Mountain Theater Stargazing

Date(s) and Time(s)

May 10, 2008 at 8 PM

June 7, 2008 at 8:30 PM

July 12, 2008 at 8:30 PM

August 9, 2008 at 8:30 PM

September 6, 2008 at 8:00 PM

October 4, 2008 at 7:30 PM

Description

Once a month during the summer, stargazing parties are held by the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers at The Mountain Theater, on Mount Tamaplais.  They take place on the Saturday night nearest the first quarter moon.  For everyone who doesn't have a lunar phase calendar handy, the 2008 dates and start times are given above.

Each stargazing party begins with a talk by an astronomer or space scientist.  That lasts roughly 45 minutes to an hour.  For 2008 the speakers are:

May 10, 2008:  Philip Duffy - "Climate Change:  Observational Evidence, the Role of Humans and Societal Impacts"

June 7, 2008:  Lynda Williams - "Space Ecology:  The Final Frontier of Environmentalism"

July 12, 2008:  Adrian Lee - "The Microwave Background - A Cosmic Time Machine"

August 9, 2008:  Margaret S. Race - "Astrobiology, Planetary Protection and the Search for ET Life"

September 6, 2008:  Raymond Hall - "Demarcation:  Is There a Sharp Line Between Science and Pseudoscience?"

October 4, 2008:  Joel Primack & Nancy Abrams - "The View from the Center of the Universe:  Discovering Our Extraordinary Place in the Cosmos"

After the speaker, there's an hour or so of star viewing through telescopes provided by aforementioned SFAA.  Obviously, stargazing is weather-dependent, but nights on Mount Tam are usually clear.

If you've never been to a star party, there's some common-sense ettiquette to keep in mind.  First, here as at most star parties, the telescopes are the personal property of the astronomy club (in this case the SFAA), so don't fiddle with them unless the owner says it's OK.  Second, white light ruins night vision, so it's considered very bad form to walk around with an unfiltered flashlight, lit cigarette lighter, etc.  The Mountain Theater star parties, like most others, allow and even encourage you to bring your own flashlight with a red filter over the lens.  Usually red filters are provided to people who don't have them, but be sure to use it or you'll annoy everyone around you.  Finally, while green laser pointers can be excellent for pointing out stars (the beams are visible in the night air, unlike those of red laser pointers), it is very bad form and probably illegal to point them at aircraft.  Also, mind where the beam goes, as they can cause eye problems.

The program welcomes volunteers.  Check the web site for details.

Main Web Site

http://www.mttam.net/Default.aspx?tabid=869

Location

There isn't an address, exactly.  (It's in an open-air amphitheater on a mountain.  I don't think they get a lot of mail delivered there.)  Directions from the web site are:

From Highway 101 take the Highway 1, Stinson Beach exit. At Tam Junction (the first stop light), turn left onto the Shoreline Highway (also called Highway 1). In about 2 miles turn right onto Panoramic Highway. In another 3/4 miles the road splits 3 ways. Take the middle fork. In about 5 miles the Pan Toll Ranger Station will be on your left. Turn right through the gates across the road from the station and continue for about another 1 1/2 miles to the Rock Springs parking area.

Drive Time

from Ames (per Google maps):  1 hour and 11 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on traffic

Public Transit

Cost

FREE, but there may be parking fees in some places