SAN DIEGO AREA ASTRONOMY RESOURCES

San Diego Astronomy Association            Click on image or underlined

The San Diego Astronomy Association (SDAA) is a non-profit educational organization established and incorporated in 1963. The purpose of the SDAA is to further the education of its members and the general public in the subjects of astronomy and the related space and physical science, and to increase public awareness and enjoyment of these sciences

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center              Click on image or underlined

    The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park has interesting astronomy and science activities, an IMAX theatre and a gift shop with really neat stuff. Click on the above underlined link to go to the Fleets' astronomy web pages featuring the latest activities. 

    On the first Wednesday of each month, the Fleet and the San Diego Astronomy Association presents Stars in the Park,  an informative astronomy program followed by the telescopes of the San Diego Astronomy Association around the fountain. 

Palomar Observatory

    Palomar Mountain, in northern San Diego County is home to the venerable Hale 200" telescope, the 48" Schmidt telescope of the Mt. Palomar Sky Survey, and the 60" telescope. Of immense historical interest, this facility run by the California Institute of Technology is still a world class professional facility, and since it's first light in 1947 has made legendary contributions to astronomy. Located in a beautiful National Forest only about two hours from downtown San Diego, it has a visitors gallery and shop for the casual visitor. Behind the scenes tours can also be arranged. It is well worth a day trip, or even an overnight at the nearby campground. Take your scope, there are observing pads set up near the Observatory, and it is a trip every astronomer visiting San Diego should make. Click here for a brochure, or here to go to their web site.

Near the Palomar Observatory campground, a program hosted by the Palomar Ranger District and OCA, The Explore the Stars (<-click for web site) provides visitors an opportunity to see views of the universe rarely seen by the public. Only a short drive from light-polluted Southern California cities brings you to the beauty of dark skies and the power of large telescopes provided by knowledgeable amateur astronomers. The Explore the Stars program provides an entertaining, educational, very memorable experience to visitors of all ages.

Palomar College Planetarium

Click on the image for North San Diego County's Planetarium shows and programs. Nearby is CSU San Marcos, home to the Amateur Telescope Makers meetings.

 SDSU Mount Laguna Observatory

    Located about an hour east of San Diego in the Laguna Mountains, the Mt. Laguna Observatory is operated by San Diego State University  and the University of Illinois Departments of Astronomy. Home to  40", 24", and 18" instruments, the public observing program allows the public during the summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) to view with the 21" Buller telescope. Other programs with the San Diego State University Mt. Laguna Observatory Associates are available, but be sure they are operating for your visit. 

If you want to look at the current Mt Laguna weather (daylight), click here for the Mount Laguna Observatory web cam

Mount Wilson Observatory

Located about 3 1/2 hours north of San Diego above Pasadena, Mt. Wilson is the grand dame of Southern California Observatories. Starting with the 60"  telescope, it was the world's largest until the Hooker 100" was completed. Edwin Hubble used the 100" to resolve individual stars in the Andromeda Galaxy and measure the Cepheid variables, establishing that the galaxies were outside our galaxy and determining that the universe was expanding. Michelson and Morley first measured the speed of light here. Mt. Wilson is a wonderful treasure of astronomical and scientific history. You can even rent the 60" for a night, for about $ 1,000. Contact the Mt. Wilson Observatory Associates if you are interested. 

Virtual Atlas of the Moon

I just found out about some great FREE software for PC's! It's called Virtual Atlas of the Moon and it's by the people that make Cartes du Ciel / Sky Charts. I just downloaded it and gave it a little test drive, it's really nice if you want a laptop based moon atlas. The basic installation takes about 4Mb, but if you download all the pictures, it'll take close to 30Mb. Here's the URL for it, or click on the underlined heading..