Central Valley Astronomers

Central Valley Astronomers The Central Valley Astronomers is a group of astronomy enthusiasts drawn together by common goals and Please go to
our website for further directions.

What do we do?

-Monthly Meetings:
-Meetings are held around the full moon Saturday of each month.
-Each meeting has an educational program.

-Star Parties:
-Monthly “Star Parties” are on the Saturday closest to New Moon.
-This is when the club goes out to a dark site and has a night of
telescope and binocular observing.
-We observe at Eastman Lake near Madera County.

The Central Valley Astronomer had a fun evening At Millerton Lake last night. Hundreds of people came to look at the sta...
06/07/2026

The Central Valley Astronomer had a fun evening At Millerton Lake last night. Hundreds of people came to look at the stars. Many people brought their own telescopes. June 26 the club will be at RiverPark in Fresno and will return to Millerton Lake on July 11th. Come join us for these fun family events. All CVA events are free and open to the public. The park service may charge admission.

Saturday June 6th starts the first of three night sky viewing events at Millerton Lake on the Madera side.
05/29/2026

Saturday June 6th starts the first of three night sky viewing events at Millerton Lake on the Madera side.

Star Party dates at Millerton Lake with Central Valley Astronomers. 🌌🔭

Star Parties offer the opportunity to look through member telescopes and see objects that you may not even know exist. They are a great way to get away from town and enjoy the serenity of stargazing under beautiful skies.

Star Parties take place on the North Shore (Madera side) of the park, at Sunset Point, located at Meadows Campground near the boat ramp. Event begins after dark. Participation is free. Visitors who are not camping are still required to pay day-use fees.

A note on Star Party Etiquette from Central Valley Astronomers:

▪️If you are bringing a telescope, please arrive before dark, as it is much easier to set up equipment when it is still light.
▪️If you come to a star party without a telescope, please park in an area of the parking lot away from telescopes. This makes it easier to leave without disturbing the night vision of those who are still observing.
▪️Try not to use white light in the observing area. Dim red light is preferred, as it preserves night vision.
▪️Never touch anyone's equipment without permission, but don't be afraid to ask.
▪️Never grap anyone's equipment.The equipment is fragile and should be manipulated with care.
▪️Never touch any glass optical surface (lenses, mirrors, eyepieces).
▪️If you bring children, please keep them with you and ensure they follow the rules.
▪️Watch your step! Some telescope equipment requires power cords and computer cables; there may be wires on the ground.

Event subject to cancellation in cloudy weather.

We hope to see you at the park!

Venus, Jupiter and the Moon put on a show.
05/18/2026

Venus, Jupiter and the Moon put on a show.

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The brightest Star in the Spring and Summer Skies is Vega, found in the constellation of Lyra the Harp.  The Earth's nor...
05/17/2026

The brightest Star in the Spring and Summer Skies is Vega, found in the constellation of Lyra the Harp. The Earth's northern axis is slowly shifting toward this star. Read the article and learn about this motion.

From Northern Hemisphere locations on January evenings, look northwest. You’ll see the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra the Harp. Our star, the sun, and its planets are moving through space toward the general direction of Vega. Astronomers call the sun’s direction of motion through its...

04/19/2026

Come out to RiverPark at the Plaza this Friday evening from 7-10pm. It is Sidewalk Astronomy Night. Members of the Central Valley Astronomers will be out with their telescopes showing you the First Quarter Moon and the planets Jupiter and Venus. The event is free and we encourage people to bring their families and friends. The event may be cancelled due to the weather.

Look for Kochab and Pherkad in the Little dipper. These two stars were once the North Star long, long time ago.
04/07/2026

Look for Kochab and Pherkad in the Little dipper. These two stars were once the North Star long, long time ago.

Have you noticed it’s not easy to find the Little Dipper? That’s because it’s fainter and looks less like a dipper than the Big Dipper. The Big Dipper appears high in the northeast sky at nightfall on spring evenings and wheels above Polaris in the late evening.

04/07/2026

SpaceX launch from Vandenberg Monday night. Timelapse taken in Visalia.

Meet the constellation Cancer the Crab.
03/28/2026

Meet the constellation Cancer the Crab.

Don’t miss the next unmissable night sky event. Sign up for EarthSky’s free newsletter and get daily night sky updates!

Address

P. O. Box 3063
Fresno, CA
93650

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