SAVE THE NIGHT SKY!

Saturday, April 15,  7:30 - 9:00 pm

Our sun, solar system and our Milky Way galaxy are part of what astronomers call the Virgo Supercluster. Presented by astronomer Randolph Baron.

MUST REGISTER in advance (17 people limit): Non-member $12, Member $10, Volunteer $8.  Borrego Springs Anza Borrego Desert Activities, Hikes, tours, classes, lectures (scroll to the bottom of page to see this April 15 entry) 

Saturday, April 15 from 8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

A telescope-viewing star party will kick off International Dark Sky Week activities. Arrive at the Santa Ysabel Nature Center before dark to see the telescopes and speak with local astronomers. After dark, learn about the night sky by viewing star clusters, nebula, and other celestial objects – you may even see a meteor or two! Event is held in cooperation with San Diego County Parks and Recreation staff and the Julian Dark Sky Network (JDSN).

Location: 22135 Highway 79, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070

DIRECTIONS: From CA-78, head north on CA-79 for approximately ¼ mile. Look for sign/monument near guard rail, and enter through green gates. Drive up the hillside to the nature center building.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON LOCATION: The nature center building is NOT visible from the roadway! It was designed to blend into the environment, so please use the directions, map, and image below to help you find your way. GPS navigation may not be accurate.

Celebrate International Dark Sky week at the Santa Ysabel Nature Center from April 15-22! You will find an impressive, permanent Dark Skies exhibit with out-of-this-world information on natural darkness, light pollution, and its impact on back country wildlife as well as our ability to view the cosmos. Turn a dial and see what a star-filled sky above the San Diego skyline would look like if light pollution were reduced! Nature Center staff will be showing astrophotography images captured by local astronomers under the dark skies of Julian. Learn more about this award-winning 6,000-square-foot LEED Gold and Zero Net Energy facility, the ranger team and star-gazing hotspot at Santa Ysabel Nature Center (sdparks.org).

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday – Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.Location: 22135 Highway 79, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070

DIRECTIONS: From CA-78, head north on CA-79 for approximately ¼ mile. Look for sign/monument near guard rail, and enter through green gates. Drive up the hillside to the nature center building.

IMPORTANT NOTE ON LOCATION: The nature center building is NOT visible from the roadway! It was designed to blend into the environment, so please use the directions, map, and image below to help you find your way. GPS navigation may not be accurate. 

Scripps Ranch on Friday, April 21 at dusk

Members of the International Dark Sky Association will provide educational materials on the harmful impacts of artificial light at night and how you can quickly and easily reduce light pollution by lighting responsibly. View a good light/bad light diorama demonstration showing how bright, glaring light make it less safe and harder to see at night.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: All public viewing sessions are weather dependent and can be cancelled without notice.

Scripps Ranch at the end of Stonebridge Parkway (map)

Directions: From I-15, go east on Pomerado Road and turn right on Stonebridge Parkway. The entrance to West Sycamore is at the very east end of Stonebridge Parkway. Starts at dusk. Park on the paved street and walk past the gate into the park where telescopes are set up.

Friday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m.

Learn about constellations and planets visible this time of year, hosted live by a college astronomer. Includes a virtual visit to our Moon, the planets, and more! An indoor event at the Palomar College Planetarium, unaffected by bad weather outside.

Where: 1140 West Mission Road | San Marcos, CA  92069

When: Each Friday evening at 7:00 p.m.

https://www.palomar.edu/planetarium/public-shows/

IMPORTANT NOTES: Plan to arrive early, LATE SEATING NOT ALLOWED. This is a paid event and advance, online ticket purchase is recommended, as shows do sell out.

Fulldome Movie at the Palomar College Planetarium 

Friday, April 21 at 8:15 p.m.

Film about the NASA Voyager mission. In 1977, two space probes were launched to explore the farthest planets of the Solar System: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune along with their moons. Forty years later, both spacecraft continue to explore and send scientific data. An indoor event at the Palomar College Planetarium, unaffected by bad weather outside.

Where: 1140 West Mission Road | San Marcos, CA  92069

When: Each Friday evening at 8:15 p.m. a different full dome movie is shown.

https://www.palomar.edu/planetarium/public-shows/

IMPORTANT NOTES: Plan to arrive early, LATE SEATING NOT ALLOWED. This is a paid event and advance, online ticket purchase is recommended, as shows do sell out.

Tierra Del Sol Public Star Party in Boulevard

Saturday, Apr 22, 2023 at dusk

Location:  San Diego Astronomy Association Observing Site at 961 Tierra De Luna Rd, Boulevard, CA 91905, USA (map)

Description: Regular public observing sessions--"star parties"--are held at our ten-acre site in the east county, and the Club's 22-inch telescope, along with other club telescopes, are available for everyone to use. Members experienced in their use and in the night sky host the club telescopes, and the hosts are always willing to take on the throngs of curious public, school groups, and other civic organizations that visit our site.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: Please plan to arrive early and find your way to this remote site before dark to minimize light intrusion.  

Sunset - 7:23 p.m., Moonset - 10:27 p.m., Illumination - 8.6%,

For more info and directions, visit http://www.sdaa.org/tds.htm

SDAA Public Events Calendar: https://sdaa.org/sdaa-public-events-calendar/

Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, solar star party, light pollution comparison star party, and many more to choose from!  https://www.youtube.com/@curiositypeakobservatory2173/streams

Engage your children as citizen-scientists in ‘Globe at Night’ – observe and report night sky brightness from your own backyard!

The Globe at Night program is an international citizen-science campaign to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution by inviting citizen-scientists to measure their night sky brightness and submit their observations from a computer or smart phone. Light pollution threatens not only our “right to starlight”, but can affect energy consumption, wildlife and health. More than 200,000 measurements have been contributed from people in 180 countries over the last 14 years, making Globe at Night the most successful light pollution awareness campaign to date! Visit Globe at Night to learn more: www.globeatnight.org

Protect your local night sky by certifying your home as ‘Dark Sky Friendly’ 

Self-certify your home using the International Dark Sky Association’s ‘Dark Sky Friendly Home Certification’. Check the lighting at your home to see if it's nature, neighbor, and night sky friendly, and make any necessary changes. Shielding or re-aiming a light is often all that’s needed. Turning in, why not turn it off? Visit https://www.darksky.org/dark-sky-friendly-home-lighting-program for details and certificate.