About us
Welcome to SJ Astronomy Meetup. We are an active group with a lot of events organized by the San Jose Astronomical Association. All events posted to this Meetup are open to the public but please note that joining this meetup does not automatically make you a member of SJAA. Becoming a formal member of SJAA provides members-only benefits, so we do encourage you to join. Please check out the membership benefits at https://www.sjaa.net/membership/benefits-of-membership-2/ to learn more and to join the club.
Also, please note that we need a profile picture for security reasons to join this group. Please consider uploading one before you send a request to join the group. Looking forward to sharing this cool hobby with all of you!
Upcoming events
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Speaker Series Special Event: Member Astronomy Show and Tell
Houge Park, Twilight Drive & White Oaks Avenue, San Jose, CA 95124, USA, San Jose, CA, USSJAA Show and Tell
Come and share something you find interesting, useful, unique, clever, or just amusing.
Our September meeting on Saturday the 26th (7:30 pm) will be an opportunity for you to share your unique telescope or binocular builds, tell the story of your favorite astro-photos, pass on image processing tips, or brief astro-travelogues. It has been just about 1 year from our last show and tell, and I think a few folks made it over to see the most recent eclipse! Hopefully at least one of them will be willing to share their observations.
You are encouraged to attend whether you have something to share or are just interested in what your fellow association members have got up their sleeves.
If you do want to share something we strongly encourage you to fill out the following form, so we can plan.
Sign up Form
https://forms.gle/3mHYNws2ZXCPtySC8
Note that we ask presenters to be members. Membership is only $20 for the year.Programming Note: We are doing this show and tell instead of a public lecture for this instance of our meeting. Larry has graciously agreed to MC.
About the event:
Many of SJAA’s events, like this one, are public and free to attend, but if you’re enjoying what SJAA has to offer, consider becoming a paid member for only $20 per year: https://www.sjaa.net/membership/benefits-of-membership-2/
22 attendees
A Short Course on Aliens in Science and Science Fiction
·OnlineOnlineThe Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State Presents:
A non-technical 6-week class with Professor Andrew Fraknoi
Aliens in Science and Science Fiction:
Where Do We Stand in our Search for Intelligent Life Out There?
Wednesdays from 3 to 5 pm (Sep. 30 – Nov. 4, 2026)
Either via Zoom or in Person in the Humanities Building at SF State
Space is Limited: Register Early
Few areas of astronomy excite our imaginations as much as the search for alien life, out among the stars. It is a staple of science fiction stories and films, but recently it has also become a legitimate branch of scientific inquiry. In this non-technical class, we will take a look at why astronomers are more optimistic than ever that there must be life beyond the Earth, what intriguing experiments we are undertaking around the world to find or communicate with such life, and what we propose to do if we do find “them.” We’ll also look at some of the most imaginative science and science-fiction ideas about what such aliens will be like, why, despite recent media flurries, UFO stories have nothing to offer us, and what some legal and diplomatic concerns are about getting in touch with aliens. (No background in science will be required or assumed.)Three easy steps to register:
- Sign in or create a free account at: https://www.campusce.net/sfsu/account/signin.aspx
- Register for the in-person class at:
https://www.campusce.net/sfsu/course/course.aspx?C=1379&pc=138&mc=0&sc=0
or for the Zoom class at:
https://www.campusce.net/sfsu/course/course.aspx?C=1380&pc=138&mc=0&sc=0- If you do not yet have an Annual Membership (a modest fee) you will need to add one to your cart when you select the class. The Annual Membership is one of the choices in the catalog at the bottom, or at this link:
https://www.campusce.net/sfsu/course/course.aspx?catId=14
Andrew Fraknoi retired as Chair of the Astronomy Department at Foothill College in 2017. He was chosen the California Professor of the Year in 2007 by the Carnegie Endowment and has won several national prizes for his teaching. He is the lead author of OpenStax Astronomy, a free, electronic textbook, which is now the number one astronomy textbook in North America. Recently, he has been writing science fiction stories with good astronomy in them; 13 of his tales have been published so far, many of them about getting in touch with aliens. He appears regularly on local & national radio, explaining astronomical ideas in terms everyone can understand. The International Astronomical Union has named Asteroid 4859 Asteroid Fraknoi to recognize his contributions to the public appreciation of science. See: http://fraknoi.com for more information about his work.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State is a community of inquiring adults, age 50+, offering non-credit courses, lectures, and interest groups. Many are held remotely, so you don’t need to reside in San Francisco to participate. You must become a member of the Institute to take the class, but the cost is quite reasonable17 attendees
Past events
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