Towards the Direct Imaging of Habitable Exoplanets with Extremely Large Telescopes Fifty-three years ago, 600 million people watched the Apollo 11 astronauts take the first human steps on another world. In 1969, the number of worlds worth walking on was small: just the few dozen planets and moons that make up the Earth’s siblings orbiting the Sun. Today, astronomers know that ...
Measurements of the afterglow of the Big Bang, the cosmic microwave background, have allowed physicists to piece together much of our modern understanding of the origin, composition, and evolution of the Universe. Future measurements hope to answer tantalizing questions ranging from the transient nature of the radio sky to the ...
Where: Cost: Free
Nerd Nite SF #126: Hey Girl! Bingo + DNA Sequencing + Nuclear Energy - POSTPONEDJoin us for Nerd Nite SF, the Pride month party edition!We’re very excited to announce that we’ll be partnering with the bearded bingo babe herself, Shelix, for Hey Girl! Bingo before the talks begin. Come early to kick off the evening with a drink and a bingo card! Nerdy prizes ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $15 advance online, #20 at door
Healthy soil plays a vital role in the nutrient density of our food, can help prevent agricultural runoff and erosion, and has a direct impact on our changing climate. And yet, by ignoring what’s directly beneath our feet, we can expect to lose all of the world’s topsoil within a single ...
Where: Cost: Free
Science at Cal - Can We Make Green Hydrogen Fuel a Reality? - LivestreamHydrogen gas plays an important role in the future of clean energy with the potential to replace fossil fuels for many daily and essential applications, from making fertilizers to producing chemicals for plastics. In this Midday Science Cafe, we’ll be hearing from scientists who study different processes working toward the ...
Where: Cost: Free
Virtual Talk: Leaves with Sori: The Ferns (online)Our "Year of Leaves" theme continues this month as we focus on the fascinating plants that shed spores from their leaves, the wonderful world of ferns. For this Zoom presentation, the Garden is pleased to host Dr. Susan Fawcett, research botanist and fern curator at the University and Jepson Herbaria, ...
Where: Cost: Free
After Dark: See for YourselfSpark your curiosity at After Dark! As the Sun sets, we’ll hit the rainbow lights, turn the music up, and open our doors, inviting you to take your imagination out to play. Fuel up with a cocktail and prepare to roam free. Plus, excavate underground histories and discover the past with ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.95 General, Free for members
NightLifeCalling all creatures of the night: explore the nocturnal side of the Academy at NightLife and see what's revealed. With live DJs, outdoor bars, ambiance lighting, and nearly 40,000 live animals (including familiar faces like Claude the albino alligator), the night is sure to be wild.Step inside the iconic Shake ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $19.25 - $17.50 depending on time
In the evergreen forest of the Pacific Northwest, two species of wood warbler that hybridize are on the brink of forming a new species. A more northern species, the Townsend’s Warbler Setophaga townsendi and a more southern species, the Hermit Warbler Setophaga occidentalis, overlap in range and hybridize. This provides ...
Calling all future gastropod enthusiasts: We're exploring the wide world of snails, from venomous ocean-dwellers to garden-loving city inhabitants.Featuring:Dr. Mandë Holford, Associate Professor in Chemistry at CUNY Hunter College and The CUNY Graduate CenterChrissy Piotrowski, Collections Manager of Invertebrate Zoology, California Academy of SciencesDr. Jann Vendetti, Associate Curator & Twila ...
Where: Cost: Free
Friday, 06/17/22
Astro 101: Sights of the Cosmos, Intro to AstronomyThis event provides a different introduction to astronomy than our Intro to the Night Sky talks. During this hour, you'll gain an appreciation for the size and scale of the cosmos and our place within it. You'll see many examples of the beautiful objects visible in the night sky, learn ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
In Town Star PartyCome join San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) for an evening of stargazing.We plan to have a short introduction to night sky of the day followed by an observing session where SJAA volunteers will share night sky views from their personal telescopes.Please refrain from bringing your own telescopes (Binoculars are welcome). ...
Where: San JoseCost: Free
Saturday, 06/18/22
Family Nature Walks - Baylands Nature PreserveEnvironmental Volunteers’ Family Nature Walks program is designed to help students and their families get to know our local open space areas. Small family groups will be guided by a knowledgeable environmental educator during an exploration of a local open space. These small groups will be introduced to fun nature-based ...
You might have heard of the Peregrine Falcon, but have you met its robotic counterpart? Inspired by the fastest animal on Earth, the lunar lander code-named “Mission Peregrine†will experiment on the Moon this summer and deposit the remains of science fiction legend Arthur C. Clarke, the author of 2001: ...
Any review of the history of astronomy will likely discover a large telescope called the “Leviathan of Parsonstownâ€. Built in Ireland in 1845 by the 3rd Earl of Rosse, it was the largest telescope in the world for 70 years until surpassed by the 100″ Hooker Telescope on Mt. Wilson. ...
Where: Cost: Free
Binocular Stargazing at Coyote Valley Open Space PreserveBinocular Stargazing is hosted by the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority with help from members of the San Jose Astronomical Association.Want to learn the night sky? Want to see the Milky Way and the stars contained in it? Did you know that you don’t need to spend a ton ...
 The shorebirds are always an exciting yet vexing group for birders. Join us for a talk by Jon Dunn and Lara Tseng to learn about identification of a subset of, certain Calidris sandpipers of the families in this group. In addition to identification, other important aspects will be covered, like ...
Where: Cost: Free
Tuesday, 06/21/22
Weekday Morning Hike at Rancho Cañada del OroJoin Peninsula Open Space Trust for an excursion where you’ll explore the Mayfair Ranch - Longwall Canyon trails of Rancho Cañada del Oro! You will be guided by POST Ambassadors who will share with you the history of the preserve, the region, and the importance of conservation in the area. The ...
What does it mean to be female? (... Ovum-producing? ... Nurturing? ... The "weaker sex"?) In her latest book, Bitch: The Female of the Species, zoologist Lucy Cooke reveals a marvelous cast of animals that enlarge our understanding of biological femininity. Rebecca Giggs of The Atlantic, writes: "[Cooke] is motivated ...
Where: San FranciscoCost: $10 In Person, Free online with discount code