Amateur Astronomy Clubs in Northern California

Last Update: 10/17/2023. Send corrections to adgouldATcomcast.net  

• • EASTBAY (OAKLAND)--Eastbay Astronomical Society; https://eastbayastro.org/ 510-524-2146 Contact via e-mail: info @ eastbayastro.org ; via snail: EAS c/o CSSC, 10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland, CA 94619-2444; MEETING PLACE: Chabot Space & Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd, Oakland: usually on the third Saturday of each month, whenever possible. Check web site for exact location.

  • EASTBAY (OAKLAND) -- Chabot Telescope Makers' Workshop meets every Friday night between 7:00 and 10:00 at the Chabot Space and Science Center. It is a place where people learn the art of telescope mirror making and Newtonian telescope construction. on Friday nights. The club is free; grinding and polishing materials are free; and the cost of glass (available from the workshop) is quite reasonable. Contact tmw@eastbayastro.org. 

  • EUREKA/HUMBOLDT--Astronomers of Humboldt; P.O. Box 351, Eureka, CA 95502. Contact Person: Bob Zigler; email: info @ astrohum.org ; web: http://www.astrohum.org

  • FREMONT PEAK--Fremont Peak Observatory Association; URL: http://www.fpoa.net; P.O. Box 1376; San Juan Bautista, CA 95045; MEETING PLACE: FREMONT PEAK STATE PARK; email info@fpoa.net; Public programs Sat. eves (except full moon) Mid-April thru Oct, 8 pm [updated 10/2023]

  • FRESNO--Central Valley Astronomers, Inc. Steven Harness, 559-905-8519, 245 W. Swift Ave., Clovis, CA 03612 URL : http://www.cvafresno.org [updated 10/2023]

  • Group 70; The Large Amateur Telescope Project 408-727-5442 MEETING PLACE: 701 Aldo Avenue #49, SANTA CLARA, CA 95054-2211 Website: http://group70.org/

  • HERCULES -- Hercules Stargazers/Hercules Public Stargazing Program -- Website: https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/club-view.cfm?Club_ID=1277 -- Eastbay, Northern Area; David Harris, 510-526-5974, 6102 Sacramento Ave., RICHMOND, CA 94804; MEETING PLACE: Foxboro Park (observing site) 1025 Canterbury Dr., HERCULES; Public stargazing monthly usually April through November on specific dates near new moon or last quarter,  evenings, at dusk or 7:30 pm, whichever is later. Please call for dates. Contact: Dave Harris <getastrodave @ gmail.com >.  [updated 10/2023]

  • LIVERMORE--Tri-Valley Stargazers; Web site: http://www.trivalleystargaze rs.org; Chuck Grant 925-422-7278; P.O.Box 2476, Livermore, CA 94551; MEETING PLACE: Unitarian Church, 1893 N. Vasco Rd., LIVERMORE; Meets once a month on a Friday, 7:30 p.m.- see our web page for the most current club info including our e-mail address [updated 10/2023]

  • MARIN COUNTY--Marin Stargazers--https://www.facebook.com/groups/252208946754119/. Email marinstargazers@gmail.com [updated 10/2023]

  • MONTEREY-- Mira Observers Group (MOG); 831-883-1000; http://www.mira.org/ascc/; an amateur branch of the Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy, 200 Eighth St., Marina, CA 93933; MEETING PLACE: 200 Eighth St., MARINA

  • Mt Tamalpais State Park Public Astronomy Programs - https://www.mttam.net/astronomy/astronomy.html. 415-455-5370, 415-388-2070. Same day Hotlines: 415-566-2357, 415-455-5370 (messages after 4:00 pm). Membership: 415-381-7262. MTIA, PO Box 7064, Corte Madera CA 94976; MEETING PLACE: Mountain Theater, MT. TAMALPAIS; [was] New Moon Saturdays May thru October, dusk. 

  • CONCORD -- Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society -- Liede-Marie Haitsma, President. Phone: 925-695-3134. Web: https://www.mdas.net/. Public Program https://www.mdas.net/publicprogram/publicprogram.htm. Snail mail: Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society; P.O. Box 4889; Walnut Creek, CA 94596-3754. MEETING PLACE: Police Association Facility, 5060 Avila Rd., Concord; 4th Tuesday/month, 7:15 pm. November and December meetings on 3rd Tuesday @ 7:15pm. MDAS newsletter (Diablo Moonwatch) is at https://www.mdas.net/newsletter/newsletter.htm

  • Mt. Diablo Observatory Association; http://www.mdia.org/astronomy.htm

  • [VIRTUAL] -- Northern California Historical Astronomy Luncheon and Discussion Association (NCHALADA). URL: https://groups.io/g/NCHALADA . Contact: Norman Sperling, postal: 2625 Alcatraz Avenue #235, Berkeley, CA 94705.  Phone: 650-200-9211.  Meeting place: on Zoom.  [updated 10/2023]

  • NEVADA -- Astronomical Society Of Nevada -- Web Address: http://www.astronomynv.org; Contact: info @ astronomynv.org

  • NEVADA -- CARSON CITY -- Nevada Astronomical Society. 2201 West College Parkway, Carson City Nevada 89703; Contact: Helaine Jesse <jesse @ wncc.nevada.edu>; 775-445-3240

  • NEVADA CITY -- Nevada County Astronomers  located in the Sierra Foothills of California (50 miles east of Sacramento). Meets 1st Wednesday of each month at the Madelyn Helling Library, Community Room, 980 Helling Way, Nevada City, CA 95959 - http://ncastronomers.org/index.php [updated 10/2023]

  • Peninsula Astronomical Society (PAS); William Phelps at (650) 493-4742; P.O. Box 4542, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94040; MEETING PLACE: Foothill College, LOS ALTOS. The P.A.S. holds meetings on the second Friday of each month at 7:30 pm in Room 5001 on the campus of Foothill College. Park in Lot #5. Each meeting features a speaker (or speakers) bringing us up to date on different topics in astronomy. The public is welcome to attend the meetings of the Peninsula Astronomical Society. There is no charge for attending these meetings. Please note that visitor parking permits are available from the machines in the parking lots for $2.00 in quarters. Foothill College website http://www.foothill.edu/ast/index.htm Peninsula Astronomical Society website: has a map and directions.

  • PALO ALTO--Stanford Astronomy Society (SAS); Contact: Lance Simms <lances @ stanford.edu>; Website: http://www.stanford.edu/group/astronomy/

  • SACRAMENTO--Sacramento Valley Astronomical Society; Web site: http://www.svas.org. To join, send your name, address and phone number with a check for $35 to: SVAS, PO Box 15274, Sacramento, CA 95851-0274. MEETING PLACE: Carmichael Library, 5605 Marconi Ave, Carmichael, Ca. 95608, 3rd Friday / month, 7:30 pm [updated 10/2023]

  • SAN FRANCISCO--San Francisco Amateur Astronomers; Website: http://www.sfaa-astronomy.org; Lectures will be returning 2024. Public star parties are held in San Francisco year round in various locations. Member's only star parties are held each month on the Saturday closest to the new moon on Mount Tamalpais. Details and dates of all SFAA events can be found on the website. [updated 10/2023]

  • SAN FRANCISCO--San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers -- http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/; 4135 Judah Street, San Francisco, CA 94122. Event "hotline" is (415) 289-2007. Business address: The Sidewalk Astronomers, 1946 Vedanta Place, Hollywood, CA 90068. (818) 841-0548. For information on John Dobson's schedule call (818) 848-4533. 

  • SAN FRANCISCO-- The Randall Museum -- http://www.randallmuseum.org/; Phone: (415) 554-9600; 199 Museum Way San Francisco, CA 94114; Science Museum, hours of operation: Tuesday through Saturday 10:00AM - 5:00PM; info@randallmuseum.org [updated 10/2023]

  • SAN JOSE--San Jose Astronomical Association; Hotline 408-559-1221; 408-371-1307 Jim Van Nuland < jvn @ svpal.org>; 3509 Calico Dr., San Jose, CA 95124 ; website: http://www.sjaa.net; The Ephemeris, the monthly SJAA newsletter is at http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/; MEETING PLACE: Houge Park, SAN JOSE; Meetings Saturday, usually nearest full moon, but it varies; see website or call hotline. Beginning Astronomy classes are offered monthly, and so are in-town star parties. See the website for more details.

  • SAN MATEO/FOSTER CITY--San Mateo County Astronomical Society; URL: http://www.smcasastro.com/; Contacts: SMCAS@Live.com, News Group https://groups.io/g/SMCASnews, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/San-Mateo-County-Astronomical-Society-444293602328040/, Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7xE72mZJdr_Dqan1FG9c5g, Events http://www.smcasastro.com/csmcalendar.html. Ed Pieret, SMCAS Vice-president at (650)862-9602. Meeting times/place - http://www.smcasastro.com/meetings.html

  • Santa Cruz Astronomy Club -- https://www.astronomy.santa-cruz.ca.us/ ; P.O. Box 3439; Santa Cruz, CA 95063;  President Jeff Goes <jrgose@comcast.net> (Oct 2023), Secretary/Treasurer Bill Seiler <bseiler@netzero.net> (Oct 2023); monthly meeting is the 2nd WEDNESDAY at 7pm, at the Santa Margarita Community Room at the Scotts Valley Water District; Members-only stargazing at Bonny Doon Airfield 2. Public events once a month at Quail Hollow Ranch County Park, generally on the Friday closest to the last quarter moon, but check our calendar on our website. School star parties conducted by invitation. [updated 10/2023]

  • SONOMA COUNTY AREA -- Valley of the Moon Observatory Association (VMOA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, operates a public observatory called Robert Ferguson Observatory (RFO) located in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, near Kenwood, California (http://www.rfo.org). Robert Ferguson Observatory offers a variety of outreach-based astronomy and science programs to the public. RFO is almost all-volunteer run and typically serves about 9,000 visitors annually. The observatory houses a 40-inch reflector telescope, the largest telescope in Northern California that is accessible to the public; a robotic 20-inch research-grade, “CCD” telescope; and an 8”, two-meter long refractor telescope. The telescopes are all available for frequent public use and are used for research purposes as well. Tickets to events can be purchased at rfo.simpletix.com.  [updated 10/2023]

  • Springville--Tule River Amateur Astronomers (TRAA), PO Box 999, Springville CA 93265; http://www.astrospringville.org/TRAA/

  • STOCKTON--Stockton Astronomical Society; http://www.stocktonastro.org; MEETINGS: http://www.stocktonastro.org/meetings/meetings.html

  • The Astronomy Connection (On-line only)

We have lost touch with these clubs or they are no longer active:

• • BERKELEY -- University of California - Astronomers in Berkeley (UCAB). 

  • DAVIS--EXPLORIT! Astronomy Club.

  • FREMONT -- ClubAstro

  • KENTFIELD -- College of Marin - Astronomy Club (CoMAS).

  • MODESTO--Modesto Jr. College Astronomy Club.

  • NEVADA -- Great Western Astronomers.

  • SAN FRANCISCO--City College of San Francisco Astronomy Department.

  • SAN JOSE AREA -- Halls Valley Astronomical Group.  Observing at at Joseph D. Grant County Park.

  • SANTA CRUZ AREA--Royal Cabrillo Astronomical Society; https://www.dr-ricknolthenius.com/rcass/rcass.html APTOS.

  • TULARE COUNTY -- Tulare Astronomical Association (TAA).