EAST VALLEY
ASTRONOMY CLUB
EVENTS + MEETINGS
What's Going On
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EVAC monthly meeting 5/16
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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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5/16 Club meeting: Tyler Karasinski, Astrophysics Ph.D. student at ASU: An Ocean in the Atmosphere - Space physics at Arizona State
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.
2025 Meeting Speaker Schedule
January 17th
Mark Johnston, VP of Phoenix Astronomical Society - My Journey in Astronomy Outreach
February 21st
Tom Polakis, 48 year Amateur Astronomer - All About Asteroids
March 21st
Dr. David Williams (ASU) - NASA Psyche Mission: Exploration of a Metal World
April 18th
Vincent Ledvina, Space Physics Ph.D. student at University of Alaska Fairbanks - Chasing The Aurora
May 16th
Tyler Karasinski, Astrophysics Ph.D. student at ASU - An Ocean in the Atmosphere - Space physics at Arizona State
June 20th
Kevin Legore, Sr. Product Specialist at Sky-watcher North America - Inside the Telescope Industry - What's new in 2025
July 18th
Ted Blank, NASA Solar System Ambassador - The Discovery and Characteristics of Exoplanets
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 2025, the dates are:
2025 Schedule
3rd Quarter Moon
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January 21st
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February 20th
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March 22nd
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April 20th
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May 20th
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June 1st
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June 18th
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July 17th
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August 15th
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September 14th
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October 13th
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November 11th
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December 11th
2025 Schedule
New Moon
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January 29th
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February 27th
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March 29th
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April 27th
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May 26th
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June 25th
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July 24th
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August 22nd
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September 21st
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October 21st
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November 19th
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December 19th
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 October 24-25, 2025. The location is currently being determined. This is a great chance to gather in the desert to observe with your fellow astronomy enthusiasts. Please drive SLOWLY to avoid dust. Avoid white lights and have fun.
Schedule:
Friday October 24, 2025:
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Details TBD
Saturday October 25, 2025:
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Details TBD
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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Will be posted when 2025 location is determined
Map of 2025 All AZ Party Site will be posted here when determined
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.