Members of the Stockton Astronomical Society will volunteer to setup their telescopes for the public at S.J. County Oak Grove Regional Park on the Saturday closest to the First Quarter Moon. In the past years the Nature Center would be open with astronomy based activities. Due to COVID and in abundance of caution The Nature Center will be closed until further notice. If it is reopened during this year we will amend this page and open times will be added. Also, if the sky is not clear the event may be canceled and we will try again the next month.
• S.J. County charges a Parking Fee of $6.00 CASH per vehicle but the Nature Center and telescope viewing is free.
• SAS telescope volunteers; show the person at the kiosk that you are part of the SAS volunteer staff and they should let you in for free.
• Indoor astronomy themed activities for kids (both big & small) will be in the Nature Center.
• Telescope viewing starts after Sunset, the Moon will be visible in the telescopes from the start. As the sky darkens more objects become visible. Darker and clearer sky is better for viewing.
• Every month we will feature a different deep sky object. We will point one of our large telescopes at this object during the last hour of the evening. These objects are dim and fuzzy and are best seen in large aperture
telescopes.
• To view objects it may be necessary to stand on a ladder or step stool that will be next to the telescope.
For more information call:
Doug Christensen
Stockton Astronomical Society
(209) 471-1674
Eric Holland
Stockton Astronomical Society
(209) 351-0206
Astronomy in the Park 2022 Schedule
Saturday, January 28
Sunset is at 5:20pm
The Moon, Venus until 6pm, Jupiter, Mars, The Pleiades, The Hyades
Deep sky Object: The Andromeda Galaxy
Saturday, February 25
Sunset is at 5:55 pm
The Moon, Jupiter, Venus, Orion Nebula, The Pleiades
Deep sky Object: Perseus Double Cluster
Saturday, March 25
Sunset is at 7:20 pm
The Moon, Venus. Mars, Orion Nebula, The Pleiades
Deep sky Object: Perseus Double Cluster
Saturday, April 29
Sunset is at 8:00 pm
The Moon, Mars, Venus
9:30 pm - Deep Sky Object: M81 & M82 (Bodes Galaxies)
Saturday, May 27
Sunset is at 8:20pm
The Moon, Mars, Venus
9:30 pm - Deep Sky Object: The Whale Galaxy
Saturday, June 24
Sunset is at 8:30pm
The Moon, Venus, Mars at sunset, M13 (Star Cluster in Hercules)
10:00 pm - Deep Sky Object: M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy)
Saturday, July 22
Sunset is at 8:20pm
The Moon, M13 (Star Cluster in Hercules), Ring Nebula
10:00 pm - Deep Sky Object: M3 (Globular Cluster)
Saturday, August 19
Sunset is at 7:50pm
The Moon, Saturn, M13 (Star Cluster in Hercules),
9:30 pm - Deep Sky Object: M8 & M20 (Lagoon Nebula & Trifid Nebula)
Saturday, September 23
Sunset is at 7:00pm
The Moon, Saturn, M13 (Star Cluster in Hercules)
Jupiter after 10:00pm
9:00 pm - Deep Sky Object: M57 (Ring Nebula)
Saturday, October 21
Sunset is at 6:20pm
The Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, M13 (Star Cluster in Hercules)
8:00 pm - Deep Sky Object: M27 (The Dumbbell Nebula)
Saturday, November 18
Sunset is at 4:50pm
The Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, M13 (Star Cluster in Hercules)
Saturday, December 16
Sunset is at 4:45pm
The Moon, Saturn, Jupiter.
8:00 pm - Deep Sky Object: M33 Triangulum Galaxy
*See flyer below