EAST VALLEY
ASTRONOMY CLUB
EVENTS + MEETINGS
What's Going On
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3rd Friday at 7:00pm
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2nd Friday of each month
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School, Community Private Star Party By Request Only
Special Events
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10/11 EVAC Riparian Star Party at Gilbert Rotary Centennial Observatory (GRCO)
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10/18 EVAC meeting: Dr. Russ Ganet (Mt. Wilson Observatory)
Star Party Information
Public Star Party
The East Valley Astronomy Club sponsors a free public star party each month at the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert. The event is scheduled on the second Friday of each month, weather permitting. The star party begins at dusk. You are encouraged to attend and observe through member's telescopes.
EVAC is supporting Public Star Parties at this time.
School + Community Star Party Information
Arrange a night under the stars for your school, community, club, or group! Available Tuesday - Thursday.
If you would like to arrange a night under the stars / private star party, click below and fill out the request form.
EVAC is supporting private star parties at this time.
Monthly Meetings
The monthly general meeting is your chance to find out what other club members are up to, learn about upcoming club events and listen to presentations by professional and well-known amateur astronomers. Visitors are always welcome!
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Held on the third Friday of each month, beginning at 7:00 pm. See our upcoming Speaker Schedule.
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Meetings are held via Zoom and In Person.
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A typical meeting begins with introductions and a brief discussion of club business, including upcoming events.
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Recognition and a couple of short (10 - 15 minute) presentations by EVAC members follows.
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Refreshments are served during a short intermission.
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Our guest speaker then gives a 45-minute to 1-hour presentation.
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Meetings are held at the Gilbert Library.
Interested in seeing the caliber of speakers at past meetings? Check out our History of Speakers.
2024 Meeting Speaker Schedule
January 19th
Dr. Jacob Adler (ASU) - Mars mudflows from remote sensing and lab experiments
February 16th
Dr. Rogier Windhorst (ASU) - The World of Webb, the Cosmic Circle of Life, and seeing through the Eyes of Einstein
March 15th
Jessica Berkheimer (ASU) - Gravity Wave Zoo: classifying gravity waves, instabilities, and Aurora over the Arctic region.
April 19th
Jenna Moore (ASU) - The Simons Observatory: Next-generation cosmology from the Atacama Desert
May 17th
EVAC member presentations on April Eclipse
June 21st
Rick Scott & Tom Mozden (ASU) - ASU project; James Yoder - Astroplanner; Lavi Berko - Space Travel
July 19th
Kevin Schindler (Lowell Observatory): Remembering astronomer Robert Burnham Jr.
August 16th
Amy Zhao (ASU): Space-Based Instrumentation for Exploration of Trojan Asteroids and Beyond
September 20th
Dr. Alan Strauss - Vera Rubin Observatory
October 18th
Dr. Russ Ganet (Mt. Wilson)
Member Star Parties
For many amateur astronomers, participating in club star parties is the best part of belonging to a club. These friendly nocturnal gatherings give observers a chance to talk about all things astronomical, look through many types of scopes and show off a few of their favorite sights. EVAC offers at least two star parties each month (weather permitting, of course.) Member Star Parties usually occur near the 3rd Quarter Moon or near the New Moon. For 2024, the dates are:
2024 Schedule
3rd Quarter Moon
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January 6th
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February 3rd
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March 2nd
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March 30th
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May 4th
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June 1st
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June 29th
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July 27th
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August 24th
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September 21st
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October 26th
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November 23rd
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December 21st
2024 Schedule
New Moon
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January 13th
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February 10th
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March 9th
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April 6th
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May 4th
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June 8th
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July 6th
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August 3rd
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August 31st
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September 28th
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November 2nd
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November 30th
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December 27th
EVAC Member Star Parties
EVAC currently does not officially support any local star parties. Some members do gather at Picket Post Trailhead during the weekend before and on the weekend of the New Moon. Due to Forest Service rules, a Ranger may be present from spring to fall. Gates are locked at sunset when the Ranger is present. For this reason, members are encouraged to use open areas off the road before Picket Post if the gates are locked. See Observing Sites below.
All Arizona Star Party
Our annual dark sky weekend will be November 1-2, 2024 and will be held at the North Hovatter observing field (see directions above). This is a great chance to gather in the desert to observe with your fellow astronomy enthusiasts. Please drive SLOWLY to avoid dust. Park near the north entrance if you will be leaving early. Avoid white lights and have fun.
Schedule:
Friday November 1, 2024:
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5:00pm Gather at the hospitality tent for a potluck.
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5:28pm Sunset with Astronomical Twilight ending at 6:52pm.
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10:00pm Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate and snacks at the tent.
Saturday November 2, 2024:
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4:30pm Temperance Union Happy Hour
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4:45pm Raffle - Tickets $1 or 6 for $5
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5:00pm Chili Dinner - Tickets $5
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5:27pm Sunset with Astronomical Twilight ending at 6:52pm
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10:00pm Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate and snacks at the tent
Portable toilets will be provided. They typically arrive on Thursday and are picked up the following Thursday.
Email president@evaconline.org for more information, or call 480.221.5792 if you are lost.
Driving instructions:
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From Phoenix, go west on I-10 to Hovatter Rd at exit 53,
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Turn RIGHT onto North Hovatter Rd.
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Follow the gravel road (watch for the bump where the pavement ends)
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Take the RIGHT fork - not Hope-Hovatter Rd. (road to right changes to Harquahala Rd. at the fork)
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After about 3.5 miles you will see a mining operation on the mountainside.
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Take a hard right turn onto the observing field
Observing Sites
Picket Post Trailhead Site
The site offers reasonably dark skies within an hour of most east Valley locations. A hill blocks a good bit of the Phoenix sky glow to the west, and Superior's minor glow is visible in the northeast.
How To Get To Picketpost Mountain Trailhead
Site coordinates:
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N 33º 16' 21"
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W 111º 10' 35"
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Elevation 2375'
This site is easily accessed by any vehicle.
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Take US 60 east past Florence Junction.
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As you come down from Gonzales Pass, watch out for the green Mile Marker 221 sign.
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Just past that you will see a yellow 'Truck Crossing' sign... and just past the sign is FR 231.
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The road is now easier to spot than in the past, as there is now a familiar brown sign indicating the trailhead.
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You'll know it's the right road because there is a small windmill visible just after you make the right turn.
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Follow the well-graded road about half a mile to where it dead-ends into another road.
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Another brown sign indicates that you should make a left turn (staying on FR 231) to get to the trailhead.
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This section of the road is asphalt.
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Follow the narrow road about a half mile until it ends at the trailhead.
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When you reach the trailhead, bear to the right and circle around until you see the larger, flat area.
Antennas Site
This is another site that is near the Hovatter North site. It is on BLM land and the Saguaro Astronomy Club has a use permit for it. Site Map and Directions are below. Please park on the edge of the site if you are leaving early. Please avoid white light and make as little dust as possible.
How To Get To The Antennas Site
The Antennas Site is located two miles south of Interstate 10, and about ten miles west of Centennial, AZ.
From Phoenix:
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Go west on I-10 to Hovatter Rd at exit 53 or about 40 miles west of Palo Verde Nuclear Power Generating Station.
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Turn left over the freeway, drive over the canal.
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When you cross the canal, turn right.
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Go .1 miles to and turn left onto dirt road.
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Travel past the antennas and turn right at next opportunity.
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Go through two washes and the site is on the left.
Star Party Liability Disclaimer
The East Valley Astronomy Club (EVAC) is not responsible for the property or liability of any star party participant, nor will the club be held liable for their actions or possessions. EVAC is not responsible for any vehicular damage, theft, or mechanical difficulties that may occur while attending a star party. EVAC strongly recommends adherence to the doctrine of 'safety in numbers' when it comes to remote observing sites. In the interest of safety it is recommended that you don't go to remote sites alone and that someone knows where you have gone each time you go out observing.
© 2024 by East Valley Astronomy Club.
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