KERN COUNTY
ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY

Star party at Frazier Mountain Trailhead. Sunset 6:18.

This is not an official event, but it is a new Moon for this period, and if the skies are clear, it should be good. If you want to go, the Frazier Mountain Trailhead would be a convenient place to view it.

Star party at Frazier Mountain Trailhead. Sunset 6:10.

STEAM Family Night, Show time for us would be 4 pm. This is an early evening event, sunset at 4:53, last light: 5:20. Our show time is 4:00 pm

This event will take place in the evening after 5:50 PM to 7:00 pm, the show time for us is 4:00.

Family night

Annual Dark Skies Festival. Details TBA

Tigermania! This is a Boy Scout event we participated in last year, and it was quite successful. I told them we could probably support this event. We need volunteers to bring out their scopes for the kids to look at various objects. Our show time is an hour before the event, so please be there at 4:00

We need volunteers for this event. We will be the primary presenters at this event. Because of the time limitations, this will be a solar event.

Come and observe the moon with us at Riverwalk. Details of the event can be found on: https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/about/overview/. This event has been registered on the website.

There will be solar telescopes from Kern Astro, a presentation of snakes and other reptiles, skulls of animals, and how they adapted to fill niches in the environment, and an American Indian Health Program and Cultural Center will be talking about baskets and cultural elements of the people living in the southern San Joaquin Valley. There will also be a donkey-drawn wagon, and there will be horses after 11. Show time for us will be 8 - 8:15 for setup

Sunset at 17:57, Astronomical Dusk 19:48. If the weather is good, I will be there at 4:30.

This year's Dark Sky Festival will be held from (officially) September 11-14. For those who desire to go on Thursday (the 11th), the campground will be available. The campsite is the "Fir Group Campground." For directions, this campground is available for search in most map apps. There will be a presentation by NASA on Thursday (times tba). Participants are also going to receive a special tour of the Crystal Caves, which will be closed to the public during this event. On Saturday night, there will be a presentation by the Webb Space Telescope Team; unfortunately, this is when we are working with the public. There may be a special presentation for us; more to come on that later.

The club has rented the 100" telescope at Mount Wilson. The cost was $200.00, but is sold out

If weather permits, join us in gazing at the cosmos. Moonrise is at 7:56 am and will set at 9:34 pm. The Moon will only be at 4%, so it should not hinder viewing.

If weather permits, join us in gazing at the cosmos. Moonrise is at 7:56 am and will set at 9:34 pm. The Moon will only be at 4%, so it should not hinder viewing.

This is an educational event where we bring out equipment for viewing the Sun. Any member is welcome to attend; you do not need to have a scope to attend. The actual event runs from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. The early arrival is for set up.

This is an educational event where we bring out equipment for viewing the Sun. Any member is welcome to attend; you do not need to have a scope to attend. The actual event runs from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. The early arrival is for set up.

If weather permits, join us in gazing at the cosmos. Moonrise is at 09:07 am and will only be at 12%, so it shouldn't cause too much interference.

The New Moon for June is on the 25th. You are welcome to go up to the Frazier Mountain Trailhead and look at the Cosmos. This is not an official Star Party, but letting you know when there will be no Moon in the sky

If weather permits, join us in gazing at the cosmos. Moonrise is at 2:52 am, so there will be no moon; even then, it will only be 10%.

This is our annual picnic with opportunity drawings.

The annual Lyrid Meteor shower will peak on April 22-23. 5-20 Meteors per hour at brightness +2.

This is the normal Star Party for the period for those not participating in the Wind Wolves Preserve on the 29th.

We are participating in this year's Wind Wolves Preserve Nature Days on the night of the new moon. I have reserved 3 campsites for this event, as we can stay overnight. Just so you know, you must stay until 8 a.m. on Sunday! This is a public event for the Preserve, but the star party portion is private.

Volunteers needed

There will be a Total Lunar eclipse on March 13, 2025. Start time: 8:57 pm, Full Eclipse at 11:58 pm, and ends (officially) at 3:00 am on the 14th. This event can be viewed over the entire Continental US. If you want to image the event, try to find a good background. I may go to the Alabama Hills in Lone Pine California, but have imaged at the beach where I can follow the moon to the ocean horizon. You don't have to go anywhere though for this event, If you see the sky, you can see the eclipse. Go to: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/bakersfield?iso=20250314 for more information.

We will have our star party on March 1st, weather permitting. Sunset at 17:52, Last light: 18:18, Astronomical Dusk 18:44, and Night 19:18. All are welcome. Please observe headlight etiquette (parking lights at night).

We will be having an astronomical show at the Bakersfield Planetarium put on By Nick Strobel. The cost is $10 for members and $12 for non-members. Tickets go on sale to the public After February 7, 2025.

This is a closed event for Olivier Middle School. If you are interested in bringing a scope to the event, please text me at 805-331-1078. This is an education event for the school kids, be prepared to answer questions from the students.

If the weather is clear, there will be a star party at the usual spot at the Frazier Mountain Trailhead (this is Google Maps searchable). Sunset is at 17:09, Nautical dusk at 17:37, Astronomical Dusk at 18:10, and finally darkness at 18:40. The temperatures should be in the 30’s and possibly in the 20’s, no joke, dress very warmly as fires are not allowed. For those doing astrophotography, the dew point will be at or below the temperature, if you have dew heaters, bring them, if you don’t have one, I suggest ordering one for your telescope. All this said I would be there at about 15:30. I have a portable weather station that I will set up for accurate weather and temperature. From what I hear, 7 of our planets will be in alignment that night, so it should be an interesting night. Let me remind you, this is all contingent on the weather.