Astronomy Day was founded in 1973 by the Astronomical Association of Northern California, and is scheduled for a Saturday nearest the first quarter Moon between mid-April and mid-May. This allows participants to include observations of the Moon (weather-permitting) in the day's proceedings. This event is celebrated by astronomy clubs, planetariums, science centers, observatories, and other astronomy-oriented organizations who are eager to share their enthusiasm and interest in all things celestial.
Programs
Astronomy Day 2019
Discover the joys of stargazing with amateur and professional astronomers, students, scientists, and technology innovators as we celebrate Astronomy Day in the Piazza from 10am to 4pm! Academy visitors can observe or participate in activities, demonstrations, and crafts, or ask astronomy and space-related questions at any of the tables. Young visitors can enjoy a space-age Interstellar Story Time at 10:45am and 1:45pm at Science Today. Weather-permitting, you can stargaze from the Living Roof (one star can be seen up-close: the Sun). Later in the day, observe the craters on the Moon!
Displays and tables 10am-4pm from:
- Art by Physicist Kitty Yeung—when fashion meets technology
- Astronomical Society of the Pacific—founded in 1889 and international in scope, promoting the understanding and appreciation of astronomy, science, and science literacy
- AstroReality—featuring an augmented reality experience that lets you explore the planets with highly-accurate 3D-printed models
- City College of San Francisco Astronomy Department—offering a complete range of courses for students interested in pursuing astronomy or astrophysics as a career
- EastBay Astronomical Society—exploring the skies from the Oakland Hills since 1924
- Made of Mars—using materials found in space to build a sustainable future on Earth and beyond
- Robert Ferguson Observatory—a hidden gem located in Sonoma's Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, home of the largest publicly-accessible telescope in California
- San Francisco Amateur Astronomers—promoting appreciation of the wonders of the night sky since 1952
- Space Station Museum—Novato's own far-out space museum, filled with artifacts from the U.S. and Russian space programs
- Solar Simulator—augmented reality app in development that models our solar system to almost any scale
- Unistellar—are you ready for a light-amplifying instrument 100 times more powerful than a conventional telescope?
- USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum—prime recovery vessel for the Apollo 11 & 12 missions, now a floating museum in Alameda
- VR2Planets—exploring the surfaces of other planets using virtual reality
- Women in Physics and Astronomy (SF State University)—committed to public outreach and seeking to inspire women to pursue their interests in STEM, especially physics and astronomy