Astronomy in the Park at Oak Grove Regional Park

Overview

Members of the Stockton Astronomical Society will volunteer to setup their telescopes for the public at S.J. County Oak Grove Regional Park on the Saturday closest to the First Quarter Moon. In the past years the Nature Center would be open with astronomy based activities. If the sky is not clear the event may be canceled and we will try again the next month.

• S.J. County charges a Parking Fee of $6.00 CASH per vehicle but the Nature Center and telescope viewing is free.
• SAS telescope volunteers; show the person at the kiosk that you are part of the SAS volunteer staff and they should let you in for free.
• Indoor astronomy themed activities for kids (both big & small) will be in the Nature Center.
• Telescope viewing starts after Sunset, the Moon will be visible in the telescopes from the start. As the sky darkens more objects become visible. Darker and clearer sky is better for viewing.
• Every month we will feature a different deep sky object. We will point one of our large telescopes at this object during the last hour of the evening. These objects are dim and fuzzy and are best seen in large aperture
telescopes.
• To view objects it may be necessary to stand on a ladder or step stool that will be next to the telescope.

For more information call:
Doug Christensen
Stockton Astronomical Society
(209) 471-1674
Eric Holland
Stockton Astronomical Society
(209) 351-0206

Astronomy in the Park 2024 Schedule

Saturday, January 20
Sunset is at 5:15pm
The Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, The Pleiades, The Hyades
Deep sky Object: The Andromeda Galaxy

Saturday, February 17
Sunset is at 5:45 pm
The Moon, Jupiter, Orion Nebula, The Pleiades
Deep sky Object: Perseus Double Cluster

Saturday, March 16
Sunset is at 7:15 pm
The Moon, Jupiter, Mercury right after sunset, Orion Nebula, The Pleiades
Deep sky Object: Perseus Double Cluster

Saturday, April 13
Sunset is at 7:40pm
The Moon, Jupiter at Sunset, Orion Nebula
9:30 pm - Deep Sky Object: M81 & M82 (Bodes Galaxies)

Saturday, May 18
Sunset is at 8:15pm
The Moon, M13 (Star Cluster in Hercules)
9:30 pm - Deep Sky Object: M92 (Star Cluster in Hercules)

Saturday, June 15
Sunset is at 8:30pm
The Moon, M13 (Star Cluster in Hercules)
10:00 pm - Deep Sky Object: M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy)

Saturday, July 13
Sunset is at 8:30pm
The Moon, M13 (Star Cluster in Hercules), Mercury at sunset
10:00 pm - Deep Sky Object: M3 (Star Cluster in Canes Venatici)

Saturday, August 10
Sunset is at 8:00 pm
The Moon, Venus at sunset, Saturn at 11pm, M13 (Star Cluster in Hercules)
9:30 pm - Deep Sky Object: M8 & M20 (Lagoon Nebula & Trifid Nebula)

Saturday, September 7
Sunset is at 7:25 pm
The Moon, Venus at sunset, Saturn, M13 (Star Cluster in Hercules)
9:00 pm - Deep Sky Object: M57 (Ring Nebula)

Saturday, October 12
Sunset is at 6:30 pm
The Moon, Saturn, Venus at sunset, M13 (Star Cluster in Hercules)
8:00 pm - Deep Sky Object: M27 (The Dumbbell Nebula)

Saturday, November 9
Sunset is at 5:00 pm
The Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus at sunset, Uranus
8:00 pm - Deep Sky Object: M31 (The Andromeda Galaxy)

Saturday, December 7
Sunset is at 4:45pm
The Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Venus at sunset
Mars near end of the evening
8:00 pm - Deep Sky Object: M33 (Triangulum Galaxy)