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sjastronomy.bsky.social
San Jose Astronomical Association
@sjastronomy.bsky.social
610 followers 60 following 100 posts
We are the San Jose Astronomical Association, bringing astronomy and science to the people of San Jose, the SF Bay Area, and beyond. Come explore the cosmos with us at a star party! 🚀🌙✨🌞🛰🌌🔭 sjaa.net
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San Jose Astronomical Association @sjastronomy.bsky.social · 21d
PUBLIC TALK: November 1, 2025, 7:30 pm

Dr. Bruce Macintosh will discuss the first-ever images of other solar systems – and the technology that has allowed us to discover them, such as the Gemini Planet Imager – as well as the future planet-hunting space telescopes. #bayarea 🔭 🧪
SJAA 70th anniversary logo. Text: Public Talk, Emerging Picture of Other Worlds with Dr. Bruce Macintosh, November 1, 2025, 7:30 pm, Houge Park, San Jose, California. Inset photos: (top left) Dr. Bruce Macintosh at the Gemini Observatory. (top right) The Gemini Observatory dome and building. (bottom) Direct image of four exoplanets (b, c, d, and e) orbiting a star.
sjastronomy.bsky.social
Our members are enjoying this comet season we have been given! Check out these two images of Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) taken by member Mike Madden using his Seestar. The first is from Monday, 27 October... 🔭 🧪
Photo of a comet set against the backdrop of the starry night sky. The comet’s coma and nucleus are at the bottom left, and the tail is angling up to the upper right. The very thin, faint portion of the tail continues nearly to the top of the image.
November 12, 2025 at 10:51 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
Weather permitting, the next Starry Nights public star party will be held on Saturday, November 15. The viewing site, Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve, is just 30 minutes south of downtown San Jose. #bayarea 🧪 🔭
Pink and orange mottled background. Inset: A spiral galaxy in the night sky. Text: Starry Nights Star Party, Nov. 15, 6:00 pm, by SJ Astronomy, 4289 Casa Loma Rd. Graphic: Attend on Meetup with logo.
October 30, 2025 at 9:54 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
PUBLIC TALK: November 1, 2025, 7:30 pm

Dr. Bruce Macintosh will discuss the first-ever images of other solar systems – and the technology that has allowed us to discover them, such as the Gemini Planet Imager – as well as the future planet-hunting space telescopes. #bayarea 🔭 🧪
SJAA 70th anniversary logo. Text: Public Talk, Emerging Picture of Other Worlds with Dr. Bruce Macintosh, November 1, 2025, 7:30 pm, Houge Park, San Jose, California. Inset photos: (top left) Dr. Bruce Macintosh at the Gemini Observatory. (top right) The Gemini Observatory dome and building. (bottom) Direct image of four exoplanets (b, c, d, and e) orbiting a star.
October 22, 2025 at 5:53 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
Member Sudhir Bud managed to capture C/2025 A6 Lemmon about a week ago in the eastern skies from Palo Alto, California, around 5 am during a brief dark hour between moonset and sunrise. 🔭 🧪
Photograph of a pale green comet with a bright, fuzzy coma and long tail that reaches up and to the left. The background is full of stars.
October 14, 2025 at 5:47 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
The shadow of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, transited Saturn from Earth's vantage point on October 5, 2025. Luckily, member Christos Gougoussis captured the transit using his Celestron C11 telescope and ZWO ASI462MC camera. 🔭 🧪
Black background. Somewhat grainy image of Saturn, with the rings almost edge on to our view from Earth. At the ten o’clock position, a dark spot is seen. That is the shadow of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan.
October 8, 2025 at 9:39 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
As the waning gibbous Moon rises on Thursday, October 9, it will be passing in front of the famous Pleiades star cluster (aka Messier 45). This type of event, known as an occultation, occurs when one celestial object temporarily blocks the view of another object. 🔭 🧪
October 6, 2025 at 7:29 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
Join SJ Astronomy for our next Starry Nights Star Party - Saturday, October 11, 2025, 7:30 pm. 🔭 🧪

You must be a member of the SJ Astronomy Meetup group to register to attend (it's free): www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy/

Link for October 11 Starry Nights registration: www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy...
Black background, white text. Text: by SJ Astronomy - Starry Nights Star Party - Saturday, October 11, 2025, 7:30 pm. RSVP on Meetup. Inset image: Banner of stars and star clusters across the middle of the graphic.
September 29, 2025 at 7:58 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
Member Brad Haakenson captured this lovely image of the entire Veil Nebula on Monday night, September 22, 2025. It was a beautiful night at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve – warm with no dew and very clear. The seeing even improved through the night. 🧪 🔭
Alt Text Astrophotograph of the entire Veil Nebula, seen as wisps of gas and dust forming a variety of shapes, from the hooded Eastern Nebula on the left to Pickering’s Triangle in the middle and the Witch’s Broomstick on the right.
September 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
Member Michael Madden captured interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS using his Seestar S50 on September 13, 2025, at Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve during a Starry Nights event. The Seestar was able to capture about 40 minutes of light until 3I/ATLAS disappeared below the ridge to the southwest. 🔭
Astrophotograph showing numerous stars. In the center are two red lines, one vertical and one horizontal, indicating the location of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, seen as a faint fuzzy dot trailing a fuzzy tail to the lower right.
September 17, 2025 at 7:12 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
Timelapse of the sunspots from the last Solar Sunday at Houge Park, September 7, 2025. This timelapse was captured over 2 hours, with over 8,000 pictures taken. It was taken on a Seestar S30 by member Creighton Voon.

#space #science #astronomy #astrophotography
September 16, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Reposted by San Jose Astronomical Association
davidbflower.bsky.social
Five celestial events to look out for this autumn. 🔭 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...
Supermoons and meteor showers: Five celestial events to look for this autumn
From supermoons to meteor showers, Elizabeth Rizzini has your guide to what may delight in the autumn night skies.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 13, 2025 at 3:19 AM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
PUBLIC TALK: October 4, 2025, 7:30 pm

Our October meeting is for you to share your unique telescope builds, tell the story behind your favorite astro-photos, pass on image processing tips, or share brief astro-travelogues. 🔭 🧪 #BayArea

Sign up at our Meetup: www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy...
SJAA 70th anniversary logo. Text: Public talk. The Talk: Member show and tell. Share your unique telescope builds, tell the story of your favorite astro-photos, pass on image processing tips, or brief astro-travelogues. October 4, 2025, Houge Park, San Jose, 7:30 pm. Inset images: (top left) A telescope in front of a blue sky. (top right) Photo of the night sky over trees with light pollution at the horizon. (bottom) Composite image of a telescope in front of the night sky, featuring the detailed band of the Milky Way over trees.
September 11, 2025 at 11:09 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
PUBLIC TALK: September 6, 2025, 7:30 pm

Dr. Katya Arquilla will discuss how long-duration exploration missions present challenges more intense than those encountered in low-Earth orbit.

Sign up: www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy...

#astronomy #bayarea 🔭 🧪
The challenges of crewed long-duration exploration missions to the Moon and Mars, Sat, Sep 6, 2025, 7:30 PM | Meetup
Come join us for our monthly Astronomy talk! 7:30pm-8pm: Social time with snacks
 8pm: Talk begin Title: **The challenges of crewed long-duration exploration missions to
www.meetup.com
September 3, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Reposted by San Jose Astronomical Association
davidbflower.bsky.social
Tomorrow morning Venus continues to appear close to the Beehive Cluster. 🔭 🧪 🎨 #astrophotography #SciArt #photography
The beehive cluster of star dots at centre. Planet Venus disc lower right of frame.
September 1, 2025 at 9:16 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
Another great image from last week’s event at the Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve! This picture of the Western Veil Nebula (Caldwell 34) and Pickering’s Triangle comes from member Kal Krishnan, using two hours of data with a dual-band (L-Enhance) filter on his Astro DSLR. 🔭 🧪
The Western Veil Nebula is in the upper right, curving from top to the right, shown in purples and pinks. Pickering’s Triangle is on the left and “pointing” toward the center. Background stars fill the image.
August 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
Member Doug Loyer captured this fantastic image of the Elephant Trunk Nebula (IC 1396A) earlier this week from the Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve.

Collection and processing detail: Askar 120 APO, 63 x 60s images, ASI533MC, ZWO Duo Filter

Processed using Nebula Magic 🔭

#astrophotography
A red nebula reaches up through the night sky, vaguely shaped like the trunk of an elephant. Several bright stars dot the foreground of the image while many smaller stars are scattered throughout.
August 22, 2025 at 5:39 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
Apologies, everyone! The date on the graphic is correct: September 6, 2025, 7:30 pm. #bayarea 🔭 🧪
sjastronomy.bsky.social San Jose Astronomical Association @sjastronomy.bsky.social · Aug 19
PUBLIC TALK: July 12, 2025, 7:30 pm

Dr. Katya Arquilla will discuss how long-duration exploration missions present challenges more intense than those encountered in low-Earth orbit.

Sign up: www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy...

#astronomy #bayarea 🔭 🧪
Text: THE TALK: The Challenges of Crewed Long-duration Exploration Missions to the Moon and Mars With Dr. Katya Arquilla, September 6, 2025, 7:30 pm, Houge Park, San Jose, CA. Inset photos: (top left) Photo of Dr. Katya Arquilla sitting in a NASA chair in front of two monitors and looking back at the camera. (top right) A group of four scientists in numbered space suits, working together with a robot dog in a Mars analog site on Earth. (bottom) A panoramic view of the Mars analog site, with red sedimentary rock in the foreground and thicker layered rock cliffs in the background, plus four scientists in orange jumpsuits on top of a mound.
August 21, 2025 at 10:26 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
PUBLIC TALK: July 12, 2025, 7:30 pm

Dr. Katya Arquilla will discuss how long-duration exploration missions present challenges more intense than those encountered in low-Earth orbit.

Sign up: www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy...

#astronomy #bayarea 🔭 🧪
Text: THE TALK: The Challenges of Crewed Long-duration Exploration Missions to the Moon and Mars With Dr. Katya Arquilla, September 6, 2025, 7:30 pm, Houge Park, San Jose, CA. Inset photos: (top left) Photo of Dr. Katya Arquilla sitting in a NASA chair in front of two monitors and looking back at the camera. (top right) A group of four scientists in numbered space suits, working together with a robot dog in a Mars analog site on Earth. (bottom) A panoramic view of the Mars analog site, with red sedimentary rock in the foreground and thicker layered rock cliffs in the background, plus four scientists in orange jumpsuits on top of a mound.
August 19, 2025 at 5:27 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
A rare Titan shadow-transit season is happening now! Saturn’s largest moon is casting its shadow on the ice giant every 16 days through early October. So grab a telescope (3-in+), aim at dawn, and don’t miss this once-in-15-years chance. 🔭 🧪

skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
Titan Shadow Transit Season Underway
Titan shadow transits are rare, occurring only about every 15 years. Don't miss the chance to see one this observing season.
skyandtelescope.org
August 18, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Reposted by San Jose Astronomical Association
davidbflower.bsky.social
Tomorrow Jupiter continues to appear close to Venus. Look east from around 3am. If awake enjoy the sight, if asleep have nice dreams. 🔭 🧪 🎨 #astrophotography #SciArt #photography #StormHour #ThePhotoHour
Planet Venus dot below centre. Planet Jupiter dot above centre.
August 15, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Reposted by San Jose Astronomical Association
earthskyscience.bsky.social
Would you like to see the #Andromeda galaxy? Here's how. 🌌

Tonight, try star-hopping to the Andromeda galaxy - 2.5 million light-years away - from the constellation #Cassiopeia. If your sky is dark, you might even spot this hazy patch of light with no optical aid.

buff.ly/zgwwj0y

📸 EarthSky.
Star chart of constellations Cassiopeia and Andromeda with labeled Andromeda galaxy between them.
August 14, 2025 at 12:01 AM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
Many thanks to the amazing rangers and staff at Yosemite National Park for helping to make this year's SJAA-led Glacier Point star party a huge success! The crescent moon rising over Half Dome, as seen in this all-sky timelapse taken on July 19th, perfectly punctuated this phenomenal experience. 🔭
August 13, 2025 at 8:07 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
REMINDER: Our next public talk is this weekend. Come join us! #BayArea 🔭🧪
sjastronomy.bsky.social San Jose Astronomical Association @sjastronomy.bsky.social · Jun 24
PUBLIC TALK: July 12, 2025, 7:30 pm

Phil Hinz will discuss the technology development being carried out at the UC Observatories to integrate adaptive optics (AO) and the development of large segmented mirror telescopes (LSMT).

Sign up: www.meetup.com/sj-astronomy...

#astronomy 🔭🧪
Text: Public Talk. The Talk: New Technology for Exploring Other Worlds with Phil Hinze. July 12, 2025, 7:30 pm, Houge Park, San Jose, CA. SJAA anniversary logo. Inset pictures: Phil Hinz, an adaptive secondary mirror from the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, and the twin domes of Keck Observatory in Hawai'i.
July 7, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by San Jose Astronomical Association
astrosociety.org
Join the #ASP on Mon, June 30 at 5:30pm PT for a #FREE online screening of #SALLY — the story of astronaut Sally Ride and the love she kept hidden. Her partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, shares their 27-year journey in this moving #NatGeo #doc. 🏳️‍🌈🔭🧪 #LoveIsLove
🎥 @sundance.org #filmfest
🔗 buff.ly/ctsFmYN
June 24, 2025 at 10:47 PM
sjastronomy.bsky.social
Nova announcement!

A star in the constellation Lupus, the Wolf, typically shines at a faint magnitude 22 but has brightened to naked-eye visibility.

Look at this image captured by Joe Fragola during the Starry Nights star party at Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve. 🔭🧪
Starry sky with a brighter star in the center labeled as V462 Nova Lupi.
June 25, 2025 at 7:55 PM