SFAA-Astronomy.org - Star Parties

Club Star Parties

The SFAA hosts monthly Star Parties at two bay area locations throughout the year. From April to October we host a star party on the top of Mt Tamalpais in the Rock Springs parking area in conjuction with the Mt Tamalpais Interpretive Association. The SFAA also hosts a City Star Party at Land's End or sometimes at the Randall Museum in San Francisco. Each star party is held weather permitting and the public is welcome. Go to our online Calendar to see when the next star party is being held. Click here to see photos from a past star party.

Bay Area Clear Sky Clocks

San Francisco:

Mount Tamalpais State Park:

Mt. Tamalpais Star Party at Rock Springs

April through October, Mount Tamalpais State Park and the SFAA host monthly Star Parties at Rock Springs on the Saturday nearest the first quarter moon. Astronomy Lectures are given before the Star Party at the Mountain Theatre above Rock Springs. Mt Tam lecture schedules are available at the MTSP web site. After the lecture the public is invited to view the stars through telescopes setup and operated by club memebrs in the Rock Springs parking lot. Public observing following the lectures lasts about 1-1/2 to 2 hours (usually until around 10:30-11:00pm)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Only SFAA members are allowed to remain at the star party after the Pan Toll gates are closed. This is a rule of Mt. Tamalpais State Park. After public observing is over the gates are closed and only members will be alllowed to stay. Announcements will be made at the star party starting around 10pm informing the public of this fact. Please start to listen at that time for these announcements.

Attention all SFAA members who attend the Mt. Tam star parties!
Click here to find out how you can be an official gatekeeper.

Click here for a map to the Mt. Tam star party.

Click here to learn about star party etiquette.

San Francisco City Star Parties

The San Francisco City Star Party is usualy held monthly, year-round, at sunset. We begin with a short talk on any of a myriad of astronomical topics, after which we begin observing through the telescopes. Depending on the season, these star parties are either on the Saturday closest to the First Quarter Moon or on the Saturday closest to Last Quarter. Each City Star Party is most times preceded by a telescope clinic, after which we begin with a short talk/lecture (see below) and then....the sky's the limit!

When & Where: 2009 City Star Parties are held at Lands End (Point Lobos).

Remeber to regularly check the Club Calendar for any updates.

The City Star Party and associated lectures and telescope clinics can be cancelled due to weather. We are sorry, but City Star Parties will no longer be covered by a hotline service.

Telescopes are provided by club members; you only need to supply your curiosity and REALLY WARM CLOTHING. Click here to learn about star party etiquette.

Telescope Clinics from Sidewalk Astronomers and SFAA

The Sidewalk Astronomers and SFAA are pleased to offer free personal assistance to new telescope owners at some of the monthly City Star Parties. Experienced amateur astronomers from the SFAA and Sidewalk Astronomers will help new telescope users with setup, optical alignment, and operation of their telescopes and mounts.

The telescope clinics are usualy held an hour before the City Star Party. Click Here for more information on the Telescope Clinic. New (or "new again") telescope owners who would like to attend the clinic are encouraged to give advance notice by sending email to clinic@sfsidewalkastronomers.org. Questions are alo welcome at that email address.

City Star Party Lecture Schedule

City Star Party lectures take place just prior to the beginning of the star party.
Click Here to see a list of past City Star Party Lectures.