward E Chapman Ave. Turn right onto E Chapman Ave. Take the ramp onto CA-55 S; State Rte 55 S; go 7.3 mi. Take exit 6B for I-405 S toward San Diego Fwy; San Diego; John Wayne Airport; go 0.6 mi. Keep left, follow signs for I-405 S and merge onto I-405 S; San Diego Fwy; go 2.6 mi. Take exit 5 for Culver Dr; go 0.3 mi. Turn right onto Culver Dr; go 1.4 mi. Turn left onto Campus Dr; go 0.2 mi. Turn left at Paseo Montoya; go 0.1 mi. School is on the right.
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Beginner's Class
2019-11-01 19:30 - 21:30 | Orange Coast College, Building 40, Astronomy House, Merrimac Way, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, United States
The 3rd session of the Beginners Astronomy Class covers different methods of finding objects in the night sky. Special topic is learning the constellations.
The Beginners Astronomy Class is held at the Heritage Museum of Orange County in Santa Ana. For details, please visit /special-interest-groups/beginners-class/ and download the sample information PDF package.
Free and open to the public as well as members of OCA.
Note: All who attend will be invited to visit our monthly Orange County star party.
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Private Outreach - Family Astronomy Night
2019-11-01 19:00 - 21:00 | CA
Event: Family Astronomy Night
Date: Friday, 11/1/2019
Viewing at 7:00 PM, Sunset at 6:01 PM
Place: Held at Norman P Murray Center
Address: 24932 Veterans Way; Mission Viejo
Location: 33°36’08″N, 117°39’05″W
Directions: Take CA-55 S to I-5 S. Take the I-5 S exit toward San Diego; go 1.1 mi. Merge onto I-5 S; go 13.0 mi. Take exit 89 for La Paz Rd and use the Left two lanes to turn onto La Paz . Keep Left to stay on La Paz Road, 1.5 mi. Turn Left onto Veterans Way. Drive into the Center’s parking lot; set up in the field on the right.
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Private Outreach Canceled - Heritage Museum of Orange County
2019-10-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Orange Coast College, Building 40, Astronomy House, Merrimac Way, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626, United States
Event: Heritage Museum of Orange County
Date: Wednesday, 10/30/2019
Viewing at 7:00 PM, Sunset at 6:04 PM
Place: Heritage Museum of Orange County
Address: 3101 W Harvard St; Santa Ana
Location: 33°43’15″N, 117°54’38″W
Directions: Take CA-55 South to 405 N. Merge onto 405 North towards Long Beach. Take the Exit 11 Fairview Rd /Harbor Blvd, keep Right at the fork and follow signs for Fairview Rd. Turn right onto Fairview Rd, 2.2 mi. Turn Left onto West Harvard Rd. The Heritage Museum will be on your right. Turn into the driveway marked for Bus and Employee Entrance and follow it back behind the museum to park.
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Private Outreach - Canceled
2019-10-29 19:15 - 21:15 | Laguna Woods Astronomy Club, 24351 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA, 92637, United States
Event: Laguna Woods Astronomy Club
Date: Tuesday, 10/29/2019
Event Canceled.
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Public Event - OC Parks (registration req) Upper Newport Bay
2019-10-28 19:00 - 21:00 | OC Parks Upper Newport Bay, 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA, 92660, United States
Event: OC Parks Upper Newport Bay
Date: Monday, 10/28/2019
Viewing at 7:15 PM, Sunset at 6:06 PM
Place: OC Parks Upper Newport Bay
Address: 2301 University Drive; Newport Beach
Location: 33°39’16″N, 117°53’11″W
Directions: Take CA-55 South towards Costa Mesa. Use the Right 2 lanes to take Exit 5A towards SR-73 South to San Diego, 0.9 mi. Merge onto SR-73 S and take Right lane to take Exit 16 towards Irvine Ave/ Campus Dr., 0.2 mi. Use Right lane to merge onto SE Bristol St., 0.1 mi. Use Right 2 lanes, turn Right onto Irvine Ave., 0.9 mi. Turn Left onto University Dr. Park will be on your immediate right, take 2nd driveway to turn into employee parking lot. (Do not use public parking lot)
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New Moon
2019-10-27 00:00 | CA

Private Star Party - Orange County
2019-10-26 18:00 | Bob Swenson Memorial Air Field @ Irvine Lake, CA, United States
Monthly Star Party in the OC Parks Open space (Location may vary), open to OCA Members and their guests only. NOTE: The actual time the gate opens may be different from what is shown above. The Orange County star parties generally begin with the opening of the gate about 30 minutes before sundown and close at midnight. Please contact Steve Mizera, the Star Party Coordinator, at mizeras@cox.net for details, and to be put on the OC Star Party mailing list.
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Private star party – Anza
2019-10-26 18:00 | CA

Private Outreach - Canceled
2019-10-25 19:15 - 21:15 | Laguna Niguel Elementary, 27922 Niguel Heights Blvd, Laguna Niguel, CA, 92677, United States
Event: Laguna Niguel Elementary
Date: Friday, 10/25/2019
Viewing at 7:15 PM, Sunset at 6:09 PM
Place: Laguna Niguel Elementary
Address: 27922 Niguel Heights Rd; Laguna Niguel
Location: 33°33’24″N, 117°42’16″W
Directions: Take I-5 South towards San Diego. Take Exit 88 for Oso Pkwy, using the Right two lanes to turn Right onto Oso, 1.8 mi. Turn Left onto Moulton Pkwy, 0.8 mi. Turn Right onto Avila Rd and then immediately turn Left onto Niguel Heights Blvd. School will be on your left.
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Private Outreach - Canceled
2019-10-24 19:15 - 21:15 | Library of the Canyons, 7531 E Santiago Canyon Rd, Silverado, CA, 92676, United States
Event: Library of the Canyons
Date: Thursday, 10/24/2019
Viewing at 7:15 PM, Sunset at 6:09 PM
Place: Library of the Canyons
Address: 7531 Santiago Canyon Rd; Silverado
Location: 33°44’38″N, 117°40’03″W
Directions: Take CA-55 north towards the 91. Take the exit East Chapman Ave and continue on Chapman as it becomes E. Santiago Canyon Rd, 5.5 mi. Keep Left to stay on E Santiago Canyon Rd, 6.5 mi. The library will come up on the left hand side after the Silverado Children’s Center.
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Private Outreach - GB Miller Elementary School
2019-10-23 19:15 - 21:00 | GB Miller Elementary School, 7751 Furman Rd, La Palma, CA, 90623, United States
Event: GB Miller Elementary School

Date: Wednesday, 10/23/2019

Time: Viewing at 7:15 PM, Sunset at 6:12 PM

Place: GB Miller Elementary School

Address: 7751 Furman Rd; La Palma

Location: 33°50’57″N, 118°02’02″W

Directions: Take I-5 North towards Los Angeles. Take exit 113C to merge onto CA-91 W/ State Hwy 91W, 3.2 mi. Take exit 22 for Valley View Street towards Orangethrope Ave, .02 mi. Use Left two lanes to turn Left onto Valley View St. Turn Right onto Panama Dr. and then make an immediate Left onto Miller St. The street will turn right and become Thelma Ave., 0.2 mi. Turn Left onto Furman Rd. School will be on your right.

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Private Outreach - Bonita Canyon Elementary
2019-10-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Bonita Canyon Elementary, 1 Sundance Dr, Irvine, CA, 92603, United States
Event: Bonita Canyon Elementary
Date: Tuesday, 10/22/2019
Viewing at 7:15 PM, Sunset at 6:12 PM
Place: Bonita Canyon Elementary
Address: 1 Sundance Drive; Irvine
Location: 33°38’02″N, 117°48’47″W
Directions: Take the CA-55 south exit towards Costa Mesa Fwy/Newport Beach. Take the I-405 south and exit on Culver D. Turn right on Culver Dr and go 1.4 mi. Turn left on Campus Dr – go 0.4 mi. Turn right on Turtle Rock Dr – go 1.6 mi. Turn left on Sundance.
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Private Outreach - Ethel Dwyer Middle School
2019-10-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Ethel Dwyer Middle School, 1502 Palm Ave, Huntington Beach, CA, 92648, United States
Event: Ethel Dwyer Middle School
Date: Monday, 10/21/2019
Viewing at 7:15 PM, Sunset at 6:14 PM
Place: Ethel Dwyer Middle School
Address: 1502 Palm Ave; Huntington Beach
Location: 33°40’11″N, 118°00’17″W
Directions: Take CA-55 South towards the 405, Costa Mesa. Use Right two lanes to merge onto 405 North towards Long Beach, 5.0 mi. Take exit 14 for Brookhurst St – keep Left at the fork, following signs for Brookhurst St South. Merge onto Brookhurst St. Turn Right onto Ellis Ave, 2.0 mi. Continue onto Main Street, 1.5 mi. Use Right two lanes to make a Right onto 17th St., 0.5 mi. Turn Left onto Palm Ave. School will be on your Left.
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Last Qtr Moon
2019-10-21 00:00 | CA

Public Outreach - OC Parks Astronomy Night
2019-10-19 19:15 - 21:15 | O’Neill Regional Park, 30892 Trabuco Canyon Rd, Trabuco Canyon, CA, 92679, United States
Event: OC Parks Astronomy Night
Date: Saturday, 10/19/2019
Time: Viewing at 7:15 PM, Sunset at 6:15 PM
Place: Held at O’Neill Regional Park
Address: 30892 Trabuco Canyon Rd.; Trabuco Canyon, 92679
Location: 33°39’05″N, 117°36’03″W
Directions: Head to I-5 South towards San Diego. Take exit 91 towards El Toro Rd via Avenida De La Carlota. Use the Left three lanes to turn Left onto El Toro Rd. Travel 7.5 mi. and turn Right onto Live Oak Canyon Rd. Live Oak becomes Trabuco Canyon Rd. Looks for signs for O’Neill Regional Park on the Right.
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Private Outreach - Yorba Linda Public Library
2019-10-18 19:15 - 21:15 | Yorba Linda Public Library, 18181 Imperial Hwy, Yorba Linda, CA, 92886, United States
Event: Yorba Linda Public Library
Date: Friday, 10/18/2019
Viewing at 7:15 PM, Sunset at 6:17 PM
Place: Yorba Linda Public Library
Address: 18181 Imperial Highway; Yorba Linda
Location: 33°53’28″N, 117°48’54″W
Directions: Take CA-55 N towards the CA-91. Merge onto CA-91 E, 1.9 mi. Use Right two lanes to take exit 36 for Imperial Hwy/ CA-90. Use Left two lanes to turn Left onto CA-90/N Imperial Hwy, 3.2 mi. Library will be located on right hand side.
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Private Outreach - Loma Vista Elementary
2019-10-17 19:15 - 21:00 | Loma Vista Elementary, 13822 S Prospect Ave, Santa Ana, CA, United States
Event: Loma Vista Elementary
Date: Thursday, 10/17/2019
Viewing at 7:15 PM, Sunset at 6:18 PM
Place: Loma Vista Elementary
Address: 13822 S Prospect Ave; Santa Ana
Location: 33°45’44″N, 117°49’09″W
Directions: Merge onto I-5 N; go 2.5 mi. Take exit 103A for CA 55 N; go 0.2 mi. Keep left and merge onto CA-55 N; go 1.0 mi. Take exit 12 for 17th St; go 0.3 mi. Turn right onto E 17th St; go 0.5 mi. Turn left onto Prospect Ave; go 0.2 mi. Turn right onto 17th St; go 0.5 mi. Turn left onto Prospect Ave; go 0.2 mi.. Enter the parking lot at the church before (just south of) the school. Enter the gate at the back of the school (from the church parking lot). Cross over the field to the back top area.
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Private Outreach - Rossmoor Elementary Campout
2019-10-16 19:30 - 21:30 | Rossmoor Elementary Campout, 3272 Shakespeare Dr., Los Alamitos, CA, 90720, United States
Event: Rossmoor Elementary Campout
Date: Wednesday, 10/16/2019
Viewing at 7:30 PM, Sunset at 6:20 PM
Place: Rossmoor Elementary Campout
Address: 3272 Shakespeare Drive; Los Alamitos
Location: 33°47’33″N, 118°04’38″W
Directions: Take CA-55 South to I-5, take the exit for 1-5 North towards Santa Ana/Anaheim. Take exit 102 to merge onto CA-22 W towards Seal Beach., 10 mi. Keep right to take on CA-22 W, 1 mi and continue to stay on CA-22 W as it merges with the 405 N. Take exit 22 for Seal Beach Blvd towards Los Alamitos Ave. Turn Right onto Seal Beach Blvd, 0.8 mi. Continue onto Los Alamitos Blvd., 0.3 mi. Turn Left onto Rossmoor Way and then turn Right onto Shakespeare Drive. School is on left.
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