The San Diego Astronomy Association (SDAA) formed in early 1960's as a club of Amateur astronomy buffs.  The club incorporated in February of 1963 as a non-profit organization. The purpose of the SDAA, as stated in the articles of incorporation, is to educate the members and public in the area of Astronomy and other areas of Physical science. There are several ways in which this is accomplished and all are free events put on through the courtesy of the members through volunteerism.

    There are general membership meetings held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. This meeting is called the "Program Meeting" and held at the Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) Visitor Center. A featured speaker gives a talk or presentation on astronomy or physical Science related topics. For further information and location, follow this link to the SDAA's monthly "Program Meeting."

    The other way to achieve SDAA's goal of education is the club's many public star parties. There are two means by which this is accomplished, scheduled public star parties and school star parties. A star party is when a group of members bring their telescopes and related equipment to a location and set up for observation.  In 2005, the SDAA reached over 23,000 people through its outreach programs.

The SDAA has two scheduled star parties each month in the metropolitan area of San Diego. "Stars in the Park" is an event held on the first Wednesday of the month. The members set up their telescopes by the fountain outside of the Ruben H. Fleet Space Museum and Science Center in Balboa Park near Downtown San Diego. Even though the sky at this location is extremely light polluted, it is a great location to reach large numbers of the public. The SDAA has an on going relationship with the Parks Department which has given parking permits to the members to facilitate bringing in the equipment to run these public events. The SDAA also has built a relationship with the Fleet Center with the person giving the presentation inside Fleet Planetarium and Space Theater lets the attendees of the show on that night know that there are telescopes set up outside to be looked though. For information about this event, click on this link to "Stars in the Park."

    The other scheduled star party in the metropolitan San Diego area is held on the second Friday of the month at the Kumeyaay Lake Campground on the Santee side of MTRP. This event is called "Stars at Mission Trails." The location is about 16 miles north-east of downtown San Diego, so the sky is a little less light polluted. Even though this location is not centrally located like the Stars in the Park event, it still reaches many in the public. The campers at the Kumeyaay Lake Campground as well as others are treated to views of celestial delights. For more information on this star party, click on this link to "Stars at Mission Trails."

    At least once a month, members can be found out in the regional park desert campgrounds in the winter and the mountain regional park campgrounds during the other times. These events are not as regular in their scheduling as the other two events. Members who bring their telescopes to share with the public are allowed to camp for free at these events. For information on these functions, click the link to "Camp With the Stars."

    The SDAA reached most of the 23,000 through the School Star party Program. This is a "FREE" service provided by volunteers that are members of the SDAA. These volunteers bring there own telescopes to the schools upon request for the pure enjoyment of an "OOOH!," or "WOW! from someone that has never seen Saturn or other celestial wonder through a telescope.  To schedule a star party for your school, church or other group, please follow this link to the Star Party Coordinator for your area.

    Twice a month on the Saturdays that coincide with the 1st quarter Moon and the 3rd quarter Moon phase are public nights at the SDAA's 10-acre dark-sky site in eastern San Diego County in Tierra Del Sol. On this property is located the club's 22-inch Lipp Ritchey-Chretien reflecting telescope. During the two Saturday nights the observatory is opened for public viewing. On a warm summer night during this function it is not uncommon to find a multitude of telescopes and telescope types on the public pads as seen to the right. Every one of these members is more than happy to answer questions and let you have a look through their telescope. For more information about these events click here for  "Tierra del Sol."

Bob & other SDAA Members prepare for the 2009 Messier Marathon

  Back to the Top