Some of you expressed interest in doing some stargazing, so I thought I'd extend an invitation to come up to Fremont Peak on Saturday, November 4. The moon will be one quarter, waxing, so it won't wash out the deep sky viewing and it will be nice to look at as well. Fremont Peak State Park is near San Juan Bautista, about a 1 hour drive from San Jose to the south in all. San Juan Bautista is only about 40 minutes, but it takes 20 minutes to drive the 11 miles up to the peak from the valley floor. I would consider doing a "lesser" astronomy night closer to San Jose proper for people who are just interested in basic constellations and binocular viewing (okay, I'd probably break out the scope for the planets and moon, too!) - Fremont Peak is spectacular for a lot of other things you've probably never seen before, though, and it's not too far away.

Please RSVP and let me know if you plan on coming - that way I can alert you in case of inclement weather. Also let me know if you'd like a primer before we go (I'd probably do this 10/21 or 10/29) here in San Jose.

Note: This is definitely not a rain or shine event - shine only ! Check back here for last minute cancellation notices!

As you enter the park at the end of the long, winding uphill road, you will see a sign for the observatory on your left - DON'T FOLLOW THAT SIGN! Instead, proceed ahead to the first parking lot where you can pay for your car. Pay for day use; even though the park allegedly closes at sunset, it's open all night for stargazing. If you like, you can even leave your car here, a good idea if it's already dark, as your car won't disturb everybody already stargazing at the upper parking lot. To your left as you look at the payphone, park information sign, and pay station is an uphill road with an access gate (which may be closed). Follow that road up to the parking lot about 50 yards ahead. Remember to use parking lights only as you approach the parking lot if it's dark out (or walk as suggested).

On one map below, the upper parking lot is marked "SW Parking Lot" and is the left most observing area so designated.

In an emergency, call my cell phone at (408) 806-8935 and I'll come find you.

Schedule

I plan to be there from 3:00 p.m. to midnight or so, but you can time your visit to more precisely match what you're interested in seeing. Coming earlier is best, since I know the earlier sky better than the later sky, plus you get to see the sun, but Orion is pretty nice, too. If you have very limited time, come around 5:30 and plan to stay until 8:00 or so - this will give you a solid 2 hours of viewing.

Things to Bring

Lots of warm clothing! You don't want to be cold while stargazing, though eventually you will succumb no matter how well-bundled you are. Blankets are nice with folding chairs.
A red flashlight (a regular flashlight covered with red cellophane or a brown paper bag taped over the lens so that it emits a dim red glow will suffice) - once your eyes adapt to the darkness, you want to keep them that way (the moon will partially light up the area, but not too much). The sky and the objects in the telescope are much nicer once you're adapted this way (some things will not be visible until you are).
Folding chair - reclining ones are especially nice with the next item.
Binoculars (if you've got 'em - I'll bring mine)
Something to snack on
Thermos of coffee (if that's your thing - I don't indulge)
An appreciation for how far away some of these things are (you're not going to see pictures like you saw in National Geographic from the Hubble Space Telescope with full-blown color, but you will be receiving light from actual galaxies right on your eyeball!)
Maybe a notebook in case you want to write down what you saw for later reminiscence (I haven't done this, but it's a pretty popular thing with amateur astronomers)
There will be other people there stargazing, too, so be sure the read the guide on etiquette linked below. The one thing that people hate the most at these events is white light, so be sure to bring a red flashlight or arrive early so you don't disturb people!

The Sun (11 year sunspot cycle peaks next year, pretty good activity this year already - come early for this!)

Mercury: sets before the sun and won't be visible

Venus (from about 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.)

Moon (one quarter full, waxing, visible before sunset, sets very late)

Mars: rises just before dawn - I don't intend to stick around for this one

Jupiter, Saturn (rising at 6:00 p.m., nicely visible by 8:00 p.m., up all night)

Neptune, Uranus: visible, high in the sky in the evening, but not very spectacular (and tough to find - need a 16"+ scope for real interesting stuff here)

Pluto: are you kidding me? in the sky, but impossible to see in my scopes!

That new planet reported in USA Today (EB173): see entry for Pluto

Great Galaxy in Andromeda (spectacular!)

Whirpool Galaxy (if I can find it)

Pinwheel Galaxy (one of many)

others (not very spectacular in my puny scopes)

M13 (Great Cluster in Hercules)

M15 (cluster in Pegasus)

Double Cluster in Perseus

others? (I'm always trying to find ones that I haven't seen yet)

All the usual summer and autumn suspects (Lyra, Pegasus, Aquarius, Cygnus, Aquila, Bootes, Hercules, Andromeda, Perseus, Auriga, (briefly, obstructed view: Sagittarius, Scorpius) and the circumpolar stuff (Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia, Draco)

Special bonus for night owls: Orion (with a spectacular nebula!) rises at 8:30, high enough to look at by 11:00

Many, including the famous "double double", Epsilon Lyrae, Albireo, Mizar, etc.

Well, they have been seen at Fremont Peak by some people.