Orange County Astronomers

13/12/2025

Recording of the December 12, 2025 Orange County Astronomers general meeting. The featured talk, “Settling Space with Microbes” by Charles Cockell (University of Edinburgh), explores how microbes from extreme environments inform the search for extraterrestrial life and could support future human activity in space. The meeting also includes a brief “What’s Up?” segment with current astronomy highlights.

Learn more about OCA events: ocastronomers.org

With music from Phillip Wesley philipwesley.com

07/12/2025

Beginner’s Class In-person event (New Location)
January 2, 2026 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm PST

David W. Pearson
The 5th session of the Beginners Astronomy Class is the “How to Use Your Telescope”. If you have a telescope and would like some help learning to set it up and use it, attend this Hands-on class. Make sure you pay for Parking

VENUE:
Orange Coast College, Outside Planetarium
2701 Fairview
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

07/12/2025

Anza Star Party, December 20

Private, Star Parties

VENUE: On the Sky, CA

07/12/2025

OCA Astrophysics SIG Meeting
December 19 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm PST

OCA Astrophysics SIG Meeting

VENUE:
Orange Coast College, Building 40, Astronomy House
Merrimac Way
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

07/12/2025

General Meeting
December 12 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm PST

SPEAKER: Charles Cockell
Professor of Astrobiology, The University of Edinburgh
Topic - Settling Space with Microbes

OTHER: "What's Up?"
Michael Beckage from OCA

Irvine Lecture Hall of the Chapman University
336 N Center St
Orange, CA 92866

31/10/2025

Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) images from OCA Astro Imagers Wally Pacholka and Paul Macias

31/10/2025

Anza Star Party
November 15

Private, Star Parties
VENUE: On the Sky, CA

31/10/2025

Astroimagers Special Interest Group
November 14 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm PST

VENUE
Orange Coast College, Building 40, Astronomy House
Merrimac Way
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Meeting of the Astroimaging Special Interest Group at Orange Coast College Astronomy House. Meeting is from 7pm to 10pm. Parking fees will apply and must be purchased online.

Any questions please contact Kyle Coker

31/10/2025

OCA Board Meeting
November 9 @ 10:30 am - 12:30 pm PST

VENUE: Online

A meeting of the OCA Board to Trustees, the meeting is held online via zoom starting at 10:30am. The meeting is open to current members, please contact the club secretary to have a link sent to you for the meeting.

31/10/2025

Online Beginner’s Class
November 7 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm PST

Website:
https://www.ocastronomers.org/bcreg
VENUE: Online
SPEAKER: David W. Pearson

The 3rd session of the Beginners Astronomy Class covers different methods of finding objects in the night sky. Special topic is learning the constellations.

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18/10/2025

Could there be another Earth out there? 🌍✨

In this Orange County Astronomers General Meeting (October 2025), Dr. Jessie Christiansen takes us inside the search for “Earth 2.0.” She explains why astronomers are confident habitable worlds exist, what missions like Kepler, K2, and TESS have already uncovered, and how future observatories — including the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and the Habitable Worlds Observatory — aim to directly image Earth-like planets.

You’ll also enjoy “What’s Up?” with Chris Butler, sharing highlights of the night sky you can explore yourself.

About the Speaker:
Dr. Jessie Christiansen is the Chief Scientist of the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute and a TED Fellow. She has played a central role in exoplanet discoveries through NASA’s Kepler, K2, and TESS missions. Her research focuses on detecting and characterizing exoplanets, comparing their populations, and preparing for the next generation of flagship missions that may finally reveal a true Earth twin.

Learn more about OCA events: ocastronomers.org

With music from Phillip Wesley philipwesley.com

03/10/2025

Anza Star Party, October 18, 2025

VENUE: On the Sky, CA

The new moon weekend for the monthly star party. The Anza site is open to members and their guests only. Join other members for viewing and imaging. Contact any board member if you have any questions.