Nothing beats a night spent looking at the stars. For Stockton physician Clarence Custer, sharing his passion for astronomy was so strong, he founded the Stockton Astronomical Society (SAS) in the 1950’s. At that time, the society was made up of a few locals working together in hopes to foster interest and promote the general knowledge of astronomy to those in the San Joaquin area. Today, the group inspires the community in many ways. The second Thursday of every month the society hosts a meeting at the University of the Pacific. The meeting includes a guest expert speaker, and is open to the public. In addition, the society provides a hands-on approach with two public viewings each month. These viewings occur at both Delta College and Oak Grove Regional Park. “Each viewing has five or six telescopes available for attendees to use,” explains SAS President Eric Holland. “And our members bring some seriously powerful telescopes!”
Speaking of telescopes, the society also holds a monthly Amateur Telescope Makers meeting, where the public is welcomed to explore the world of telescopes, build your very own, or polish your mirrors. In addition, SAS funds the Striking Sparks Telescope Awards Program. This program invites teachers in the San Joaquin area to nominate students excelling in the sciences and showing interest in astronomy. The nominated students then provide an essay sharing their love for science, and the winner is awarded with a brand new telescope! Summer nights are an excellent way to enjoy the magic of space. Spend some time with the Stockton Astronomical Society for a night of powerful telescopes and close up encounters with outer space.
Check out the stars:
Stocktonastro.org