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🌌 VCAS Members Night at Mount Wilson Observatory 🌌
Observe the cosmos through historic, world-class telescopes!
Join us for these exclusive VCAS member trips:
🔭 Friday, June 20 – 60-inch Telescope
🔭 Friday, July 25 – 100-inch Telescope
🔭 Saturday, September 27 – 60-inch Telescope
Experience deep-sky observing like never before from one of astronomy’s most iconic mountaintop observatories.
Who Can Attend:
Current VCAS Members Only
Space is limited – advance sign-up required!
📍 Mount Wilson Observatory, Angeles National Forest
📧 To reserve your spot, email: vcasprograms1@gmail.com
See what we've been up to lately.
Explore the Night Sky!
Join us for a fun and informative evening of space science! Our free public meeting features an astronomy talk on current celestial events, what to see in the sky this month, and a beginner-friendly intro to astronomy. All ages and experience levels welcome! Public is WELCOME.
Experience the Wonders of the Night Sky hosted by Ventura County Astronomical Society at the Moorpark College Observatory.
Lecture on "what's up in the sky tonight"- Telescopes - Stars
What is the Deep Space Network?
Have you ever wondered how NASA talks to all of its spacecraft that are way out in space? They use the Deep Space Network! Do you know what that is or how it works? Our guest, Rémy Morgan, is a Network Analyst for the Deep Space Network and she tells us all about how they keep track of multiple spacecraft in our solar system and all of the data they send back. If you love space technology, you won’t want to miss this night.
Hillcrest Center for the Arts,
403 W Hillcrest Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
"WEATHER PERMITTING"
Messier Marathon on Saturday evening March 29th to last the entire night into Sunday morning March 30th. The marathon will be held at the Frazier Mountain Trailhead 20W03 parking lot located just approx. 1/4 mile above the Chuchupate Ranger Station on Frazier Mountain Rd. This event is open to all VCAS members, family, friends, and the general public. Please plan to bring "Very Warm Jacket / Clothing as the nighttime temperatures could get into the low 30's. It is possible to see even lower temps through the night.
The Messier Marathon rules state that the participant is to use Manual / or Old School Observation, "No GOTO / Computer Aided Observations" We encourage all participants to try your best to follow the rules of the Marathon. No one will be excluded, all are welcome to participate even with GOTO telescopes. You must have your own telescope.
Please email vcas.president1@gmail.com if you plan to attend the Messier Marathon. VCAS Members that participate will receive a certificate from the Astronomical League for your participation. Also we want to make sure we have enough Object Order Finding lists to hand out.
The Frazier Mountain Trailhead (elev. 5400 ft.) is located on the west side of Frazier Mountain Road (8N04) approximately 3/4 mile south of Lockwood Valley Road and Forest Service Chuchupate Ranger Station. There is a large paved parking lot with pull-through stalls for vehicles with trailers or motor homes, and a vault toilet at the trailhead.
Current status of the Frazier Mountain Trailhead is listed as closed, please ignore as the parking lot is never closed (no gate), only the OHV Trailhead is closed for the winter.
A Forest Pass is not required to park in this parking location.
Current weather statistics are showing clear skies with a low of about 38 to 40 degrees through the night.
Please keep an eye on your emails, as we will update a "Go" or "No Go" for this event on Friday March 28 evening, and /or Saturday March 29th morning.
Join VCAS for a presentation from Sarah Elizabeth McCandless. She is a navigation engineer for NASA JPL. McCandless’ job involves tracking the location and predicting the future trajectory of spacecraft, including the Mars Perseverance rover, Artemis I, Psyche, and Europa Clipper.
Guest speaker Dr. Colleen Marrese-Reading, Senior Engineer NASA JPL
Topic: Micro Electric Propulsion