Welcome
Welcome!
The Santa Cruz Astronomy Club serves all communities in Santa Cruz County, California and neighboring areas. Our emphasis is telescope observing, family participation, and public enjoyment of the wonders of the starry night. See the calendar below for our schedule...
We meet on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00pm, at the Santa Margarita Meeting Room at the Scotts Valley Water District Offices. Watch the calendar for news.
We hold a monthly 'star party' at Quail Hollow Ranch County Park, starting about sunset (its fully dark typically 90 minutes after sunset) as weather allows. Sunset time in Santa Cruz County.
Club members volunteer to provide a viewing experience to the public. We may randomly do sidewalk astronomy around the area, as well as occasional school and camp groups. Email us for news of events or to request our participation.
If you're thinking of coming to one of our viewing events, check our calendar for last minute updates.
To join our club, supply the information on the membership form, either printed with a check for the dues, or via email and PayPal the dues to treasurer@astronomy.santa-cruz.ca.us
Mail Lists
The Santa Cruz Astronomy Club maintains an email list for its members. This list is used for announcements, event planning, and general discussions related to our club and astronomy. To subscribe to this list, click here, and tell us your city and interest in the club.
Star parties
We often hold one or two public star parties every month.
QUAIL HOLLOW RANCH COUNTY PARK. Our primary public star party site is Quail Hollow, near Ben Lomond and Felton. Everyone is invited to bring your own scopes or talk to the amateur astronomers and view through their scopes. We set up in the overflow parking area, which is to the right of the driveway just before the white fence. Please park in the regular visitors parking to the left of the driveway, unless you're setting up a telescope with us. We recommend arriving before its completely dark, no later than about 1 hour after sunset. If you are new to the hobby and/or you have a telescope you'd like some help learning, bring it to the park. Email us beforehand and tell us the kind of scope you'll be bringing. Join us and stay for as long (or as short) as you'd like; it's very informal. See our Facebook page or our calendar above for event information. We cancel if it's raining.